Practice areas: Personal Injury, Products Liability; view more
Licensed in Illinois since: 2012
Education: Marquette University Law School
Selected to Rising Stars: 2019 - 2026 Call today:
815-286-8377
Hupy and Abraham, S.C.
6952 Rote RoadSuite 200
Rockford, IL 61107 Visit website
As an associate attorney at Hupy and Abraham, S.C., located in Rockford, Illinois, James D. Carlson offers legal representation to clients in a wide range of personal injury matters. Focusing his practice on injury law, he advocates for individuals harmed by negligence and works to obtain fair compensation for those affected by serious accidents.
Mr. Carlson handles cases involving automobile, motorcycle, bicycle and trucking accidents, as well as pedestrian injuries, dog bites, and slip-and-fall incidents. He also represents clients in more complex matters, including drug and medical device litigation, dangerous drug claims, negligent security cases, and nursing home litigation involving abuse or neglect. Through both negotiation and litigation, he is committed to pursuing favorable outcomes for his clients.
Over the course of his legal career, Mr. Carlson has recovered more than $35 million on behalf of those he represents. His results reflect his dedication to advocating for injured individuals and holding responsible parties accountable. He is committed to guiding clients through each stage of the legal process with clarity and responsiveness. He understands the physical, emotional and financial challenges that often follow serious injuries and works to provide dependable legal support during difficult times.
Mr. Carlson earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2007. He went on to receive his Juris Doctor from Marquette University Law School in 2012, where he developed the legal foundation that supports his current practice. He was admitted to practice law in Illinois in 2012.
In addition to his legal work, Mr. Carlson maintains active involvement in several professional organizations. He is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, ABATE of Illinois, the Winnebago County Bar Association, the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and the Illinois State Bar Association.
Practice areas
Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff, Personal Injury - Products: PlaintiffFocus areas
Personal Injury - Plaintiff
- 80% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
- 20% Personal Injury - Products: Plaintiff
First Admitted: 2012, Illinois
Professional Webpage: https://www.hupy.com/bio/james-d-carlson.cfm
Bar / Professional Activity
- Illinois State Bar Association, 2012-Present
- Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, 2019-Present
- Winnebago County Bar Association, 2021-Present
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum, 2024-Present
- A.B.A.T.E. of Illinois, 2021-Present
- IL Trial Lawyer Association
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- PARKING LOT FALL BRINGS $410,000 FOR CLIENT Our client was in a parking lot walking to her car door when she tripped over a buckled section of pavement. She suffered an extensive fracture to her femur, and because of her visit to the hospital was exposed to COVID-19 and was hospitalized for over a month. Hupy and Abraham retained an expert witness to visit the scene of the accident and photograph the defects in the parking lot. Our expert discovered that the buckling in the parking lot was caused by improper paving over broken concrete. The insurance company adjuster reviewed our evidence, refused to make a settlement offer and claimed the parking lot had zero defects to cause our client’s fall. Attorney James Carlson moved forward with a lawsuit. The case was resolved at mediation for $410,000., 2022
- $100,000 FOR CYCLIST AFTER VEHICLE RUNS RED LIGHT Our client was driving his motorcycle through an intersection when a vehicle disregarded the red light and pulled out directly in front of him. The collision threw our client from the motorcycle and he suffered two compression fractures in his back. The at-fault driver claimed that he had a green light and based on his statement, his insurance company refused to make any kind of settlement offer. Attorney James Carlson filed a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. Within weeks, the insurance company agreed to tender their policy limits of $100,000., 2022
- INSURANCE COMPANY REFUSED TO PAY – SUPOENAED SURVEILLANCE LEADS TO $10,000 Our client was slowing down for a red light when her vehicle was rear-ended. The other driver claimed that our client came to a stop, put her vehicle into reverse and backed into him. Based on his statement, the insurance company refused to make a settlement offer. Attorney James Carlson moved forward, filed a lawsuit and subpoenaed a surveillance video that proved the other driver rear-ended out client. The case settled for $10,000., 2022
- $32,500 Lung contusion from motor vehicle accident, 2019
- $45,000 Our client was rear-ended by a truck owned/operated by the National Guard. She sustained soft tissue injuries to the neck and back and incurred $19,000.00 in medical bills. We secured a total settlement of $45,000.00 within three 3 weeks of presenting the claim to the government., 2017
- $100,000 UM policy limit claim for motorcycle accident and torn rotator cuff, 2019
- $250,000 Our client slipped and fell at a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant sustaining a hip fracture and over $90,000.00 in medical bills. The claim was initially denied until photos were produced showing a definitive piece of trim along the floor which caused the client’s fall., 2017
- $180,000 Our client suffered a knee fracture when she was completing a left turn at an intersection and the defendant ran a red light. The defendant sued our client and alleged that she was at fault. The defendant’s insurance company made a low offer of $80,000.00 due to the dispute over liability. We rejected and filed a counterclaim and secured a settlement of $180,000.00., 2017
- $280,000 Insurance company denied the claim for both of our clients, and placed the blame on an unknown vehicle that cut off their uninsured. The insurance company repeatedly refused to make any offers. I took the case to binding arbitration and recovered over $280,000.00 for both of our clients, including the $250,000.00 policy limits for one of the clients., 2016
- $25,000 Our client was on his motorcycle when the defendant made a U-turn from the opposite direction and slammed into him. The defendant’s insurance company, Allstate, repeatedly made offers lower than the claimed medical bills, and argued the amount of the bills was unreasonable. The case went through binding arbitration and we secured the $25,000.00 policy limits., 2017
Pro bono / Community Service
- Volunteering at Eviction Help Desk in Winnebago County Courthouse, 2019
- A.B.A.T.E. of Illinois, 2021
- Usher at First Free Church in Rockford, IL
- FirstLove International - volunteer work at orphanage and school in Kenya
Educational Background
- University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign – Bachelor of Arts, 2007
Honors
- Selected to the Illinois Rising Stars List, 2019 - Present
Selections
- Rising Stars: 2019 - 2026
