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Brain Injuries

Brain Injury Attorney in Sycamore, IL

Local Brain Injury Attorneys Serving DeKalb County Since 1981

When a traumatic brain injury disrupts your life, the attorney you choose matters. Turner Law Group has been representing personal injury clients from our Sycamore office since 1981, and brain injury claims are among the most serious cases we handle. Attorneys Rick Turner and Margie Komes Putzler work directly with clients in Sycamore and throughout DeKalb County, giving you real local access.

TBI symptoms don’t always appear immediately after an accident. Headaches, cognitive changes, and mood disruptions can emerge days later, by which time insurers are already building their case. Early legal counsel helps preserve evidence and protect your right to recover.

If you or someone you love has suffered a brain injury in Sycamore or the surrounding DeKalb County area, call Turner Law Group today at (800) 653-0198. Free consultations are available, and we offer same-day appointments.

Common Causes of Brain Injuries in the Sycamore Area

Most brain injury claims arise from accidents caused by another party’s negligence. The type of incident shapes how the claim is built and who can be held liable.

Leading causes of TBI-related personal injury claims:

  • Motor vehicle accidents: Car crashes and semi-truck collisions generate the force needed to cause moderate to severe TBIs, even when seatbelts are worn.
  • Slip and fall accidents: A fall that strikes the head on pavement, flooring, or a hard surface can produce injuries ranging from concussions to intracranial hematomas, which is bleeding within or around the brain.
  • Workplace accidents: Construction and manufacturing sites create conditions for falling objects and falls from heights that result in serious head trauma.
  • Medical malpractice: Anesthesia errors and oxygen deprivation during a procedure can cause brain damage without any external impact.

Brain injuries are classified along a spectrum from mild concussions and post-concussion syndrome to severe diffuse axonal injuries, where the brain’s nerve fibers are torn. That classification directly affects the scope of your legal claim and the compensation you can pursue.

Why Local Representation in Sycamore Makes a Difference

Brain injury cases are medically complex. They require an attorney who can coordinate with your treating physicians, obtain the right expert opinions, and document not just your current condition but the long-term care you may need. That work is easier when your attorney is down the street.

Our Sycamore office means DeKalb County clients don’t need to travel to Chicago to sit down with their attorney. If your injuries prevent you from coming to us, we’ll come to you. Rick Turner has served the local legal community for decades, including as City of DeKalb Corporation Counsel from 1987 to 1992 and as a certified mediator for the 16th Judicial Circuit since 1997. That familiarity with the courts and legal landscape in DeKalb County can translate into practical advantages for your case.

Insurance companies routinely attempt to minimize brain injury claims, especially when the injury doesn’t appear clearly on standard imaging. We handle all communications with insurers on your behalf and won’t recommend a settlement that doesn’t reflect the full cost of your injury. If a fair number can’t be reached, we’re prepared to take your case to trial. Legal services are also available in Spanish.

Credentials & Results That Back Our Approach

Rick Turner earned his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law in 1981 and has been in active personal injury practice since graduation. Margie Komes Putzler holds a J.D. from Northern Illinois College of Law and has been a member of the Illinois State Bar since 2015.

Rick Turner’s Peer-Recognized Credentials

Rick Turner’s standing in the legal community is reflected in recognition from multiple independent rating organizations:

  • Leading Lawyer in Illinois, personal injury and workers’ compensation (2004 to present)
  • Illinois Super Lawyers, plaintiff’s personal injury law (2013 to present)
  • Super Lawyers Top 100 in 2024
  • AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell (highest available rating for ethics and ability)
  • Avvo 10.0 Superb rating
  • Member, Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum

Case Results

Those credentials are backed by results. The firm has recovered verdicts and settlements including $4.25 million in a product liability and construction injury case, $2.9 million and $2.3 million in separate semi-truck versus auto collisions, $2 million in a premises accident, and $1.3 million in an auto accident. Past results don’t guarantee future outcomes, but they reflect how seriously we prepare and pursue every claim.

What Compensation Can a Brain Injury Claim Recover in Illinois?

A serious TBI can affect every aspect of a person’s life for years or permanently. Illinois law allows brain injury victims to pursue two categories of damages: economic and non-economic.

Economic damages cover the financial losses that can be calculated, including past and future medical bills, rehabilitation and therapy costs, lost wages while recovering, and loss of future earning capacity if the injury prevents a return to work. A severe TBI can require lifetime care, home modifications, and ongoing treatment, all of which belong in the economic damage calculation.

Non-economic damages compensate for what can’t be tallied on a spreadsheet: pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. These losses are real and can be substantial in a catastrophic injury case.

Illinois applies a modified comparative negligence standard. A victim who is less than 51 percent at fault may still recover damages, though the recovery is reduced by their share of fault. Our attorneys understand both damage categories and build cases to support the full value of each.

Illinois Filing Deadline for Brain Injury Claims

Under Illinois law, most personal injury claims must be filed within two years of the date of the accident. That deadline applies to brain injury claims as well. While Illinois’ discovery rule may apply in limited circumstances, the two-year period generally begins on the date of the incident. Claims against governmental entities may carry even shorter deadlines.

Waiting also carries practical costs. Witness memories fade, accident scene evidence disappears, and surveillance footage gets overwritten. The sooner you consult a brain injury lawyer, the better positioned your case can be.

Steps to Take After a Brain Injury in Sycamore

What you do in the days following a head injury shapes both your health outcome and your legal claim.

  • Seek medical care immediately: Emergency evaluation creates records that document the injury. Emergency rooms may not catch every TBI, so follow up with a physician who has experience treating brain injuries.
  • Preserve evidence: Keep accident reports, photographs, and witness contact information. Physical evidence disappears quickly.
  • Avoid statements to insurers: Don’t give a recorded statement or accept any offer before speaking with an attorney. Early low offers are common in brain injury cases.
  • Contact an attorney promptly: The sooner we can begin documenting your injuries and gathering evidence, the stronger your claim may be.

Contact a Brain Injury Attorney in Sycamore Today

Turner Law Group offers free consultations for brain injury victims in Sycamore and throughout DeKalb County, with same-day appointments available. We’ll handle the insurance companies while you focus on recovery.

Call us at (800) 653-0198 or reach out through our online contact form to speak with Rick Turner or Margie Komes Putzler directly.

Real People, Real Results

Over Millions Recovered for Those Injured
  • $1.1 Million Auto Accident
  • $1.125 Million Auto Accident
  • $647,500 Auto Accident
  • $450,000 Auto Accident
  • $1.3 Million Auto Accident
  • $625,000 Auto Accident

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FAQs

Common Answers To Your Questions
  • What qualifies as a personal injury?

    A personal injury generally refers to any bodily injury sustained in an accident, from minor bruises to severe brain trauma. The most common personal injury claims arise from harm sustained from traffic wrecks, slip and fall accidents, defective products, dangerous property conditions, and medical malpractice.

  • What is the personal injury statute of limitations in Illinois?

    Under state law, the statute of limitations (or deadline) for most personal injury claims in Illinois is two years from the date of the accident. However, for claims against governmental agencies, there are special limitation periods that may be as short as a year. You should always consult with an attorney on what particular limitations period might apply to your claim. You should seek legal help immediately, as a delay may be fatal to your claim. Unless you have a special exception, your claim will be thrown out if you attempt to file after the limitations period has passed.


    Because every personal injury claim is different, it is difficult to determine an average settlement. A victim who lost a limb will likely need to receive more in medical expenses than someone who broke an arm, for instance. Although personal injury claims tend to average anywhere between $3000 to $75,000—an extremely broad range—there may be significant economic and noneconomic factors in your individual case that may indicate that your particular claim would be valued at a significantly higher figure at trial in front of a jury. An attorney can help you estimate your unique losses based on the facts of your case. The knowledge of an attorney experienced in jury verdict value is extremely important. You should be entitled to make up for your specific losses at the very least.
     

  • What evidence is needed for a personal injury claim?

    Necessary evidence can vary case by case depending on the specifics of your situation. However, one of the most helpful pieces of evidence is your medical records. If you can prove that you sought medical attention for a serious injury after an accident, you are more likely to receive compensation to cover the expenses associated with said injury. Other helpful evidence includes any photographs of the accident scene, accident reports, witness statements, insurance forms, receipts, and any other physical evidence related to the injury.

  • What is the average settlement for a personal injury?

    Because every personal injury claim is different, it is difficult to determine an average settlement. A victim who lost a limb will likely need to receive more in medical expenses than someone who broke an arm, for instance. This means that personal injury claims tend to average anywhere between $3000 to $75,000—an extremely broad range. An attorney can help you estimate your unique losses based on the facts of your case. You should be entitled to make up for your specific losses at the very least.