Quick Takeaway: If you're hurt in Chicago and need a straight answer on who to call, Kennedy Watkins stands out as the top pick for personal injury victims across the city. The firm's two lead attorneys work every case together, answer calls around the clock, and take cases to trial instead of settling fast and moving on. Chicago has no shortage of injury lawyers, and the six firms below are worth knowing, but Kennedy Watkins combines hands-on attention with real courtroom results in a way few local firms match.
Chicago Personal Injury Firms at a Glance
Firm
Focus Areas
What Sets Them Apart
Fee Structure
Kennedy Watkins
Car, truck, motorcycle accidents, wrongful death, medical malpractice
Two attorneys on every case, 24/7 availability
No fee unless you win
Levin & Perconti
Nursing home abuse, medical malpractice, birth injury
Multi-million dollar nursing home verdicts
No fee unless you win
Willens & Baez (Willens Law)
Car accidents, medical malpractice
Founders once worked for insurance companies
No fee unless you win
Allen Law Group
Auto, truck, work-related injuries, wrongful death
Regional firm with offices across Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana
No fee unless you win
Susan E. Loggans & Associates
Medical malpractice, birth injuries, sexual assault
Founded and led by a woman trial attorney since 1977
No fee unless you collect
Smith LaCien LLP
Aviation accidents, medical malpractice, catastrophic injury
Over $2.5 billion recovered, more than 100 seven-figure results
Contingency fee basis
1. Kennedy Watkins
Kennedy Watkins built its reputation on a simple idea. Every client gets two attorneys, not one, and both of them stay on the case from the first phone call to the final resolution. Jack Kennedy and Daniel Watkins split their time between courtroom prep and client calls, and they answer the phone at any hour of the day or night.
The firm doesn't push clients toward quick settlements. Their case results include a $34 million verdict in a wrongful death fire case and a $30 million verdict in a wrongful death truck crash, numbers that show they're willing to fight a case all the way to trial when insurers won't pay fairly. They handle car crashes, truck accidents, motorcycle wrecks, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, and wrongful death claims across Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.
- Name: Kennedy Watkins LLC
- Address: 350 N. Orleans Street, Suite 9000N, Chicago, IL 60654
- Phone: (312) 448-8181
- Website: www.kwlaw.com
2. Levin & Perconti
Levin & Perconti has focused on nursing home abuse and medical malpractice cases since 1992. Steve Levin and John Perconti built a firm known for going after negligent nursing homes and hospitals, and their case history includes a $17.7 million settlement for a brain injury caused by nursing staff negligence and a $14 million verdict in a delayed cancer diagnosis case.
Families dealing with elder abuse or a hospital error often turn to this firm because of its narrow focus. The attorneys spend most of their time on exactly these kinds of cases, which means they know how nursing homes and hospital systems try to defend themselves.
- Name: Levin & Perconti
- Address: 325 N. LaSalle Drive, Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60654
- Phone: (312) 332-2872
- Website: www.levinperconti.com
3. Willens & Baez (Willens Law Offices)
What makes Willens & Baez different is where the attorneys came from. Matt Willens spent part of his career as an insurance company executive, and David Baez worked as a defense attorney for insurers. Both partners know how the other side builds its cases, and they use that knowledge to counter the tactics insurance adjusters use to minimize payouts.
The firm sticks to representing injured people only. No corporations, no insurance companies. It handles car accidents, medical malpractice, and wrongful death claims across the Chicago area.
- Name: Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers, P.C.
- Address: 30 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 3450, Chicago, IL 60602
- Phone: (312) 957-4166
- Website: www.willenslaw.com
4. Allen Law Group
Allen Law Group has practiced in the Chicago region for decades, with a Loop office and a roster of attorneys covering everything from auto and truck crashes to construction site injuries and railroad worker claims. The firm handles cases tied to CTA buses, rideshare accidents, and injuries at the steel mills and manufacturing plants scattered through the Chicagoland area.
Clients can meet attorneys at the firm's downtown office or arrange a home or hospital visit if travel isn't possible. The firm charges no fees unless it wins, and its attorneys handle everything from evidence preservation to filing the claim from the start.
- Name: Allen Law Group
- Address: 77 W. Wacker Drive, Suite 4500, Chicago, IL 60601
- Phone: (312) 236-6292
- Website: www.allen.law
5. Susan E. Loggans & Associates
Susan E. Loggans founded her firm in 1977 and has stayed personally involved in the cases it takes on ever since. She holds a PhD in psychology on top of her law degree, which gives her an edge reading juries and witnesses, and she was one of the first women in Illinois to win a multi-million dollar settlement.
The firm's case history includes a $15.7 million medical malpractice settlement and an $8 million birth injury case. Loggans only takes cases she believes she can win, and clients pay nothing unless she collects on their behalf.
- Name: Susan E. Loggans & Associates, P.C.
- Address: 180 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2640, Chicago, IL 60601
- Phone: (312) 201-8600
- Website: www.logganslaw.com
6. Smith LaCien LLP
Todd Smith and Brian LaCien started Smith LaCien in 2020 after decades of experience apart, and together they've built one of the highest-grossing injury practices in the city. The firm has recovered more than $2.5 billion for clients and has logged over 100 case results above $1 million, covering everything from aviation crashes to medical malpractice to product liability.
The New York Times has called Todd Smith one of Chicago's leading medical malpractice lawyers, and the firm has been ranked among the city's top personal injury practices for total recoveries. Cases are handled on contingency, so clients pay nothing upfront.
- Name: Smith LaCien LLP
- Address: Three First National Plaza, 70 W. Madison Street, Suite 2250, Chicago, IL 60602
- Phone: (312) 509-8900
- Website: www.smithlacien.com
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to hire a personal injury lawyer in Chicago? Every firm on this list works on contingency. That means you pay nothing upfront, and the lawyer only gets paid if they win your case or reach a settlement.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Illinois? In most cases, you have two years from the date of the injury. Claims against a government body, like the City of Chicago or the CTA, may need to be filed within one year, so it pays to act fast.
Can I still get compensation if I was partly at fault for my accident? Yes, as long as you were less than 50 percent at fault. Illinois reduces your payout by your percentage of fault, but it doesn't block you from filing a claim.
What should I bring to a free consultation? Bring any police reports, medical records, photos from the scene, and insurance information you have. If you don't have everything yet, most firms will still take the call and tell you what to gather next.
Do these firms only handle car accidents? No. Most handle a broad range of injury claims, including truck and motorcycle accidents, slip and falls, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, and wrongful death cases. Check each firm's focus area above to match your situation.