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This page explains local claim steps. To talk about representation, see how Voss Skoullos handles Chicago car-accident cases or call (312) 222-0202 for a free consultation.
Step 1: Identify which agency wrote the crash report
In Chicago, the reporting agency depends on where the crash happened. That determines where you request the report and who holds the officer's notes and any recorded statements.
- City streets: usually the Chicago Police Department. Keep the report (RD) number from the slip the officer gave you.
- Expressways such as the Dan Ryan, Kennedy, Eisenhower and Stevenson: usually the Illinois State Police.
- No officer came: if anyone was hurt or property damage passes the state threshold, the driver must notify police right away (625 ILCS 5/11-407), Chicago police for city streets or the Illinois State Police for expressways, and then follow that agency's reporting steps.
- Ordinary motorists no longer send a separate SR-1 motorist report to IDOT. That requirement was repealed in 2021.
Sources: 625 ILCS 5/11-407, Illinois State Police crash reports and IDOT crash reports.
Step 2: Check whether a public vehicle or road defect is involved
Claims involving the City of Chicago, the CTA or another public body follow different rules from a claim against a private driver. The deadlines are shorter, and some immunities apply.
- City of Chicago vehicles (for example, Streets and Sanitation trucks): suits against local public entities generally must be filed within one year (745 ILCS 10/8-101).
- CTA buses: a separate transit statute generally requires a personal-injury suit against the CTA to be filed within one year (70 ILCS 3605/41). The older six-month written-notice rule does not apply to injuries on or after June 1, 2009.
- Other public bodies, such as Metra, Pace or the State of Illinois, can follow different statutes or forums, so identify who owned the vehicle or road early.
- Potholes and road defects: a public entity is generally liable only if it knew or should have known about the condition (745 ILCS 10/3-102), so photos and prior complaints matter.
Sources: 70 ILCS 3605/41 and Public Act 96-0012.
Chicago evidence that disappears fast
- Private video from businesses, buildings and rideshare dashcams is often overwritten within days or weeks.
- Contact details for CTA passengers and pedestrians who saw the crash are hard to find later.
- Tow-yard and impound records affect when the vehicle can be inspected.
Step 3: Understand the Cook County court path
Most Chicago injury claims settle without trial. If a lawsuit is needed, it is usually filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County. Larger injury cases are typically heard in the Law Division at the Richard J. Daley Center, and smaller claims may be heard in the Municipal Department. Court-annexed mandatory arbitration can apply to lower-value claims. Which path fits depends on the facts and the amount claimed.
Chicago guides and data
Frequently asked questions — Chicago car accidents
How do I get my Chicago crash report?
If Chicago police responded, request the report from the Chicago Police Department using the report (RD) number on the slip the officer gave you. Crashes on the expressways are usually handled by the Illinois State Police, so that report comes from ISP instead.
What if a City of Chicago vehicle or a CTA bus hit me?
Suits against local public entities such as the City of Chicago generally must be filed within one year (745 ILCS 10/8-101). Personal-injury suits against the CTA fall under a separate transit statute and generally must also be filed within one year (70 ILCS 3605/41); the CTA's former six-month notice rule does not apply to injuries on or after June 1, 2009. Other public bodies can follow different rules, and missing a deadline can end the claim, so act quickly.
Where would a Chicago car-accident lawsuit be filed?
Most are filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County. Larger injury claims are typically heard in the Law Division at the Richard J. Daley Center; smaller claims may go to the Municipal Department. The right court depends on the facts and the amount claimed.
Is the main car-accident page different from this one?
Yes. The main car-accident page covers how Illinois claims work in general. This page covers the Chicago-specific steps: local reports, public-entity deadlines, and Cook County courts.
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