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Areas of Practice

Criminal

If you or a loved one has been charged with a crime, we understand that you may be afraid and may not know where to turn. Dealing with the criminal justice system for the first time can not only be scary but also intimidating; you need an experienced criminal defense attorney who understands the system and who will work aggressively to reduce your sentence or get the charges dismissed. Sam L. Amirante has over 30 years of experience in the crinminal court system and will do just that for you. We are here to help you. We handle various criminal charges for clients:

Criminal defense is about making sure the alleged wrongdoer's rights are not violated. Those who are accused of a crime are entitled to have an attorney represent them. They also have a right to remain silent so that their own words are not used to incriminate them.

Family

We can assist you in all areas of family law: divorce, property division, business/pension asset evaluation, child custody, visitation, spousal support/maintenance, and child support.

DUI

A DUI charge is very serious. Driving under the influence is a severe crime in every state. The consequences of a conviction are life-altering., You may face:

• Jail time
• Job loss
• Loss of driver's license
• Insurance coverage complications
• Impoundment of vehicle
• Ignition interlock device (BAIID Device)
• Probation
• Community service
• Alcohol education/treatment/assessment
• Restricted interstate or international travel

Any of these punishments can significantly affect your lifestyle. It is important that you have an experienced DUI defense attorney who knows the DUI laws and is passionate about protecting your license and your rights.

If you have been charged with DUI, the Illinois Secretary of State is already in the process of suspending your license. Should you fail to challenge the summary suspension within 46 days, the suspension with become effective for a period between 3 months and three years.

We have obtained dismissals and not-guilty verdicts in dozens of DUI cases where our client failed the breathalyzer test. If you have refused a breath test, our work as DUI defense attorneys is that much easier. We have lost very few DUI cases when our client refused the breathalyzer test and there was no accident.

Don't be pressured into pleading guilty to a DUI charge! The penalties are too severe. A drunk-driving conviction can affect your driving privileges, your insurance rates, and your freedom. If you win your case, you not only clear your record, but you won't have to pay fines, attend alcohol classes, or pay high-risk car insurance.

Traffic

While a speeding ticket may seem minor, an accumulation of traffic offenses could lead to driver's license suspension or even jail. Don't let this happen to you.

Civil

Unlike criminal prosecution, civil action is a lawsuit brought to court in order to receive damages or to recover a right. Civil litigation usually involves disputes of private law issues between individuals, businesses or non-profit organizations. At the same time, civil litigations can entail public law issues.

Possible civil litigation lawsuits include, but are not limited to:

Whether you are entering the lawsuit as the plaintiff or the defendant, it is important to have a qualified and specialized lawyer by your side. Contact Sam L. Amirante & Associates today for a consultation.

Personal Injury

If you or a loved one is suffering from an injury that has been caused by another's negligence or mistake, there are a number of things to take into account. There are your physical injuries to recover from. There may be financial issues as well. There are medical bills, and you may be missing work. Recovering from an injury can be a slow process. However, an experienced personal injury attorney can help you obtain a fair personal injury settlement and recover from the financial issues stemming from an accident. Our goal is to get you the maximum amount of compensation for your injury claims.

Medical Malpractice

Each year thousands of people are injured or die as a result of preventable medical errors. Negligence due to medical malpractice can occur in any environment where you receive treatment, and can include cases against doctors, nurses, or other health care providers. Examples of cases involving medical negligence include but aren’t limited to:

Police Brutality/Misconduct

Most police officers are good people who uphold their responsibility without taking advantage of their position of authority. However, if a law enforcement official uses unnecessary or excessive force and causes injury, you may have a claim for the damage caused.

Police brutality can include excessive physical force, physical assault, verbal abuse, violent threats, false arrests, sexual abuse or assault, intimidation, racial profiling, or other kinds of discrimination by police officers, prison guards, and law enforcement officers or officials. The psychological and emotional trauma that comes from this type of brutality can be severe, especially as law enforcement officers are entrusted with protecting people, not violating or abusing them. Violence caused by police brutality can lead to serious personal injury, including wrongful death.

Many people who are abused or assaulted by the police feel there is nothing they can do to seek justice. However, police officers are not above the law. Federal laws state that law enforcement officials can be held civilly liable for civil rights violations — including police brutality.

Sam L. Amirante & Associates personal injury lawyers demonstrate the full extent of your injury in order to recover maximum compensation on your behalf. This may include compensation for medical expenses (including expenses for counseling), time away from work, and other damages associated with your injuries