{"id":373127,"date":"2016-03-31T21:35:11","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:35:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/illinois-law\/illinois-negligence-laws.html"},"modified":"2023-01-05T12:16:31","modified_gmt":"2023-01-05T17:16:31","slug":"illinois-negligence-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/illinois-law\/illinois-negligence-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Illinois Negligence Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Illinois Negligence Laws<\/h1>\n
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\n By FindLaw Staff<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Garrett Monteagudo, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Maybe it was a fender bender in traffic in The Circle. Or maybe you slipped on that section of the sidewalk your neighbor never shovels. Either way, if you’re injured and you think it was someone else’s fault, you may be asking yourself if you have a negligence claim. So how does such a claim work, and what are the state laws<\/a> regarding how much you can get for your injuries?<\/p>\r\n

Here’s a brief summary of negligence laws in Illinois.<\/p>\r\n

Elements of a Negligence Case<\/h2>\r\n

Negligence describes a situation when someone owes a duty to another person and fails in that duty, therefore becoming liable for any resulting injuries reasonably related to a person’s negligence. For example, a surgeon who leaves a scalpel inside of a patient which causes an infection may be held liable for medical malpractice. Illinois negligence laws recognize contributory negligence, in which the plaintiff can also be found to be partially at fault for his or her own injuries.<\/p>\r\n

If you believe someone else was negligent and therefore liable for your injuries, in order to win in court you must prove all of the elements of a negligence case<\/a>:<\/p>\r\n