Two years sounds generous until you watch it work. Most of the material that decides a Lake Forest injury claim has a shelf life measured in weeks, and the filing deadline is the last constraint to bind rather than the first. The Law Offices of Michael W. Kopsick handles Lake Forest injury claims and the timing questions that quietly shape them.
What the Two Year Rule Covers
Actions for damages for an injury to the person must be commenced within two years after the cause of action accrued, under 735 ILCS 5/13-202 . That is the general rule and it reaches most of the auto accident claims the firm handles, along with falls and other negligence claims. Several situations sit outside it.
A claim against a local public entity runs on a shorter period. A claim brought for someone under 18 when the cause of action accrued runs from a different starting point, since Illinois allows that person two years after turning 18. Where either applies, the general rule is the wrong rule.
Treatment Gaps Cost More Than Time
The defense argument that appears most reliably in a Lake Forest file is not that the crash did not happen. It is that the injured person stopped treating for six weeks, therefore the injury resolved, therefore everything after the gap belongs to something else. That argument is answerable, but it has to be answered with contemporaneous records rather than later explanation. Tell each provider what hurts and when it started. The record of injuries from a fall is frequently thinner than the injury itself, for exactly this reason.
Where Lake Forest Evidence Goes First
Route 41 runs the length of the city between wooded banks, Griffith Road crosses the residential grid to the west of it, and the Metra commuter line runs through the center of town with several grade crossings. Physical conditions at those locations change with the seasons and with routine maintenance. A photograph taken in the first week records a scene that no longer exists by the time a suit could be filed, which is the practical reason the calendar matters long before the deadline does.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a personal injury lawyer in Lake Forest, IL if I am still inside the two year period?
The deadline is not the only clock. Records, footage, and physical conditions change well before it, so earlier is generally better.
Does the two year rule apply to a claim for my child?
Not in the same way. A person under 18 when the cause of action accrued may bring the action within two years after turning 18 under 735 ILCS 5/13-211.
How The Law Offices of Michael W. Kopsick Handles Injury Claims in Lake Forest
The firm builds the medical record deliberately rather than collecting it at the end, since the gap argument is easiest to defeat before it exists. The Law Offices of Michael W. Kopsick publishes the verdicts and settlements it has obtained for those who prefer specifics to adjectives.
Reviewing which deadline actually governs your situation takes one conversation and costs nothing. There is more than one clock in Illinois injury law, and the shortest one that applies is the one that counts. You can contact the firm to find out which it is.
Last reviewed: September 2026
This page was reviewed by Michael W. Kopsick, licensed in Illinois since 2014.
Content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed Illinois attorney for guidance specific to your situation.
