Free, confidential referrals connecting Chicago survivors of sexual abuse, assault, and serious personal injury with attorneys who dedicate their practice to civil justice.
If you experienced sexual abuse, assault, or a serious injury in Chicago, you don't need a criminal conviction — or even a police report — to pursue accountability. A civil claim is brought by you, on your terms, and decided on the preponderance of the evidence, a far lower bar than criminal court.
Civil claims can also reach the institutions in and around Chicago that enabled harm: schools and universities, religious organizations, employers, hotels, healthcare providers, youth programs, and rideshare platforms. For many survivors, institutional accountability is what makes a case both meaningful and financially viable.
Illinois sets the deadline for filing, and the law has been moving in survivors' favor. Here is where Illinois stands today — though only an attorney can apply it to the specifics of your case:
Illinois eliminated the civil statute of limitations for actions based on childhood sexual abuse (effective January 1, 2014).
Statutes of limitations change often and turn on the facts of your case. Confirm your current Illinois deadline with a licensed Illinois attorney — the consultation is free and confidential.
The most meaningful survivor cases often reach past the individual who caused harm to the institution that enabled it. In and around Chicago, that can include schools and universities, churches and religious organizations, youth sports and scouting programs, employers, hotels and hospitality venues, healthcare and treatment providers, juvenile detention and foster-care agencies, and rideshare platforms. Institutions are held to a duty to protect the people in their care — and when they ignored warnings, failed to screen or supervise, or actively concealed abuse, civil law can hold them responsible alongside the perpetrator.
A civil claim is about restoring what was taken and forcing accountability. Depending on the facts, compensation can cover the cost of therapy and medical care (past and future), lost income and diminished earning capacity, and damages for the pain, trauma, and life disruption a survivor carries. Where an institution's conduct was especially egregious, courts can also award punitive damages meant to punish and deter. No amount undoes the harm — but meaningful recovery can fund healing and signal that what happened mattered.
It usually begins with a free, confidential consultation — no commitment, just a conversation about your options. If you choose to move forward, your attorney investigates and builds the case, often filing under a pseudonym to protect your identity. Many claims resolve through a negotiated, confidential settlement; others proceed through discovery toward trial. Your attorney carries that weight so you don't have to, and you decide the pace and the goals at every step.
Coming forward does not mean going public. Survivor cases are frequently filed as "Jane Doe" or "John Doe," courts can issue protective orders to seal identifying information, and the vast majority of cases resolve in confidential settlements. A trauma-informed attorney builds privacy protection into the case from day one.
Look for a lawyer who specifically handles sexual abuse and survivor cases — not general practice — with a track record against institutions, a trauma-informed approach to intake, and contingency representation so you never pay out of pocket. The Survivor Justice Alliance exists to make that match for you, free of charge.
Share only what you're comfortable sharing. We match you with an alliance attorney serving Chicago and the surrounding area who offers a free, confidential consultation and works on contingency. There's no fee for the referral and no obligation to file.
The criminal system is only one path — and it is not controlled by you. The civil justice system gives survivors their own avenue to accountability and recovery. Here is a clear overview of your options.
Why holding the school, employer, or organization responsible — not just the individual who caused harm — is often the heart of a survivor’s civil case, and why it matters beyond any one person.
Most civil matters resolve without a trial. Here is a clear, non-pressured explanation of what a settlement is, how it differs from going to trial, and what confidentiality does and does not mean.
The fear of being exposed keeps many survivors from coming forward. The civil system has real tools to protect privacy — from "Jane Doe" filings to protective orders. Here is how they work.
Request a free referral through the Survivor Justice Alliance. We connect you with an attorney serving Chicago, IL who handles civil claims for survivors of sexual abuse and serious injury, offers a free confidential consultation, and works on contingency.
Alliance attorneys take survivor cases on contingency: no upfront cost and no hourly fees. The attorney is paid a percentage only if your case recovers compensation — and the referral itself is always free.
Possibly, yes. Illinois sets its own statute of limitations, and many states have recently extended or eliminated civil time limits for sexual abuse claims. A Chicago attorney can tell you exactly what applies — the consultation is free and confidential.
No. A civil claim proceeds independently of the criminal system and does not require a police report, criminal charge, or conviction. Many survivors win civil cases where the criminal system never acted.
Yes. Civil claims can hold schools, religious organizations, employers, hotels, healthcare providers, and youth programs in the Chicago area accountable when they enabled or ignored abuse.
Often, yes. Many survivor cases are filed as Jane or John Doe, courts can seal identifying information, and most resolve in confidential settlements. Your attorney can request these protections from the outset.
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