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Champaign Personal Injury Lawyers

Illinois recorded 303,913 motor vehicle crashes and 1,196 traffic fatalities in 2024, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation’s annual crash facts report. Speeding was a factor in 45.3% of fatal crashes statewide, and pedestrians, who account for only 1.6% of total crashes, made up nearly 20% of all fatal crashes.

Champaign is the largest city in Champaign County, sharing a continuous urban area with neighboring Urbana to form the Champaign-Urbana Twin Cities, with a city population of about 92,000, an Urbana population of about 38,000, and a Champaign-Urbana metropolitan population of roughly 236,000 across Champaign, Piatt, and Ford counties. The cities sit in east-central Illinois about 135 miles south of Chicago, 120 miles west of Indianapolis, and 180 miles northeast of St. Louis, anchored by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system with about 57,000 students and one of the largest universities in the country. The U of I, Carle Health (headquartered in Urbana), Christie Clinic, OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center, Parkland College, Kraft Heinz, and the Champaign County school districts together drive an economy unusually skewed toward education, healthcare, and research compared to the rest of central Illinois.

That mix produces a distinctive injury caseload. Wrecks at the I-57 / I-72 / I-74 interchange where three interstates converge just outside the city. Pedestrian and bicycle crashes around campus, where about 9% of the metro’s commuters walk to work (one of the highest rates in the United States) and bicycle commuting is widespread. Crashes during Illinois Fighting Illini home football weekends at Memorial Stadium, when the city absorbs more than 60,000 game-day visitors. Slip-and-falls in the high-rise apartments and retail of Campustown along Green Street, the older retail corridors along North Prospect Avenue, and the Carle and OSF medical campuses in Urbana. Plus the steady volume of crashes on the major arterials, including University Avenue, Neil Street, Mattis Avenue, Springfield Avenue, and Green Street.

You shouldn’t have to take an insurance company’s first offer just because medical bills are piling up. You deserve an attorney who knows Champaign-Urbana, knows the 6th Judicial Circuit Court at the Champaign County Courthouse in Urbana, and isn’t afraid to push back when an insurer won’t pay what your case is worth.

At DJC Law, our Champaign personal injury lawyers help accident victims and their families recover after serious injuries. If you were hurt in a wreck on I-57, I-72, I-74, U.S. 45, or U.S. 150, hit by a commercial truck moving freight through the I-57/I-74 corridor, struck while walking or cycling near campus, injured at a University of Illinois facility, or harmed in any other accident caused by someone else’s negligence, we can help.

We work on contingency. You pay nothing unless we win. Call us today for a free, no-obligation consultation. Hablamos español.

What Is Personal Injury Law?

Personal injury law lets people who’ve been hurt by someone else’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct seek financial compensation for their losses. These are civil claims, separate from any criminal charges. They hold the responsible party accountable and help injured victims recover the money they need for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Most personal injury cases come down to negligence. To win a negligence claim, you have to prove four things: that the defendant owed you a duty of care, that they breached that duty, that the breach caused your injuries, and that you suffered actual damages.

That sounds simple enough on paper. In practice, insurance companies spend a lot of time and money working to deny, delay, and minimize claims. In Champaign-Urbana, you may also be dealing with a national trucking carrier moving freight along I-57, I-72, or I-74, the University of Illinois (a state agency, which means cases against it generally go through the Illinois Court of Claims), Carle Health or OSF HealthCare, the City of Champaign, the City of Urbana, Champaign County, the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District, the Champaign Park District, IDOT, the Willard Airport, a hotel or restaurant chain, or a bar with dram shop exposure. Each comes with its own defense team. An experienced personal injury attorney can level the conversation and improve your chances of a fair recovery.

Why Choose DJC Law

Not every personal injury firm is the same. Here’s what sets DJC Law apart.

You Pay Nothing Unless We Win

We take personal injury cases on contingency. There are no upfront fees, and you owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Our payment comes out of your settlement or verdict, so we only get paid when you do.

Personal Attention From Your Attorney

You won’t get handed off to a paralegal or left wondering what’s going on with your case. Our attorneys stay involved at every stage. We return calls. When you have a question, you’ll get an answer from the lawyer actually handling your case.

Bilingual Representation

About 17% of Champaign residents are foreign-born, one of the highest rates of any city in Illinois outside the Chicago metro area, driven by the University of Illinois’s large international student population from China, India, South Korea, Mexico, and dozens of other countries. The city is roughly 56% White, 17% Black, and 15% Asian, with significant Hispanic, Vietnamese, and African immigrant communities. Your attorney shouldn’t be a barrier to understanding your own case. Our team works in English and Spanish, so you can ask questions and make decisions in the language you’re most comfortable with.

Experience With University, Trucking, and Pedestrian Cases

Champaign-Urbana produces a kind of case mix you don’t see in most Illinois cities. A pedestrian struck on Green Street in Campustown. A bicycle wreck on University Avenue or Springfield Avenue. A wreck on I-57, I-72, or I-74 caused by a freight driver running between Chicago and Memphis or between St. Louis and Indianapolis. A slip-and-fall at a U of I academic building or athletic facility. A fall at a high-rise student apartment in Campustown. A construction injury at one of Carle Health’s ongoing facility expansions in Urbana. A medical malpractice claim against Carle Foundation Hospital. Each of those cases comes with corporate, university, governmental, or hospital-system defendants, layered insurance policies, and experienced defense teams. We’re comfortable building cases that involve multiple potentially responsible parties (driver, employer, premises owner, contractor, university, hospital, physician group, equipment manufacturer) rather than settling for the first or easiest target.

Trial-Ready Representation

Insurance companies and corporate defendants pay attention to which firms actually take cases to court. When they know we’re prepared to try a case, they’re a lot more willing to settle for a fair number. If they aren’t willing, we’re ready to put your case in front of a Champaign County jury at the courthouse on East Main Street in Urbana.

Local Knowledge, Local Commitment

We know the 6th Judicial Circuit Court at the Champaign County Courthouse on East Main Street in Urbana. We know the federal courts in the Urbana Division of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois at the U.S. Courthouse on South Vine Street. We know the dangerous corridors. From the I-57/I-74 interchange and the I-72/I-57 split to the University Avenue, Springfield Avenue, and Green Street campus crossings, from Neil Street and Prospect Avenue to the rural state highways connecting Champaign-Urbana to Mahomet, Tolono, Rantoul, Monticello, and Mattoon, we work cases here regularly.

Personal Injury in Champaign: By the Numbers

Champaign has a population of about 92,000 and Champaign County has roughly 209,000. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation and other public sources:

    • Illinois recorded 303,913 crashes and 1,196 traffic fatalities in 2024, with 1,085 fatal crashes statewide. Speeding was a factor in 45.3% of fatal crashes. Pedestrian crashes accounted for 1.6% of total crashes but 19.7% of fatal crashes. Motorcycle crashes accounted for 1.1% of total crashes but 13.1% of fatal crashes.
    • The Champaign-Urbana metro has an unusually high rate of pedestrian and bicycle commuting. About 9% of metro commuters walk to work (the fourth-highest rate in the United States), and only about 78.4% drive alone or carpool (the eleventh-lowest rate in the country). That commuting profile produces a higher proportion of pedestrian, bicycle, and transit-related crashes than typical Illinois cities.
    • The Champaign Police Department is led by Chief Timothy T. Tyler and has about 127 sworn officers and 35 civilian staff, headquartered at 82 East University Avenue. Non-emergency dispatch is 217-333-8911 and the front desk is 217-351-4545.
    • The Champaign County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Dustin D. Heuerman, serves the unincorporated areas of the county (about 50,000 residents) and provides court security at the Champaign County Courthouse. The Sheriff’s Office is at the Scott M. Bennett Administrative Center, 102 East Main Street, Urbana, with adult detention at 502 South Lierman Avenue, Urbana.
    • The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Police Department is a separate agency operating on the U of I campus, headquartered at 1110 West Springfield Avenue in Urbana. The Urbana Police Department, the Parkland College Campus Police, and the smaller Mahomet, Rantoul, Tolono, Savoy (contract with Sheriff), and Thomasboro departments cover the rest of the metro area.
    • Champaign-Urbana is part of the 6th Judicial Circuit of Illinois, which also covers DeWitt, Douglas, Macon, Moultrie, and Piatt counties. Civil cases are heard at the Champaign County Courthouse at 101 East Main Street in Urbana, with the Champaign County Circuit Clerk’s office on the first floor.
    • Champaign-Urbana is anchored by an unusually deep healthcare network for a metro of its size. Carle Foundation Hospital at 611 West Park Street in Urbana is a 489-bed Level I Trauma Center, continuously designated by the Illinois Department of Public Health since August 1988, with Level III perinatal services, a Comprehensive Stroke Center, a Level 3 Epilepsy Center, and the largest emergency department in the region (more than 90,000 patients per year). Carle Foundation Hospital is the only state-designated Level I Trauma Center in central or east-central Illinois between Chicago, Peoria, and St. Louis. OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center at 1400 West Park Street in Urbana is a 210-bed comprehensive medical facility located less than a mile from Carle.
    • Carle Health is headquartered in Urbana and includes Carle Foundation Hospital, Carle BroMenn Medical Center (Bloomington-Normal), Carle Eureka Hospital, Carle Hoopeston Regional Health Center, Carle Methodist Hospital (Peoria), Carle Pekin Hospital, Carle Proctor Hospital (Peoria), Carle Richland Memorial Hospital, plus an integrated health insurance plan and the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, the world’s first engineering-based medical school in partnership with the University of Illinois.
    • The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign enrolls about 57,000 students, making it one of the ten largest U.S. university campuses by enrollment. Football home games at Memorial Stadium bring more than 60,000 game-day visitors to the city, and basketball games at the State Farm Center plus performances at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts add to the metro’s regular event traffic.

Dangerous Roads and Locations in Champaign-Urbana

If your wreck happened on one of these corridors, you’re not alone. They show up in IDOT crash data, Champaign Police Department reports, and Champaign County Sheriff’s records year after year:

    • Interstate 57: The major north-south freeway running along the west side of Champaign, connecting Chicago to the north and Memphis (via Cairo) to the south. I-57 carries heavy commercial freight volume between the Chicago intermodal yards and the Mid-South. The I-57 / I-74 interchange just west of Champaign and the I-57 / Bradley Avenue and I-57 / Curtis Road interchanges are recurring crash sites.
    • Interstate 74: The major east-west freeway running through the heart of the metro. I-74 connects the Quad Cities and Iowa to the west to Indianapolis and Cincinnati to the east, carrying heavy commercial freight, agricultural, and commuter traffic. The I-74 / Mattis Avenue, I-74 / Neil Street, I-74 / Lincoln Avenue, and I-74 / Cunningham Avenue interchanges are heavily used.
    • Interstate 72: Terminates at I-57 just west of Champaign, after running east from Hannibal, Missouri through Springfield and Decatur. The I-72 / I-57 interchange combines high-speed merging traffic and complex ramp geometry.
    • U.S. Route 45 and U.S. Route 150: The major east-west and north-south U.S. routes through the metro. U.S. 45 (Cunningham Avenue / Mattis Avenue) runs north-south past the airport. U.S. 150 (University Avenue / Bloomington Road) runs east-west across the north side of both cities and through downtown Urbana.
    • University Avenue (U.S. 150): The major east-west arterial running across the north side of both Champaign and Urbana, past the Carle Foundation Hospital and OSF Heart of Mary medical campuses, the Champaign County Courthouse area, and a long string of commercial frontage. University Avenue produces consistent rear-end and turning crashes, plus pedestrian incidents in the stretches with limited safe crossings.
    • Green Street (Campustown): The main commercial corridor through the U of I campus, anchored by Burnham 310, 309 Green, the Tower at 3rd, and the Campustown bars and restaurants. Green Street pedestrian and bicycle volume on weeknights and game weekends produces some of the highest crash rates per mile in the metro. Pedestrian, bicycle, and rideshare crashes are common.
    • Springfield Avenue: The east-west arterial running through the U of I campus and connecting Champaign to Urbana, with bicycle traffic mixing with vehicle traffic across most of its length. The U of I Police headquarters is at 1110 West Springfield Avenue.
    • Neil Street and South Neil Street: The major north-south corridor through downtown Champaign, connecting the I-57 interchange to the downtown core. South Neil includes heavy commercial frontage and frequent driveway access points.
    • Mattis Avenue: A major north-south corridor running through Champaign’s west side, with the Marketplace Mall area, Carle facilities, and heavy retail traffic.
    • North Prospect Avenue: The retail strip on the city’s north side, anchoring big-box stores, restaurants, and the Marketplace Mall, with frequent turning movements and parking-lot collisions.
    • Lincoln Avenue: The major north-south corridor through the U of I campus and Urbana, carrying significant pedestrian and bicycle traffic alongside vehicle traffic, particularly between Springfield Avenue and Florida Avenue.
    • Cunningham Avenue (U.S. 45) in Urbana: The main north-south route through Urbana, connecting to I-74 and running past the older Urbana commercial corridor and the Crystal Lake Park area.
    • Memorial Stadium and State Farm Center game-day traffic: Illinois Fighting Illini home football games at Memorial Stadium and basketball games at the State Farm Center bring tens of thousands of game-day visitors. Pedestrian, drunk-driving, and rideshare crashes spike around First Street, Kirby Avenue, Stadium Drive, and Fourth Street on game days and event nights.
    • Rural state and county roads: Champaign County’s rural reaches include county and state-maintained two-lane roads connecting Champaign-Urbana to Mahomet, Tolono, Sidney, Pesotum, Philo, Rantoul, Gifford, Fisher, and Thomasboro. These roads have limited shoulders and no street lighting, and crashes there tend to be more serious and harder to investigate.

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle

Our Champaign personal injury attorneys take on a wide range of cases. If you’ve been hurt because of someone else’s negligence, we can help.

Car accidents are the single most common cause of serious injury in Champaign-Urbana. Distracted driving, speeding, drunk driving, and fatigue cause thousands of crashes in Champaign County every year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) identifies all four as leading contributors to fatal crashes nationwide. Texting while driving is illegal under 625 ILCS 5/12-610.2. [internal-link: car-accidents]

Truck accidents involving 18-wheelers, tanker trucks, agricultural haulers, and other commercial vehicles are a regular part of our practice. Champaign-Urbana sits at the intersection of three major freight routes (I-57, I-72, and I-74), and the I-57 / I-74 corridor through the metro is one of the busiest commercial truck routes in central Illinois. These cases are governed in part by federal regulations enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), including hours-of-service rules, drug and alcohol testing, hazmat handling rules, and maintenance standards. There are usually multiple parties who can be held liable, including the driver, the motor carrier, brokers, shippers, and maintenance providers. [internal-link: truck-accidents]

Motorcycle accidents tend to leave riders with severe injuries because they don’t have the protection of an enclosed vehicle. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has long reported that motorcyclists are killed at far higher rates than passenger-vehicle occupants per mile traveled. Insurance companies often try to use that risk against riders, and we push back hard. [internal-link: motorcycle-accidents]

Pedestrian accidents are an outsized concern in Champaign-Urbana, where about 9% of metro commuters walk to work (one of the highest rates in the country) and tens of thousands of students cross University Avenue, Green Street, Springfield Avenue, and Lincoln Avenue every day on foot. Drivers in Illinois have a duty to yield to pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks under 625 ILCS 5/11-1002, and we hold them responsible when they don’t. We also pursue claims tied to inadequate crosswalks, missing pedestrian signals, and other roadway design issues, including claims against the City of Champaign, the City of Urbana, the University of Illinois, IDOT, or other governmental authorities where applicable. [internal-link: pedestrian-accidents]

Bicycle accidents are common across Champaign-Urbana’s extensive bike-lane and trail network, including the campus bike paths, the Greenbelt Bikeway, and the bike lanes along University Avenue, Springfield Avenue, and Race Street. Bicycle commuting is far more common in Champaign-Urbana than in most Illinois cities. Cyclists are particularly vulnerable on multilane corridors like University Avenue, Springfield Avenue, Lincoln Avenue, and Florida Avenue, and at the diagonal intersections that cross the older campus grid. We represent injured cyclists, including dooring victims, and pursue full compensation under Illinois law. [internal-link: bicycle-accidents]

Bus accidents, including crashes involving the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (CUMTD), university shuttle buses, school buses, charter buses for events at Memorial Stadium and the State Farm Center, and the over-the-road buses serving the Illinois Terminal, come with their own complications. Public transit cases face Illinois Tort Immunity Act limitations and are also subject to a higher common-carrier duty of care. [internal-link: bus-accidents]

Rideshare accidents involving Uber, Lyft, and other transportation network companies are especially common around Campustown, downtown Champaign, downtown Urbana, the Carle and OSF medical campuses, Memorial Stadium and the State Farm Center on event days, and Willard Airport. Rideshare crashes can involve overlapping insurance coverage that depends on whether the driver was logged into the app, en route to a passenger, or actively transporting one. We help injured riders, drivers, and third parties figure out which policy applies and pursue full recovery. [internal-link: rideshare-accidents]

Premises liability cases come up when a dangerous condition on someone else’s property causes an injury. Illinois premises liability law is governed by the Premises Liability Act, 740 ILCS 130/, which abolished the older invitee/licensee distinction and imposed a unified duty of reasonable care for owners and occupiers of property. That includes slip and falls (especially on snow and ice, which Champaign-Urbana sees its share of every winter), hotel and apartment-tower injuries in Campustown, falls in the Carle and OSF medical buildings, falls at Memorial Stadium or the State Farm Center, and assault cases tied to inadequate security at apartment complexes, parking garages, and bars. [internal-link: premises-liability]

Construction and workplace accidents happen across Champaign-Urbana’s constant build-out. The U of I’s continuous capital construction at Memorial Stadium, the State Farm Center, the Krannert Center, the new academic and research buildings, and the Research Park. Carle Health’s facility expansions in Urbana. The high-rise apartment construction in Campustown. Highway construction on the I-57 / I-74 corridor. All generate workplace and motorist injuries. Many of these cases involve violations of OSHA workplace safety standards, scaffolding and ladder failures, falling object incidents, equipment manufacturer claims, and third-party contractor liability. The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act generally bars suits against an injured worker’s direct employer, but third parties (other contractors, equipment makers, premises owners) often remain liable. [internal-link: construction-accidents]

Dog bites can cause serious physical injuries and lasting emotional trauma. Illinois follows a strict liability rule for dog bites under the Illinois Animal Control Act (510 ILCS 5/16), meaning the owner is generally liable for an attack regardless of whether the dog had bitten anyone before. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year in the United States, with hundreds of thousands needing emergency care. [internal-link: dog-bites]

Product liability cases involve injuries caused by defective or dangerous products. That includes vehicle defects (which can sometimes be tracked through NHTSA’s recall database), defective industrial equipment, and dangerous consumer goods regulated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. [internal-link: product-liability]

Wrongful death claims allow surviving family members to seek compensation when a loved one is killed because of another party’s negligence or misconduct. These claims are governed by the Illinois Wrongful Death Act, 740 ILCS 180/, with a separate Survival Act claim under 755 ILCS 5/27-6 covering damages the decedent could have recovered if they had survived. [internal-link: wrongful-death]

Dram shop claims are a distinctive feature of Illinois injury law, and they come up often in Champaign-Urbana because of the heavy bar and restaurant footprint in Campustown. Under the Illinois Liquor Control Act (235 ILCS 5/6-21), a bar, restaurant, or other liquor licensee that sells or gives alcohol to someone who is then involved in a drunk-driving crash can be held liable for the resulting injuries, with statutory damages caps that the Illinois Liquor Control Commission adjusts annually. We pursue dram shop claims alongside the underlying car accident claim where the facts support it. [internal-link: dram-shop]

If your situation isn’t on this list, call us anyway. Personal injury law covers a lot of ground, and we’d rather hear about your case and tell you straight whether we can help.

Common Injuries in Personal Injury Cases

Accidents can cause anything from temporary pain to permanent disability. We represent clients who have suffered:

    • Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
    • Broken bones and fractures
    • Back, neck, and whiplash injuries
    • Herniated discs and soft tissue damage
    • Internal organ damage
    • Burns and scarring
    • Amputation and loss of limbs
    • Knee, shoulder, and joint injuries
    • Cuts, lacerations, and disfigurement
    • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychological injuries

Some injuries are obvious right away. Others, like concussions, internal bleeding, and soft tissue damage, can take days or even weeks to fully show up. That’s why getting medical attention as soon as possible after an accident matters. It protects your health, and it documents your injuries early. Carle Foundation Hospital at 611 West Park Street in Urbana is the regional Level I Trauma Center for east-central Illinois, the only Level I designated by the Illinois Department of Public Health between Chicago, Peoria, and St. Louis, and continuously designated since August 1988. The 489-bed hospital includes the largest emergency department in central Illinois (more than 90,000 patients per year), a Comprehensive Stroke Center, a Level 3 Epilepsy Center, and Level III perinatal services. OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center at 1400 West Park Street in Urbana is a 210-bed comprehensive medical facility located less than a mile from Carle. Patients with the most severe and complex traumatic injuries may be transferred from Carle Foundation Hospital by ground or air ambulance to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria (the regional Level I pediatric center) or to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood (the only American College of Surgeons and state-verified Level I in Illinois) for the highest-level specialty care.

Compensation Available in an Illinois Personal Injury Case

Illinois law lets injured victims recover both economic and non-economic damages. Depending on the case, punitive damages may also be available.

Economic Damages

These are the financial losses you can document with bills, pay stubs, and receipts:

    • Medical expenses: Past and future treatment, hospital stays, surgeries, medication, rehab, and home care
    • Lost wages: Income you couldn’t earn while recovering
    • Loss of earning capacity: Reduced ability to earn in the future because of permanent impairments
    • Property damage: Repair or replacement of your vehicle and other damaged belongings
    • Out-of-pocket expenses: Transportation to medical appointments, home modifications, and other accident-related costs

Non-Economic Damages

These are losses that don’t come with a receipt but are just as real:

    • Pain and suffering: Physical pain caused by your injuries and their treatment
    • Emotional distress: Anxiety, depression, and psychological trauma stemming from the incident
    • Disfigurement: Permanent scarring or physical changes to your appearance
    • Loss of a normal life: Inability to take part in activities and hobbies you used to enjoy. Illinois courts recognize “loss of a normal life” as a separate non-economic damage element on top of pain and suffering and disability.
    • Loss of consortium: The impact your injuries have had on your relationship with your spouse
    • Disability and loss of normal physical functioning: Limitations on your physical abilities and daily activities

Punitive damages are available in Illinois for cases involving fraud, malice, willful and wanton misconduct, or other particularly egregious behavior, but Illinois law restricts them. Punitive damages are barred by statute in legal malpractice cases and most medical malpractice cases under 735 ILCS 5/2-1115. In cases where punitive damages are available, courts look closely at whether the conduct went well beyond ordinary negligence.

How Illinois Negligence Law Works

Understanding the basics of Illinois negligence law helps you understand your case. Here are the key ideas.

Proving Negligence

To win a personal injury case, you have to prove four things:

Duty of care. The defendant had a legal obligation to act reasonably to avoid causing harm. Drivers have to operate their vehicles safely. Property owners have to keep their property in safe condition. Manufacturers have to produce safe products.

Breach of duty. The defendant didn’t live up to that duty. Running a red light, texting while driving (which is prohibited statewide under 625 ILCS 5/12-610.2), or ignoring a known hazard are all examples of a breach.

Causation. The breach actually caused your injuries. There has to be a clear connection between what the defendant did wrong and the harm you suffered.

Damages. You suffered real losses as a result. That can mean medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other categories of harm.

Illinois Modified Comparative Fault (the 50% Bar)

Illinois follows what’s called “modified comparative fault,” set out in 735 ILCS 5/2-1116. In plain terms, you can still recover compensation if you were partially at fault for the accident, as long as your share of responsibility is less than 50%.

If you’re found partly at fault, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of responsibility. For example, if you’re 20% at fault and your damages total $100,000, you’d recover $80,000.

If you’re found 50% or more responsible, you don’t recover anything. That’s why insurance companies work so hard to push fault onto victims. Even a few percentage points can knock you across that bar. Our attorneys fight to keep that from happening.

The Personal Injury Claims Process

Every case is a little different, but most personal injury claims follow a similar path.

Investigation and evidence gathering. We dig into how the accident happened. That includes police reports (Champaign Police Department crash reports can be requested through the city’s online FOIA portal at champaignil.gov, by phone at 217-351-4545, or in person at headquarters at 82 East University Avenue), medical records, witness statements, photographs, and any other evidence that supports your claim. Crashes on I-57, I-72, and I-74 often involve IDOT camera footage and incident management logs that can be lost in days if no one preserves them. Wrecks at Memorial Stadium, the State Farm Center, the Krannert Center, the Marketplace Mall, in Campustown, or downtown Urbana may have private security camera coverage with short retention windows.

Medical treatment documentation. We work to make sure your injuries are fully documented by medical professionals. Solid documentation is what proves the value of your damages later.

Demand and negotiation. Once we know the full extent of your damages, we send a demand to the insurance company and negotiate for fair compensation.

Filing a lawsuit. If the insurer won’t make a fair offer, we file suit. Most personal injury cases involving Champaign-Urbana residents are filed in the 6th Judicial Circuit Court at the Champaign County Courthouse, 101 East Main Street, Urbana. The Champaign County Circuit Clerk handles civil filings through the statewide eFileIL system. Federal cases involving Champaign-Urbana residents are filed in the Urbana Division of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois at the U.S. Courthouse, 201 South Vine Street, Urbana.

Cases against the University of Illinois generally have to be filed in the Illinois Court of Claims rather than in regular state court. The U of I is a state agency, so claims tied to university operations (slip-and-falls on campus, injuries at university athletic facilities, wrecks involving university vehicles or employees on the job, injuries at university-run hospitals or clinics) usually go to the Court of Claims under the Court of Claims Act (705 ILCS 505/), with shorter notice deadlines and no right to a jury trial. We handle Court of Claims cases when the University or another state defendant is involved.

Discovery. Both sides exchange information, take depositions, and gather more evidence under the Illinois Supreme Court Rules or the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, depending on the court.

Mediation, arbitration, or settlement. A lot of cases settle during litigation, often through mediation. Cases worth less than a certain dollar threshold filed in the 6th Circuit go through court-annexed mandatory arbitration before any trial.

Trial. If the case doesn’t settle, we present it to a jury and ask for the verdict your case deserves.

Through all of this, we keep you in the loop. You’ll always know what’s happening and what your options are.

Dealing with Insurance Companies

After an accident, you’ll probably hear from an insurance adjuster who sounds friendly and concerned. Don’t read too much into the tone. The adjuster’s job is to keep their company from paying any more than it has to. The Illinois Department of Insurance publishes consumer guides and complaint procedures if you ever feel an insurer is treating you unfairly.

Common insurance company tactics include:

    • Asking for a recorded statement they can later use against you
    • Requesting broad medical authorizations so they can dig for pre-existing conditions
    • Pushing a quick settlement before you know the full extent of your injuries
    • Disputing how serious your injuries are or claiming they aren’t related to the accident
    • Dragging things out, hoping you’ll accept less out of financial pressure
    • Trying to shift fault onto you to push you to the 50% comparative fault bar

Before you talk to any insurance company, talk to an attorney first. Once we’re involved, we handle communications with insurers for you. Trucking companies, rideshare carriers, transit agencies, hotel chains, and other large defendants all have dedicated claims handlers and rapid-response teams that show up at the scene of major incidents to start collecting statements and lining up favorable witnesses. The same advice applies.

Statute of Limitations: How Long You Have to File

Illinois sets strict deadlines for filing personal injury claims. Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, you generally have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. The same two-year period generally applies to wrongful death claims under the Illinois Wrongful Death Act. Miss that deadline and you usually lose your right to recover, period.

Some situations have shorter or different deadlines, and the most important difference for Champaign-Urbana residents involves claims against governmental defendants. Because the University of Illinois is a major presence in the metro, governmental defendants come up far more often here than in most Illinois cities.

Claims against local governmental entities, including the City of Champaign, the City of Urbana, Champaign County, the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District, the Champaign Park District, the Urbana Park District, Champaign Unit 4 Schools, Urbana School District 116, and most other local public bodies, are governed by the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act, 745 ILCS 10/. The most important rule under that statute is 745 ILCS 10/8-101, which gives you only one year from the date of injury to file suit, not two.

Claims against the State of Illinois and the University of Illinois generally have to be filed in the Illinois Court of Claims under the Court of Claims Act (705 ILCS 505/), not in the Champaign County Circuit Court. The Court of Claims has its own one-year and two-year deadlines depending on the type of claim, no jury trial, statutory damages caps for many claim types, and its own filing rules. The U of I is by far the largest single state defendant in Champaign-Urbana injury cases, and missing the Court of Claims deadlines is a common way these cases get lost before they ever start.

Medical malpractice claims have a two-year-from-discovery rule under 735 ILCS 5/13-212, with a four-year statute of repose. Before filing, your attorney has to obtain a written report from a qualified physician supporting that there is a “reasonable and meritorious cause” for the case, plus a sworn affidavit attaching that report under 735 ILCS 5/2-622. Medical malpractice cases come up often in Champaign-Urbana because the metro is anchored by Carle Foundation Hospital and the Carle Illinois College of Medicine.

Claims involving minors may have extended deadlines under Illinois tolling rules.

Don’t sit on your case waiting to see if your injuries get better. Even if you’re not ready to file a lawsuit, talking to a lawyer early makes sure you understand which deadline applies to your case.

Steps to Take After an Accident in Champaign-Urbana

If you’ve been hurt in any kind of accident, the steps you take afterward can protect both your health and your legal rights.

    1. Get medical attention right away. Call 911 if anyone is seriously hurt. Carle Foundation Hospital at 611 West Park Street in Urbana is the regional Level I Trauma Center for east-central Illinois, the only Level I designated by the state between Chicago, Peoria, and St. Louis, and continuously designated since August 1988. OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center at 1400 West Park Street in Urbana provides additional comprehensive care less than a mile from Carle. EMS protocols decide which hospital you go to based on your injuries and location.
    2. Report the accident. If the crash happened inside Champaign city limits, call 911 to get an officer to the scene. The Champaign Police Department non-emergency line is 217-333-8911 and the front desk is 217-351-4545, with headquarters at 82 East University Avenue. Crashes inside Urbana city limits are handled by the Urbana Police Department at 308 South Vine Street, 217-384-2320. Crashes on the U of I campus are handled by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Police at 1110 West Springfield Avenue. Crashes in unincorporated parts of Champaign County are handled by the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff Dustin D. Heuerman, with offices at 102 East Main Street, Urbana. Crashes on I-57, I-72, I-74, and the U.S. routes are sometimes worked by Illinois State Police District 10, headquartered in Pesotum.
    3. Document everything. Take photos of the accident scene, your injuries, property damage, road conditions, and traffic signs. Note the time of day, the weather (Champaign-Urbana winter weather often becomes a key factor in liability), and the direction you were traveling.
    4. Get witness information. Collect names, phone numbers, and email addresses from anyone who saw what happened. Crashes near campus, downtown, or the medical district often have witnesses who are students, visiting parents, or out-of-town conference attendees, so get their contact information before they leave.
    5. Request your crash report. Illinois Traffic Crash Reports (Form SR 1050) are typically available within 7 to 10 business days of the crash. Champaign Police Department crash reports can be obtained through the city’s online FOIA portal at champaignil.gov or in person at 82 East University Avenue. Reports filed by the Urbana PD, the U of I Police, or the Champaign County Sheriff can be requested through their respective records processes. Illinois State Police reports go through the State Police records process.
    6. Keep records. Save all medical bills, prescription receipts, mileage logs to and from appointments, and pay stubs that show the work you missed.
    7. For trucking and commercial cases, act fast. These defendants typically have rapid-response teams that arrive at the scene within hours. Evidence like driver logs, ECM (engine control module) data, surveillance footage, and maintenance records can be lost or overwritten in days. A spoliation letter from your lawyer puts the company on notice to preserve that evidence. Champaign-Urbana’s location at the I-57 / I-72 / I-74 crossroads means truck cases here are common.
    8. For governmental cases, calendar the deadlines immediately. Claims against the City of Champaign, the City of Urbana, Champaign County, CUMTD, the Champaign or Urbana Park Districts, IDOT, or any other governmental defendant have one-year statutes of limitations under the Illinois Tort Immunity Act. Cases against the University of Illinois go through the Illinois Court of Claims with its own rules and shorter deadlines.
    9. For pedestrian and bicycle cases, document the roadway. In Champaign-Urbana, pedestrian and bicycle crashes are an outsized share of injury cases because of the heavy walking and cycling commuter base. Take photos of crosswalks (or the lack of them), pedestrian signals, sightlines, lighting, bike lanes, and any roadway debris. We use this evidence to identify both the at-fault driver and any responsible governmental authority.
    10. Don’t give a recorded statement. If the other driver’s insurance company asks for one, politely say no until you’ve spoken with an attorney.
    11. Don’t sign anything. Insurance companies sometimes hand over releases or settlements that look routine but quietly waive your rights. Have a lawyer look at it first.
    12. Call a personal injury attorney. The sooner you have legal representation, the better protected your case is, especially if a governmental entity or the University of Illinois may be involved.

How Our Champaign Personal Injury Lawyers Help

Trying to handle a personal injury claim while you’re still recovering from a serious injury is exhausting. Our team takes the legal work off your plate so you can focus on getting better.

We investigate the accident, gather the evidence we need to prove liability and damages, and handle every conversation with the insurance companies. When a case calls for it, we bring in medical experts, accident reconstructionists, biomechanical engineers, vocational economists, and life-care planners to help build it.

We also calculate the full value of your losses, including future expenses and the kinds of non-economic damages that are easy to undercount. Then we negotiate hard for fair compensation. We also prepare every case as if it’s going to trial, because the cases that look ready for trial almost always settle for more.

If the insurance company won’t pay what your case is worth, we go to court.

Frequently Asked Questions About Champaign Personal Injury Cases

How much does it cost to hire a personal injury lawyer in Champaign?

Nothing upfront. We work on contingency, which means we only get paid if we recover compensation for you. Our fee comes as a percentage of your settlement or verdict. If we don’t win, you don’t pay. The consultation is free.

How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Illinois?

Generally two years from the date of injury under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. But Illinois has unusually short deadlines for governmental defendants. Claims against the City of Champaign, the City of Urbana, Champaign County, CUMTD, IDOT, and most other public bodies have one-year statutes of limitations under the Illinois Tort Immunity Act. Claims against the University of Illinois go through the Illinois Court of Claims with its own deadlines. Don’t assume your deadline based on the general rule. Have an attorney confirm it.

My accident involved the University of Illinois. What’s different about that case?

A lot. The University of Illinois is a state agency, and cases against it generally cannot be filed in the regular Champaign County Circuit Court. They have to go through the Illinois Court of Claims under the Court of Claims Act (705 ILCS 505/). The Court of Claims is a separate state court with its own filing rules, shorter notice deadlines (often as short as one year for personal injury), no right to a jury trial, and statutory damages caps that vary by claim type. U of I cases that come up in Champaign-Urbana include slip-and-falls on campus walkways, falls in U of I athletic facilities (including Memorial Stadium and the State Farm Center), wrecks involving university vehicles or employees, falls on campus buses, injuries during U of I-sponsored events, and injuries at U of I-affiliated medical clinics. We handle Court of Claims cases regularly.

I was hit while walking or cycling near campus. What’s different about that case?

Pedestrian and bicycle cases in Champaign-Urbana come up far more often than in most Illinois cities, and they raise specific issues. Drivers in Illinois have a duty to yield to pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks under 625 ILCS 5/11-1002, and bicyclists generally have the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicles when riding in the roadway. The intersections around Green Street, University Avenue, Wright Street, Fourth Street, and Lincoln Avenue handle a heavy volume of student pedestrians and cyclists alongside vehicle and rideshare traffic. We pursue claims against the at-fault driver, and where the roadway design itself contributed (poor crosswalk markings, missing pedestrian signals, inadequate lighting), we evaluate whether the City of Champaign, the City of Urbana, IDOT, or the U of I bears additional responsibility. Insurance companies routinely try to push fault onto pedestrians and cyclists. We push back hard.

My medical malpractice case involves Carle Foundation Hospital. What’s different?

Medical malpractice cases in Illinois have unusually strict procedural rules. Under 735 ILCS 5/13-212, you have two years from when you discovered (or reasonably should have discovered) the injury to file suit, with a four-year statute of repose that cuts off most claims regardless of when the injury was discovered. Before filing, your attorney has to obtain a written report from a qualified physician supporting that there is a “reasonable and meritorious cause” for the case, plus a sworn affidavit attaching that report (735 ILCS 5/2-622). Punitive damages are barred under 735 ILCS 5/2-1115 in most medical malpractice cases. Carle Foundation Hospital is the largest hospital in east-central Illinois and the regional Level I Trauma Center, plus a teaching hospital for the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, so med-mal cases against Carle providers come up often. The defense bar is experienced and well-resourced. We work with credentialed medical experts to build cases that meet the affidavit-and-report requirements and survive motion practice.

I slipped and fell on snow or ice in Champaign-Urbana. Can I sue?

Maybe, but Illinois snow and ice cases are tricky, and Champaign-Urbana sees real winter weather. Under the Illinois Snow and Ice Removal Act and Illinois case law, owners of residential property are generally not liable for falls caused by natural accumulations of snow and ice, only for unnatural accumulations created by something the owner did or failed to do (like a defective gutter that drains water onto a sidewalk where it refreezes, or improperly piled snow that creates a hazard). Commercial property owners face somewhat different rules, and contractual snow removal services can be sued for negligent removal that leaves a sidewalk more dangerous than they found it. Falls on University of Illinois walkways or building entries may have to go through the Illinois Court of Claims if the U of I controls the property. We work through the natural-versus-unnatural distinction, identify every responsible party, and route the case to the right court.

My crash happened in Champaign but the at-fault driver lives in Urbana, Mahomet, Tolono, Rantoul, or somewhere else nearby. Where do I file?

Generally either Champaign County (where the wreck happened) or the county where the at-fault driver lives is a proper venue under Illinois’s general venue statute (735 ILCS 5/2-101). If the at-fault driver lives in Champaign County, that’s the venue. If the driver lives in Piatt, Ford, Vermilion, Douglas, or one of the other adjacent counties, those venues may also be available. We talk through venue strategy early in the case.

I was hit by an 18-wheeler on I-57, I-72, or I-74. What’s different about a truck case?

A lot. Commercial trucks are governed by federal regulations from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that don’t apply to passenger vehicles, including hours-of-service rules, driver qualification files, drug and alcohol testing, and equipment inspection requirements. There are also typically multiple potentially responsible parties, including the driver, the trucking company, the freight broker, the shipper, and any maintenance contractor. Liability and insurance coverage in a truck case are usually much larger than in a typical car wreck, and the trucking company will have a defense team on the scene fast. We move just as fast to preserve evidence like ECM downloads, driver logs, dispatch records, and dashcam footage. Champaign-Urbana sits at the convergence of three interstates and is one of the busiest commercial truck crossroads in central Illinois.

I was injured at Memorial Stadium, the State Farm Center, or the Krannert Center. Can I sue?

Maybe. Memorial Stadium, the State Farm Center, and the Krannert Center are all owned and operated by the University of Illinois, which is a state agency. That means injury claims tied to facility conditions, security failures, or operational negligence at those venues generally have to go through the Illinois Court of Claims under the Court of Claims Act, with its specific filing rules and shorter deadlines. But many event-day services (concessions, security contracting, parking lot management) are handled by private vendors, who face ordinary state court liability. The right defendants in a stadium or arena injury case can include the U of I, a security contractor, a concessions operator, a parking lot operator, or the event sponsor. If alcohol over-service was involved, the venue’s bar service may be subject to Illinois dram shop liability under 235 ILCS 5/6-21. Move fast on these cases.

Does Illinois have a dram shop law?

Yes, and it’s an important tool in drunk-driving cases. Under the Illinois Liquor Control Act, 235 ILCS 5/6-21, a bar, restaurant, or other liquor licensee that sells or gives alcohol to someone who is then involved in a drunk-driving crash can be held liable for the resulting injuries. Illinois caps dram shop damages by statute, with the cap adjusted annually by the Illinois Liquor Control Commission, but the recovery is in addition to whatever you recover from the drunk driver directly. The Liquor Control Act has its own one-year statute of limitations for dram shop claims under 235 ILCS 5/6-21(a). Dram shop claims come up often in Champaign-Urbana because of the heavy bar footprint in Campustown and downtown Champaign. Move fast on these cases.

I was hit by an Uber or Lyft driver in Champaign. Whose insurance covers me?

It depends on what the driver was doing at the time of the wreck. If the rideshare app was off, the driver’s personal auto policy applies (and rideshare drivers often have policies that exclude coverage when driving for hire, which can leave a gap). If the app was on but the driver hadn’t accepted a ride, Uber and Lyft typically provide limited contingent coverage. If the driver had accepted a ride or had a passenger in the car, the rideshare company’s $1 million liability policy usually applies. Rideshare volume in Champaign-Urbana is heavy around Campustown, downtown Champaign, the medical district, Memorial Stadium and the State Farm Center on event days, and Willard Airport. We work through the layers and identify all available coverage.

Is Illinois a no-fault state for car accidents?

No. Illinois is an at-fault (or “tort”) state. The driver who caused the wreck, and that driver’s insurance company, is responsible for the damages. That’s different from no-fault states, where each driver typically files with their own insurer regardless of who caused the wreck. In Illinois, fault investigation and the police crash report often shape the outcome of your case.

What is the minimum auto insurance required in Illinois?

Illinois drivers have to carry at least 25/50/20 liability coverage, meaning $25,000 per injured person, up to $50,000 per accident, and $20,000 for property damage, plus matching uninsured motorist (UM) coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage is required if your liability limits exceed the minimums. These minimums often aren’t enough to cover serious injuries from a freeway or interstate wreck, which is why purchasing higher UM/UIM coverage matters so much.

How long will my case take?

It depends. Some cases settle within months. Others take a year or more, especially if litigation is needed. Cases with disputed liability, severe injuries, governmental defendants, or Court of Claims procedure generally take longer. We work to resolve your case as quickly as we reasonably can without rushing it past a fair result.

What if I was partially at fault for my accident?

You can still recover compensation as long as your share of fault is less than 50%. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. Get to 50% or more and you recover nothing under Illinois’s modified comparative fault rule.

Should I accept the insurance company’s settlement offer?

Not without talking to an attorney first. Initial offers are almost always far below what your case is worth. Once you sign a release, you can’t reopen the claim, even if your injuries turn out to be more serious than you thought. Have a lawyer review any offer before you sign anything.

How much is my case worth?

Every case is different. Value depends on the severity of your injuries, your past and future medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, the strength of the evidence, the available insurance coverage, and whether the case has to go through the Illinois Court of Claims or some other procedure with its own caps. We can give you a more accurate range after we review the specifics of your case in a free consultation.

Are personal injury settlements taxable in Illinois?

According to IRS Publication 4345, the part of a personal injury settlement that compensates you for physical injuries or physical sickness is generally not taxable. Portions allocated to lost wages, interest, or punitive damages can be taxable. Illinois state income tax follows the federal rule for most categories of injury settlement proceeds, but you should always confirm tax treatment with a CPA.

What if the other driver doesn’t have insurance?

You may still have options. Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage may apply, and Illinois requires every auto insurance policy issued in the state to include UM coverage at least matching the policyholder’s liability limits. Other parties, like an employer if the at-fault driver was on the job, may also share liability. We look at every angle for compensation.

Where do I get my Champaign accident report?

You can request your Champaign Police Department crash report through the city’s online FOIA portal at champaignil.gov, by phone at 217-351-4545, or in person at headquarters, 82 East University Avenue, Champaign, IL 61820. Reports filed by the Urbana Police Department, the U of I Police, or the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office can be requested through their respective records processes. Illinois State Police reports go through the State Police records process. If we represent you, we’ll handle getting the report as part of our investigation.

Helpful Champaign-Urbana and Illinois Resources

If you’ve been hurt in an accident in Champaign-Urbana, these public resources may be useful:

    • Champaign Police Department. Emergencies 911, non-emergency 217-333-8911, front desk 217-351-4545. Headquarters: 82 East University Avenue, Champaign, IL 61820. Chief Timothy T. Tyler. About 127 sworn officers and 35 civilian staff.
    • Urbana Police Department. 308 South Vine Street, Urbana, IL 61801. 217-384-2320.
    • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Police Department. 1110 West Springfield Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801. 217-333-1216.
    • 6th Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois. Covers Champaign, DeWitt, Douglas, Macon, Moultrie, and Piatt counties. Champaign County Courthouse, 101 East Main Street, Urbana, IL 61801.
    • Illinois Court of Claims. The state court that hears cases against the State of Illinois and the University of Illinois under the Court of Claims Act (705 ILCS 505/).
    • Carle Foundation Hospital. 489-bed Level I Trauma Center, continuously designated since August 1988. The only state-designated Level I in central or east-central Illinois between Chicago, Peoria, and St. Louis. 611 West Park Street, Urbana.

Contact Our Champaign Personal Injury Attorneys Today

If you’ve been hurt because of someone else’s negligence, you don’t have to take on the insurance companies on your own. The Champaign personal injury lawyers at DJC Law have the experience and the resources to go to bat for you.

Reach out for a free consultation. We’ll listen to your story, walk you through your options, and help you figure out what to do next. There’s no obligation, and you don’t pay us anything unless we win. Hablamos español.

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