Bloomington Personal Injury Lawyer
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Recover Compensation in Your Personal Injury Case
Did you suffer serious injuries because of someone else’s negligence or reckless behavior?
You have the right to receive fair compensation from the at-fault party who caused you harm.
Unfortunately, getting the insurance company to pay out a fair settlement isn’t as easy as it sounds. Without an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side, you’ll struggle to recover enough compensation to pay for your medical bills, let alone your lost wages and pain and suffering.
That's where Bloomington Personal Injury Attorney Terry W. Dodds Comes In
With over 20 years of experience obtaining successful outcomes in personal injury cases in Illinois, Terry has earned a reputation for providing top-notch legal services to Bloomington residents.
Our law firm has recovered millions in settlements and verdicts for our clients.
Recover Compensation in Your Personal Injury Case
Did you suffer serious injuries because of someone else’s negligence or reckless behavior?
You have the right to receive fair compensation from the at-fault party who caused you harm.
Unfortunately, getting the insurance company to pay out a fair settlement isn’t as easy as it sounds. Without an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side, you’ll struggle to recover enough compensation to pay for your medical bills, let alone your lost wages and pain and suffering.
That's where Bloomington Personal Injury Attorney Terry W. Dodds Comes In
If you were seriously injured in Bloomington or elsewhere in McLean County, personal injury lawyer Terry Dodds can help you get maximum compensation for your losses. At Dodds Law Office, PC, we’ve helped accident victims in Illinois recover millions in verdicts and settlements.
Terry W. Dodds is a skilled trial attorney with over 20 years of experience in personal injury, workers’ compensation, and criminal defense across Illinois.
Why Hire a Personal Injury Attorney?
Hiring a lawyer can have a significant impact on the outcome of your case. People and businesses in Illinois owe a duty of care to act reasonably to prevent causing harm to others. When another person or company breaches this duty of care and someone gets hurt, victims can file a personal injury claim to hold the at-fault party liable.
If you’re the injured party, and the insurance company or large corporation fails to offer you a fair settlement, you and your family members are left to foot the bill.
Without legal help, you risk:
- Paying out of pocket for someone else’s mistakes
- Facing mountains of medical bills
- Letting the at-fault party escape accountability
You shouldn’t have to pay for someone else’s negligence. Fortunately, you have an opportunity for recourse.
We Can Help You File a Personal Injury Lawsuit
Don’t attempt to handle your personal injury case on your own. It might seem like the easiest way to put this unfortunate incident behind you, but small mistakes in your case could lead to an even smaller recovery and significant problems down the road.
Our law firm can help you recover up to three times more than if you handle your personal injury lawsuit on your own.
We Will:
Gather Evidence to Prove Liability for Your Injuries
We will work to uncover evidence that other Bloomington personal injury lawyers often miss. It is in these small details that complicated cases are won. We’ll work with accident investigators to determine how your accident happened. Then we’ll identify the parties who may have contributed to causing your injuries.
Calculate the Available Damages for Your Claim
If the other side offers a settlement agreement, and you accept it without carefully thinking through the consequences, then you run the risk of not having the financial support you need to recover from your injuries. We will evaluate your economic and non-economic damages, making sure nothing is missed, to provide you with an estimate of what your case is worth.
Negotiate with Insurance Companies
Settlement negotiations with insurance companies are a vital part of the recovery process, and they are not something you should go through on your own. The more complicated your case is, or the more serious your injuries, the harder insurance companies will fight to avoid paying your claim. At Dodds Law Office, our law firm will handle all communication with the insurer for you, so you can concentrate on your medical treatments, and getting better.
Represent You at Trial
If settlement negotiations are unsuccessful, your case will go to trial. Entering the courtroom without legal representation is one of the worst mistakes you can make as an injured party. Without a lawyer who is experienced with personal injury law, jury trials, and civil litigation, most people never complete their lawsuits. They often lack the evidence necessary to prove their injuries, or liability, or both. Oftentimes, valid injury cases are simply dismissed.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Illinois?
Illinois places a two-year statute of limitations on personal injury lawsuits. This means you generally have just two years from the date of your accident to file your lawsuit. However, initiating your claim sooner, rather than later, increases your chance of achieving the best possible outcome.
Filing a Lawsuit for a Child Who Suffered Injuries
Cases involving minors have special provisions regarding the amount of time victims have to seek damages in Illinois. Child victims of car accidents, trucking accidents, and other personal injury incidents have up to eight years from the date of the accident to take legal action. However, the time limit expires on the victim’s 22nd birthday.
Filing a Claim After a Fatal Accident
If your loved one died because of someone else’s negligent or reckless behavior, such as in a motor vehicle accident, a slip and fall accident, or because of a defective product, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim to recover damages. In Illinois, there is a two-year statute of limitations for wrongful death lawsuits. The clock begins ticking on the date of the victim’s death, rather than the date of the accident.
To speak directly with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Bloomington, IL, call Dodds Law Office at at (309) 829-9300 FREE consultations.
How Much Is Your Personal Injury Case Worth?
The value of your claim is determined by various factors in your case. For cases involving more severe injuries, awards are typically higher because medical treatment costs are higher. Victims of more serious accidents are also more likely to sustain a permanent disability and miss more time from work during recovery. Both of these factors contribute to a higher settlement value.
In addition to medical costs and lost wages, several other factors can increase the value of your injury case.
- Pain and suffering you’ve endured
- Emotional damages (such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD)
- Future lost wages due to reduced working capacity
- Loss of consortium
Your lawyer will evaluate all your losses when calculating damages in your case to make sure your settlement is enough to pay your bills and help you get back on your feet. This includes your:
Economic Damages
Economic damages are those that carry a set financial value. Examples of economic damages include medical care costs, lost wages, and costs for medical equipment or prescriptions. Injury lawyers in Bloomington will review your bills, receipts, and wage statements to determine your economic damages.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are subjective, and not tied to a monetary value. Typically, non-economic damages include emotional trauma, such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety, loss of consortium, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, and physical pain and suffering. Your lawyer will use your medical records, expert opinions, and statements from your medical team to help prove these damages.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are reserved for cases where the at-fault party’s actions were egregiously negligent or intentional. Examples include motor vehicle accidents where the at-fault party was intoxicated, or car accidents involving road rage. Punitive damages are calculated on a case-by-case basis and are less common than economic or non-economic damages.
Types of Injury Cases Our Law Firm Handles
We represent accident victims in a wide range of cases in Illinois. These include, but are not limited to:
Slip and Fall Accidents
Were you injured in a slip and fall accident on a Bloomington business property or public sidewalk in McLean County? If you lost income, or you required medical care for your injuries, you may be entitled to compensation. Our law firm can help you sue the negligent property owner, manager, or other responsible parties.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
If you suffered injuries in a car accident, truck accident, or another type of motor vehicle accident, you may have a valid claim against multiple parties. We will investigate your case to identify all at-fault drivers and other negligent parties who may have played a role in causing your car accident injuries.
Product Liability Claims
Although manufacturers and retailers owe a duty to consumers to make sure their products are relatively safe, dangerous products are lurking everywhere in central Illinois. When negligent product manufacturers and retailers put profits before people and someone is injured, we make sure justice is swift.
Nursing Home Abuse
When a loved one moves to a nursing home in central Illinois, it is expected that the resident will be treated with a standard level of care and respect. Sadly, thousands of nursing home residents suffer severe physical and emotional abuse and neglect at the hands of their caregivers. If your loved one was abused or neglected in a nursing home, they have the right to receive compensation from the healthcare professional or nursing home facility.
Injuries Commonly Seen by Attorneys in Bloomington
From minor scrapes and bruises to catastrophic injuries, personal injury attorneys in Bloomington, IL have seen it all. Some of the most common injuries in central Illinois include:
Is an amazing attorney will work with you, he’ll talk with you and help you and fight for your settlement to the Max and to the best of his ability I suggest going to him, he’s very honest, and he fights to the end thank you, Terry
Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Injury Claims in Bloomington, IL
1
What Factors Make up A Sound and Viable Personal Injury Claim?
A strong personal injury claim typically rests on three core elements: significant damages, clear liability, and a recoverable source of compensation. Each one must be present for your case to move forward successfully.
- Substantial Damages or Injuries
You must have experienced real harm—physical injuries, emotional trauma, or financial losses. For instance, a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or multiple fractures that require surgery and long-term care would likely qualify. Without significant damages, there is no claim to pursue. - Provable Liability
There must be clear evidence that someone else was at fault—whether it’s another driver, a property owner, or a negligent employer. Liability must be backed by documentation, eyewitness accounts, expert testimony, or physical evidence. If no one else is legally responsible, the case will not hold. - A Source of Financial Recovery
Even if you’re seriously injured and someone else is clearly at fault, there must be an insurance policy or financially viable party to pay your claim. For example, if the at-fault party only carries the state minimum coverage and has no personal assets, your compensation may be limited to the policy limits.
These three elements—damages, liability, and recovery potential—must exist together for a personal injury claim to be successful. If any piece is missing, even a seemingly strong case can fall apart.
2
How Important Are Evidence and Witnesses in a Personal Injury Case?
Evidence and witnesses can make or break your personal injury case. Without them, even a legitimate claim can fall apart. Documentation, physical proof, and credible testimony provide the foundation for proving fault and recovering compensation.
Why Evidence Matters
In personal injury claims, you must prove that the other party was negligent and that their actions caused your injuries. That means gathering:
- Photos and videos of the accident scene
- Medical records and bills to document your injuries and treatment
- Surveillance or dash cam footage
- Black box data in truck or vehicle crashes
- Property damage reports
- Accident reconstruction or expert opinions
Preserving this evidence early is crucial. For example, vehicle data can be lost, destroyed, or overwritten if a preservation letter isn’t sent quickly. A skilled personal injury lawyer will act fast to secure and protect these materials.
Why Witnesses Are Critical
Eyewitnesses provide third-party accounts that help confirm how an accident happened. Their statements can support your version of events or contradict the at-fault party’s narrative. Unbiased, timely witness testimony can significantly strengthen your case—especially when liability is disputed.
Some cases also rely on expert witnesses, such as:
- Medical experts to explain the extent of your injuries
- Economists to calculate lost earning potential
- Accident reconstructionists to clarify how the crash occurred
If you wait too long to gather evidence or contact witnesses, critical information could disappear, and memories may fade. That’s why it’s essential to contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
3
Should You Keep a Diary or a Journal After an Accident?
Yes — keeping a diary or journal after an accident can be a powerful tool in your personal injury case. It helps document your recovery process, symptoms, daily pain levels, medical visits, emotional struggles, and the overall impact the injury has had on your life.
Why a Journal Matters
Personal injury claims often involve non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. These are hard to prove with just medical bills. A well-maintained journal:
- Tracks your day-to-day pain, mobility issues, or sleep disruptions
- Provides a timeline of doctor visits, surgeries, and therapies
- Shows how your injury affects your job, family life, and mental health
- Offers real-time insight into your physical and emotional condition
This kind of record can help your attorney build a more compelling narrative and demonstrate the full extent of your damages to insurance companies or a jury.
Can Your Journal Be Used as Evidence?
Yes. In many cases, your diary or journal can be submitted as evidence under the hearsay exception for statements made at or near the time of an event. While not every entry will be admissible in court, your notes can still help refresh your memory and support your testimony.
Start documenting right away. Even simple things like “I couldn’t pick up my child today” or “I missed another day of work” help paint a fuller picture of your suffering.
4
Can I Still File a Claim if I Was Partially at Fault?
Yes. Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which means you can still recover compensation as long as you were less than 50% at fault for the accident. However, your damages will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you’re awarded $100,000 but found to be 20% at fault, you’ll receive $80,000. An experienced lawyer can help counter aggressive insurance tactics that try to assign you more blame than you deserve.
5
How Long Will My Personal Injury Case Take?
The length of a personal injury case in Illinois depends on several factors, including the complexity of the case, severity of your injuries, whether liability is disputed, and how willing the insurer is to settle. Some claims resolve in a few months, while others — especially those involving serious injuries — can take a year or more. At Dodds Law Office, we work to settle your case efficiently, but never at the expense of full compensation.
6
Do I Need a Lawyer if the Insurance Company Offers a Settlement?
Yes. Insurance companies often make lowball offers, hoping you’ll accept before you understand the full value of your claim. A settlement might not cover future medical care, lost wages, or long-term pain. Once you accept an offer, you typically can’t ask for more later. An experienced personal injury attorney can evaluate the offer, negotiate better terms, or file a lawsuit if necessary. Never sign anything without legal review.
7
What If I Can’t Afford a Personal Injury Lawyer?
You can still get legal help. At Dodds Law Office, we work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing upfront. We only get paid if we win your case. That means you get access to top-tier legal representation without worrying about legal fees while you’re recovering. Your consultation is free, and if we don’t recover compensation on your behalf, you owe us nothing.