Jurisdiction Intelligence Report

Personal Injury Case Values in Illinois (2026)

Data-driven verdict and settlement analysis for Personal Injury cases in Illinois. Median outcome: $6.7M across 7 tracked cases.

Verdicts Tracked
7
Median Outcome
$6.7M
Mean Outcome
$14.0M
Range
$2.5M–$43.8M

Verdict Distribution

RangeCasesPercent
$1M–$5M343%
$5M+457%

Key Valuation Factors

Severity and permanence of plaintiff's injuriesCorporate or institutional status of defendantDegree of defendant's negligence and recklessnessPlaintiff's comparative fault under modified 50% bar ruleAvailability and strength of economic damage documentation

Key Trends & Insights

Illinois Personal Injury verdicts and settlements demonstrate a notably high-value landscape, with a median outcome of $6.7M and a mean of $14.0M driven upward by several substantial awards, including the $43.8M Kroft v. Viper Trans verdict and the $27.5M Klucker v. Zobrist result in 2025. The significant spread between median and mean signals the presence of outlier nuclear verdicts, a pattern consistent with Illinois' plaintiff-favorable jury pool and the absence of a general non-economic damages cap. Cases involving corporate defendants — particularly transportation and railroad companies — appear to attract the highest awards, suggesting that institutional defendants and systemic negligence narratives resonate strongly with Illinois juries.

Notable Cases

Klucker v. Zobrist $27.5M
2025 · Expert Institute

Grayson Klucker on motorcycle struck by Ashton Zobrist's pickup at intersection; severe leg injuries req 4 surgeries. Jury found defendant 100% liable after 4-day trial. Incl $421k med, $75k punitive, rest pain/suffering [Expert Institute](https://www.expertinstitute.com/resources/insights/illinois-

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Kroft v. Viper Trans, Inc. $43.8M
2025 · MDR Law LLC

Rear-end collision with semi-truck caused catastrophic injuries including spinal cord damage and vocal cord paralysis. Illinois Appellate Court vacated the $43.8 million verdict due to attorney social media misconduct during trial and ordered new trial.

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Heiston v. Illinois Railway LLC, et al. $11.0M
2024 · TopVerdict.com

Railroad worker injured in work accident due to failure to warn, FELA violations, lack of supervision/training. Suffered amputation and permanent disability. $10,958,000 verdict.

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Cozen, et al. v. RDK Ventures, LLC $6.7M
2024 · TopVerdict.com

Work accident from dangerous condition leading to gas explosion at premises. Plaintiffs suffered burn injuries. Awarded $6,729,225.55.

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Kozik v. Union Pac. R.R. Co. $3.5M
2024 · TopVerdict.com

Falling object in railroad work accident under FELA, causing brain injury. Negligent workplace safety. $3,515,000 verdict.

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