A mass casualty incident can overwhelm families and entire communities in an instant. If you have been affected by a significant accident, disaster, or act of violence in Chicago or throughout Illinois, a Chicago mass casualty lawyer from our personal injury law firm is here to help.
In this Article
Do I Need a Lawyer After a Mass Casualty Accident in Chicago?
What Is a Mass Casualty?
Mass casualty events happen when the number or severity of injuries outpaces local emergency resources. These include major accidents, weather events, or violence at a public event.
Our team of personal injury lawyers is here to offer you and your family members guidance when you have suffered injuries in such events.
What Causes Mass Casualties in Illinois?
Mass casualty incidents can be natural disasters or those caused by human actions.
Environmental and Weather-Related Disasters
Severe weather and environmental events can cause sudden, large-scale harm. Examples include floods or storms that quickly overwhelm emergency services. An example is the 2020 Midwest Derecho, which caused 4 deaths, dozens of injuries, and $11 billion in damages.
Human-Caused and Operational Failures
Many mass casualty events result from actions or oversights. These may include:
Large fires or other disasters impacting neighborhoods or workplaces: Illinois saw 16 fatal fires that resulted in 19 fire-related fatalities in 2025, according to the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM)
Major transportation accidents: the 2023 Greyhound bus crash, with 3 passenger fatalities and 11 injuries—according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)—and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Yellow Line derailment, where 16 people were hospitalized and 3 people were critically injured (according to NTSB)
Violent incidents and mass shootings, including the 2022 Highland Park Parade Shooting (with 7 fatalities and 48 injuries)
Structural failures at public venues or workplaces
Poor crowd management, poor emergency planning, or negligent security at large events
Common Injuries in Mass Casualty Incidents
Mass casualty events can result in a range of serious injuries, such as gunshot wounds, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, crush injuries, compartment syndrome, fractures, internal bleeding, organ damage, burns, smoke inhalation, lacerations, amputations, emotional trauma, and PTSD.
No matter the severity, it’s important to seek prompt and thorough medical care to protect your health and create a clear record of your injuries.
Can Victims of a Mass Casualty Seek Compensation?
Victims and their families may be entitled to financial compensation for economic and non-economic damages:
Medical bills, medical expenses for ongoing care, and other costs of recovery
Lost wages and future lost income
Pain and suffering, including emotional distress
In fatal cases, death benefits may be available. Because liability and insurance can be complex, seeking prompt legal help protects your right to pursue justice and recover compensation.
Who May Be Liable for a Mass Casualty Event?
Multiple parties can share responsibility after a major incident. These may include drivers (e.g., in a school bus, car crash, or other motor vehicle accident), carriers (e.g., CTA, city bus lines, or trucking companies), individuals (e.g., mass shooters in gun violence cases), property owners and venues (e.g., stadiums, concert halls, or train stations), employers or contractors (e.g., construction firms or temp agencies on job sites), product manufacturers (e.g., train or bus equipment makers, safety device suppliers, or gun manufacturers), and government agencies (e.g., City of Chicago or the Illinois Department of Transportation).
What Illinois and City of Chicago Laws Address Mass Casualties?
Victims and families may seek compensation under several Illinois laws, including:
The Premises Liability Act (when an injury results from unsafe conditions or poor security), Wrongful Death Act & Survival Act (supports recovery for loss of life), Tort Immunity Act (special deadlines and notice rules that apply to claims against agencies such as CTA or City of Chicago), Metropolitan Transit Authority Act (for heightened safety obligations for public transit), Product Liability Statute (when faulty products or equipment may be to blame), and Dram Shop Act (when alcohol over-service plays a role).
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim in Illinois?
Filing deadlines are strict and differ by claim type:
Private defendants: by Illinois law, most personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits must be filed within 2 years of the incident (735 ILCS 5/13-202).
Public entities: shorter timelines and special notice requirements may apply for claims against agencies (like CTA, the city, or schools), under the Tort Immunity Act.
Missing a time limit can mean losing your right to compensation, so act promptly.
What to Do After an Incident
Seek medical treatment immediately and save your medical records.
Document the incident and gather witness contact information.
Preserve physical evidence and take photos of the scene and injuries.
Keep all medical bills, receipts, and official reports organized.
Don’t speak with insurers or sign documents before getting legal advice.
Contact an attorney in our personal injury law firm for guidance and to protect your rights.
How Can an Attorney Help with My Personal Injury Claim?
Our personal injury lawyers represent clients taking legal action against other parties with a personal injury case or wrongful death claim. We support you through every step of the legal process.
With deep knowledge of Illinois law, our law office has the financial resources to investigate the accident, gather evidence, calculate the worth of your case, ensure the responsible parties are held liable, and provide skilled negotiation with insurance companies to seek maximum compensation for your serious and catastrophic injuries.
With the proactive advice of an experienced attorney, you avoid costly mistakes and stay focused on your recovery—while your legal team builds your case and pursues fair compensation.
Call Us for a Free Consultation
Recovering from a mass casualty event takes legal support and trustworthy guidance to secure compensation in a civil lawsuit. Our experienced Chicago mass casualty lawyers offer a free case evaluation to explain the legal system to protect your rights and outline your legal options to pursue the compensation you deserve. We work on a contingency fee basis, eliminating up-front legal fees while you are dealing with mounting medical bills.
If you have been affected by a significant accident, disaster, or act of violence, a Chicago mass casualty lawyer can help.
$7.5 Million
Recovery for a construction worker injured when a support wall fell and struck him. (Highest award on record for a construction injury in DuPage County at the time).
$3.2 Million
Recovery for a construction worker injured when he fell in an uncovered foundation trench, ranking as the highest award on record for a construction injury in McHenry County at the time.
$3 Million
Recovery for the family of a man struck by a garbage truck that was making an illegal turn.
$2.2 Million
Recovery for a salesman injured in an automobile collision.
$2 Million
Recovery for a man struck by a speeding vehicle as he waited for the CTA bus.
$1.5 Million
Recovery for a truck driver that was struck by another car on the expressway while his vehicle was disabled.
$1.4 Million
Recovery for a computer programmer that slipped and fell in the washroom at work.
Recovery for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle in a parking lot. At the time, this was the second-highest recovery on record in DuPage County for a similar injury.
$800,000
Recovered for a disputed wrongful death claim against a trucking company. The company denied they were involved in the collision.
$660,000
Recovery for a truck driver that was injured while unloading his trailer.
$550,000
Recovery for a person who slipped and fell in a grocery store.
$550,000
Recovery for a woman who injured her neck in a motor vehicle collision.
$500,000
Recovery for a pedestrian that was struck by a vehicle while standing on the sidewalk.
$460,000
Recovery for a truck driver that tripped and fell in the parking lot while making a delivery.
$450,000
Recovery for a dental assistant who slipped and fell at work on an unnatural accumulation of ice.
$425,000
Recovery for a union worker struck by a speeding vehicle.
$425,000
Recovery for a passenger in a vehicle struck by an inexperienced driver.
$415,000
Recovered for a woman that required neck surgery after aggravating an existing neck injury in a truck accident.
$400,000
Recovery for a lab technician injured while transporting equipment.
$370,000
Recovery for a construction worker injured on faulty equipment at a construction site.
$315,000
Recovery for a motorist struck by a falling utility pole.
$310,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$300,000
Recovery for a bicyclist struck by a vehicle.
$250,000
Recovery for a young woman struck by another vehicle.
$250,000
Recovered for a woman who sustained a partial finger amputation and other injuries in a rollover car accident. (Policy Limits)
$250,000
Recovered for a man injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$250,000
Recovered for a 60-year-old woman involved in a car accident. (Policy Limits)
$250,000
Recovered for a man hit by a semi-truck while operating a go-cart.
$240,000
Recovery for the injured party struck by another vehicle.
$235,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$235,000
Recovery for an inventory clerk injured when shelving toppled onto her.
$219,000
Recovery for a restaurant patron that slipped and fell in the bathroom.
$200,000
Recovered for an airline employee struck on the runway at O’Hare International Airport.
$190,000
Recovery for a person injured in a motor vehicle collision.
$175,000
Recovered for a child injured by fireworks at a fourth of July celebration.
$170,000
Recovered for a person injured when she slipped and fell exiting a major retail store.
$150,000
Recovered for a woman who fractured her leg when she was struck by a vehicle.
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Great service. They helped me get my money, and everyone was very pleasant even though the health insurance took a while. Everything was on point on Kryder’s side.
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