Steven Sigmond | Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer

• Chicago Bar Association Member
  1986 - Present
• Illinois State Bar Association Member
  1986 - Present
• Illinois Trial Lawyers Association | Member
• Chicago Bar Association, Solo/Small Firm Practitioners Committee Chairman
  1998 - 1998

• 10.0 Rating on Avvo
• A+ Rating by the Better Business Bureau
• Top 10 Attorney Award National Academy Of Personal Injury Attorneys
  2015
• Distinguished 4.0 out of 5.0 Martindale-Hubbell
  2014
• Chairman, solo/small firm practice committee Chicago Bar Association
  1998

A. T.H. came to me about a year ago with a workers comp case that had been pending for over two years. She works on an assembly line and a heavy part had fallen on her. The employer paid her benefits through shoulder surgery, and then expected her back at work. Her surgeon would not allow her to return to work. He said that there was also a cervical disc injury that required surgery, and that the pain from the shoulder tear had been masking the symptoms of the cervical herniation until after the shoulder repair was completed. The workers comp carrier refused to approve any cervical treatment or surgery, cut off her benefits, and ended up firing her. She came to me without benefits or the ability to work. I told her that we didn't need to accept the comp carrier's denial, we needed to push the case towards a hearing. We recently had that hearing, and the arbitrator ruled that the cervical injury was work-related and caused by the same work accident. The comp carrier was ordered to pay for all necessary treatment, and my client just had the cervical surgery. After recovery, she will be able to work again, and also eligible for a well-deserved settlement based upon both injuries. B. BR was hit by a car while riding his bicycle home from work on the Northwest side. He ended up needing elbow surgery. My client was riding along the left curb, because the right side of the road was a dangerous area - the road separated and the right side became a bridge with no shoulders, whereas the left side was along homes. The vehicle insured by State Farm had rolled through a stop sign without stopping, knocking my client off the bicycle and causing the elbow injury. State Farm's settlement offer was zero. They ""reasoned"" that since my client was along the left side, the fact that their insured driver had blown the stop sign didn't matter. They also blamed my client for causing his own injuries. I took the matter to trial, and received a significant jury verdict for my client.

Hard Work. I get in the office before 7:00 most days, and work at least 11 hours a day. I've also built a following of clients that know how hard I work, know that I care about them, and know that I do a good job.

Clients should know what lawyer is actually going to be handling their case. If a client comes to my office, they're going to meet with me. When we go to court, they're going there with me. If you call the guy on television with the cute rhymes, you'll never meet him. Same with the guy who's face is on the side of the bus. If you call one of them, you're case will likely be handled by a young lawyer with very little experience. Clients should insist on seeing the profile for the attorney who they will actually be working with.

Very Important. I've spent most of my adult life at the Daley center. I know how things work there. For that reason, I don't take cases in other parts of the State. I'm going to win more in my "home court"

In a free consultation, I'll evaluate a situation and tell people whether or not I think they have a viable case. If they do, I'll tell them how I would handle it, and what they should or should not be doing right away. I'll also answer any specific questions they have.

I need people to be honest with me. I just need to know what happened, how they got hurt, and what injury they've suffered. Many people call because they've never been in this situation before. In most cases, I have seen the situation before.

I work harder. And I'm more responsive to people. When people come to me from other law firms, it's usually because they weren't getting their calls returned. I can't promise always promise cases will go quickly, but I can promise that I'll be communicative with my clients.

When I'm able to help someone like the client described in the first answer. To get her something that she really needed and that she never would have had without the skill and determination of an effective advocate.

I'm an avid golfer, a big White Sox fan, and played softball for 30 years (just recently hung up the spikes)

Regrettably, no. There's only so many hours in the day. Neighbors can find me on Sunday afternoon out cutting the lawn, raking leaves or shoveling snow.