Practice Areas Overview

In Chicago, the law firm of Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC represents plaintiffs in personal injury and wrongful death actions caused by the negligent or wrongful conduct of another. While no amount of money can truly make up for a debilitating injury or bring back a loved one, we feel strongly that you should not be further burdened by having to shoulder any of the expenses or costs yourself. We believe that the responsible parties should be held accountable for their behavior, and we fight to secure the maximum money damages in every case.

Illinois Personal Injury Law

If you are injured due to the negligence or wrongful misconduct of another, the law allows you to recover compensation for your injuries from the responsible party. Typically, you can recover damages such as your present and future medical expenses, including costs for rehabilitation; lost wages from time missed from work due to the accident or if your injuries cause you to work at a diminished earning capacity or prevent you from working at all; and "noneconomic" damages such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, and emotional distress.

Obtaining this compensation, however, is rarely a simple or straightforward matter. As the plaintiff in a lawsuit, the burden falls upon you to prove all the elements of the case to the jury, including how the accident and injury occurred, why the defendant is responsible, and a justification of the money damages you are seeking. Most often, meanwhile, the defendant is represented by his or her insurance company, which employs a team of experienced insurance adjustors and sophisticated defense lawyers whose goal is to pay as little as possible or get out of paying anything at all. A common defense tactic is to deny responsibility while claiming that you yourself were to blame in causing the accident or injury. This means that at the same time you are having to prove the defendant's liability, you may be forced to defend yourself as well and prove that you were not responsible for the harm done to you.

Even if you are found to be partially to blame for causing the accident or injury, Illinois law still allows you to recover compensation, as long as you are not more to blame than the defendant (more than 50% at fault). For instance, you may have rear-ended in a car accident, but your injuries may be more severe because you were not wearing a seat belt. Or a doctor may have mis-treated you, but you waited an unreasonable time to seek help, while your condition worsened. We fight hard to see that you are not unfairly assigned any responsibility in the accident. In the event the jury finds you partially to blame, they will assign a percentage of fault to you, and your recovery will be reduced proportionately.

Below is a brief overview of our firm's major areas of practice. Please click on the headings of  interest to you for more in-depth information.

Nursing Home Negligence

Nursing homes can be held liable for physical or mental abuse, including the use of unnecessary restraints or isolation, as well as neglect, such as malnutrition, dehydration, or abandonment. Medication errors and other acts of negligence, including allowing bedsores to develop or failing to properly treat wounds and infections, are also common grounds for nursing home liability.

Medical Malpractice

Our office handles many different types of medical errors made by doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals, including prescribing or administering the wrong drug, failing to diagnose a serious condition or giving the wrong diagnosis, and surgical mistakes ranging from leaving foreign objects in the body to performing the wrong surgery on the wrong patient.

Birth Injuries

While a developing fetus may be harmed if the mother is involved in a motor vehicle accident, slip and fall, or other accident, most often birth injuries are due to medical malpractice on the part of the doctor, nurse, or other medical professional involved in the pregnancy, labor, or delivery. Our lawyers take cases involving injury to both mother and child, ranging from failure to properly monitor maternal or fetal health during pregnancy, to errors in the delivery such as improper use of forceps.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

Whether the case involves the negligent driver's liability insurance or the injured client's uninsured motorist policy, we work with the insurance company to negotiate a settlement that maximizes money damages for our client. We prepare every case for trial, and our willingness to go to trial and record of success helps make sure we achieve the best recovery possible, whether through settlement or jury verdict. We take cases involving automobile accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents and bicycle accidents.

Products Liability

When manufacturers place a defective product into the stream of commerce, they are generally liable for any injuries caused by use of the product, whether it was defectively designed, defectively manufactured, or failed to warn of dangers or provide proper instructions for its safe use. From toys and household cleaners to dangerous drugs to automobiles and industrial machinery, we investigate every accident to determine whether a product defect played a role. We stand up to big business and pharmaceutical giants and hold them accountable for their actions. Through products liability cases, we not only recover compensation for our clients but also help to change corporate behavior and make the world a safer place for everyone.

Construction Accidents

Construction workers face a high risk of personal injury or wrongful death compared to other industries and occupations. We represent workers injured in ladder falls, scaffolding collapses, crane and forklift accidents, electrocution and burns, and other industrial accidents, and help them achieve the maximum in money damages through workers' compensation or third party liability. Bystanders in building construction areas and occupants of motor vehicles passing by road construction zones may also be injured in a construction accident, and we present these clients as well.

Workers' Compensation

Workers who are injured on the job are entitled to compensation through the Illinois Workers' Compensation system, but navigating through that system can be a daunting task. We know the system and know how to get employees their money quickly and successfully. When any aspect of the claim is disputed, we represent the worker at all stages, from hearings before panels and the Commission to review and appeals in the civil court system. Our lawyers are familiar with all types of workplace injuries and work to see that our clients get the compensation they deserve.

Seek Experienced Legal Representation

At Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC, our attorneys have decades of experience in all types of serious injuries, whether caused by dog bites, slip and falls, or the most catastrophic accidents and tragedies. We limit our practice exclusively to representing plaintiffs in personal injury and wrongful death matters. Let us put our experience to work for you. If you have been injured or lost a loved one due to the negligence or misconduct of another in the Chicago area, contact Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC for a free consultation.