COMMITTED TO HELPING INJURED BICYCLISTS
The Illinois Bicycle Lawyers at Keating Law Offices are the top law firm in Chicago, Illinois representing victims of bicycle accidents and crashes throughout Illinois. Keating Law Offices is a national leader in the area of bicycle-related litigation and is at the forefront of advocating for bicyclist's rights through aggressive representation. The firm's success in helping victims of bicycle accidents and their families stems from the sincere desire to help its clients. This is done by providing the absolute best legal representation and maintaining strong client relationships. The firm has successfully represented numerous victims of bicycle accidents and collisions in Chicago, the suburbs, Chicago's collar counties and throughout the rest of Illinois. In the process the firm has recovered literally tens of millions of dollars in compensation for its clients. Click here for a list of our RESULTS.
THE TRIAL ATTORNEYS
AND ADVOCATES AT KEATING LAW
Keating Law Offices is one of the first firms in the nation and the the most prominent Illinois firm that dedicates its practices to victims of bicycle accidents. The firm has handled several high profile bicycle-related cases and is known as a firm that is not afraid of handling complicated bicycle-related lawsuits and claims. In fact, many of the cases the firm handles have been referred by other attorneys and even former judges who know that the firm will get results. Keating Law Offices has tried cases before juries and judges in multiple counties throughout Illinois, arbitrated and mediated numerous cases, and otherwise successfully resolved hundreds of bicycle accident cases. The firm's absolute commitment is to the rights and safety of bicyclists.
Michael S. Keating
The firm is managed by Mike Keating, an Illinois bicycle attorney based in Chicago and founder of Keating Law Offices. Mike is considered one of the leading authorities on bicycle law in the United States. Mike currently serves as the Chair of the Transportation Committee for the Illinois Trial Lawyers Associations and has served as the Committee Chair for the American Association of Justice's Bicycle Litigation Committee and the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association's Legislative Committee.
Mike is also an elected member of the Board of Managers for the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. Mike has received honors from the National Trial Lawyers Association, the Leading Lawyers Network, SuperLawyers Magazine and Chicago Magazine. Mike has repeatedly been named as a "Leading Lawyer" in Illinois for 2019 and 2020, an award given to fewer than 5% of all lawyers in Illinois.
Mike is also proud to act as an advocate for bicyclists throughout Illinois. His representation of the family of deceased bicyclist Dennis Jurs led to "Dennis's Law," the Illinois law that specifies in the Illinois Vehicle Code that Illinois bicyclists are entitled to all of the rights to the roadways as motorists and that bicycles are vehicles under Illinois law. This legal change is considered one of the landmark decisions positively affecting the rights of bicyclists in Illinois.
Mike is actively involved in numerous bicycle-related civic organizations and is a frequent lecturer about bicycle law in Illinois. He has been the featured speaker on bicycle law at Continuing Legal Education seminars for other trial lawyers hosted by the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and the American Association for Justice. Mike has also presented to Ride Illinois at its annual convention.
As a part of his commitment to representing bicyclists, Mike has published several articles in legal journals about the rights of bicyclists and the threats posed to bicyclists on the roadways. His article on the risks posed to bicyclists injured using bike share bicycles entitled "Bike Share Roadblocks" was published in Trial Magazine in 2018. Mike's article "Bicycling In An Automobile's World" about the disparity between funding for bicycles versus motor vehicles when planning infrastructure was published in Trial Magazine in 2016. Also in 2016 Trial Journal published his article entitled "The Wheels of Change Keep Turning: Why The Popularity of Bicycling in Illinois Has Rendered Illinois Law Irrelevant" about why Illinois needs to take greater efforts to protect the growing number of bicyclists in the state.
Mike has appeared on NBC, ABC, FOX and CBS news regarding bicycle law. He was interviewed live on WGN-TV Morning News and was interviewed as a part of CBS Chicago's Investigative Report regarding unsafe bicycling conditions in Chicago. Mr. Keating was also the featured interview on WBBM radio regarding bicycling laws in Chicago and the topic of articles in the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, DNA Info, The Chicagoist and Crain's Chicago Business. Recently, he was recognized by Chicago Lawyer magazine for his successful resolution of two wrongful death cases in the same year that resulted in large settlements. In addition to being considered as one of the nation's leading authorities on bicycle law, Mike Keating is himself an avid bicyclist.
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Christopher C. Cortese
Attorney Christopher C. Cortese is a partner and trial lawyer who has dedicated his entire legal career to representing individuals and families devastated by serious personal injuries and wrongful death. Christopher is committed to helping injured clients obtain justice against negligent individuals, corporations, institutions, and insurance companies throughout Illinois and Wisconsin.
Christopher focuses his practice on complex personal injury and wrongful death litigation. Through aggressive advocacy and meticulous preparation, he has successfully tried numerous cases to verdict and secured substantial settlements and recoveries on behalf of injured clients and their families.
Christopher’s commitment to representing injured construction workers is deeply personal. Raised in a family of tradespeople, he spent summers during high school and college working as a plumber’s apprentice on commercial high-rise construction projects throughout Chicago. That firsthand experience working on active jobsites provides him with a unique understanding of the physical demands, safety hazards, and industry practices affecting plumbers, pipefitters, ironworkers, carpenters, electricians, masons, and laborers. His practical knowledge of construction operations gives him a strategic advantage when investigating construction site injuries and advocating for injured workers and their families.
A lifelong Chicagoan, Christopher grew up in the Portage Park neighborhood on Chicago’s Northwest Side and attended Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Illinois. He earned his Juris Doctor from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where he concentrated on trial advocacy and was consistently named to the Dean’s List. Prior to law school, Christopher graduated from Marquette University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, double-majoring in Writing-Intensive English and Spanish Language and Literature.
Christopher is admitted to practice law before the Illinois State Bar and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. He is an active member of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, the American Association for Justice, and the Illinois State Bar Association.
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M. Catelyn Viggiano
Catelyn Viggiano is a partner at the firm and the first female attorney at Keating Law Offices. Catelyn is known in the legal community for not only having a sharp legal intellect, but also a sincere kindness and sensitivity to her clients. Catelyn's successful legal work on behalf of a Chicago bicyclist was the subject of an article in Streetsblog Chicago.
She is also licensed to practice law in both Illinois and Florida. Catelyn is also very active in the legal community and is an active member of the Women's Bar Association of Illinois, the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association and the American Association for Justice. Catelyn has repeatedly been named an "Emerging Lawyer" by Leading Lawyers Magazine and also named a "Rising Star" by SuperLawyers Magazine. Catelyn is widely respected within Chicago's legal community and is a strong part of the fabric that makes up Keating Law Offices.
Catelyn's education has taken place entirely in the Chicagoland area. She went to law school at the University of Illinois - Chicago School of Law where she was a member of the Trial Advocacy & Dispute Resolution Honors Board and Council. Catelyn received awards in law school for obtaining the highest grade in her class for both Illinois Civil Procedure and Illinois Civil Motion Practice. Catelyn attended college locally at Elmhurst College where she was a four-year letter winner on the soccer team. She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her family.
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Jack Dassow
Jack Dassow is a trial attorney with
Keating Law Offices, P.C. who is dedicated to representing individuals and families in personal injury and wrongful death litigation throughout Illinois. Since joining the firm immediately after law school, Jack has focused his practice on helping injured clients navigate some of the most difficult moments of their lives while aggressively pursuing accountability against negligent individuals, corporations, and insurance companies.
Jack represents clients in a wide range of personal injury matters, including motor vehicle collisions, bicycle crashes, nursing home negligence, and wrongful death cases. He understands that serious injuries can permanently alter a person’s health, livelihood, and family life, and he is committed to helping clients secure the compensation and justice they deserve after a devastating injury.
Known for his compassionate and client-centered approach, Jack prioritizes communication, preparation, and individualized advocacy in every case he handles. He takes the time to understand each client’s concerns, goals, and circumstances in order to develop legal strategies tailored to their unique needs. Jack believes that effective representation requires both aggressive courtroom advocacy and meaningful personal attention to the individuals and families he serves.
Jack earned his Juris Doctor from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where he distinguished himself academically and through his commitment to trial advocacy and representing injured individuals. While in law school, he was consistently named to the Dean’s List and externed at the Richard J. Daley Center, serving as the sole judicial extern for the Honorable Thomas Lyons in the Cook County Law Division. During his final semester, Jack completed Loyola’s intensive trial practice workshops, gaining substantial courtroom and litigation experience that continues to benefit his advocacy on behalf of injured clients.
Jack is licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois and is an active member of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, and the American Association for Justice.
A Chicago resident, Jack lives in the River North neighborhood and is proud to advocate for injured individuals and families throughout Chicago and the surrounding communities.
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THE MISSION OF KEATING LAW OFFICES
The scope of the firm's representation is simple: Keating Law Offices is committed to assisting any bicyclist injured anywhere in Illinois at anytime. The firm's attorneys are always available to answer any questions regarding a case stemming from a bicycle accident or crash. The firm's attorneys can meet you any place that is convenient for you to discuss your case.
All initial consultations with the firm are completely free of charge and with absolutely no obligation. We are here to help. When Keating Law Offices does engage in a case we immediately begin investigating the case by obtaining police reports and witness statements. We regular conduct "site inspections" where we investigate the roadways, sight lines, and traffic control signals. In addition, we assist our clients with coordinating all necessary medical treatment and obtaining the medical records and medical bills necessary to help document our client's injuries.
Most often our immediate efforts are put towards engaging insurance companies and attorneys who are representing the people or corporations that caused the bicycle accident. This is often the most critical, and beneficial, action that we take on behalf of an injured cyclist. This allows the cyclist to focus on recovering from their injuries while we put forth every effort to ensuring the injured cyclist's rights are protected.
With regards to prosecuting the claim, we tailor our approach uniquely to each and every case. We do whatever is in the best interest of our client to obtain the absolute maximum result for them - whether this means obtaining an optimal out-of-court settlement or trying the case before a judge or jury.
CONTACT KEATING LAW OFFICES AT ANYTIME
The attorneys and the staff at Keating Law Offices are always here to help. Call the office at 312-239-6787 during the week or feel free to contact Attorney Mike Keating anytime at 312-208-7702. The firm's online operator and telephone operators and available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. All emails and phone calls are answered immediately. You can find more information about Keating Law Offices at our website located at KeatingLegal.com.
