About the Firm
Fighting for Illinois Injury Victims Since 2004
Hargrove & Associates was founded on a single conviction: injured people deserve the same legal firepower as the insurance companies and corporations that fight against them. Twenty years later, that conviction drives every case we take.
Founding partner James Hargrove spent three years on the defense side before switching to plaintiff's work — a decision he describes as the most important of his career. The inside knowledge of how insurers evaluate, defend, and minimize claims became the foundation of a plaintiff strategy that has now recovered over $847 million for Illinois families.
$847M+
Total Recovered
4,200+
Cases Won
98%
Success Rate
2004
Year Founded
What We Believe
Every client deserves trial-ready counsel.
We treat every case as if it will go to trial — because sometimes it does, and insurers know which firms mean it. Our preparation drives better settlements as well as better verdicts.
Transparency is non-negotiable.
We tell clients what we honestly think their case is worth — not an inflated number to win their business. We explain fees clearly, update them regularly, and never settle without their explicit approval.
The contingency model only works if clients win.
We advance every cost, take every risk, and collect nothing unless we recover for our clients. That alignment of interest is the foundation of how we operate.
Technology makes us better advocates.
We invest in AI-powered tools for case management, document analysis, and client communication — not to replace attorney judgment, but to make it faster, more thorough, and more effective.
Recognition & Bar Memberships
Illinois Super Lawyers
Multiple attorneys recognized, 2015–2024
Best Lawyers in America
Personal Injury Litigation — Plaintiffs, 2018–2024
Martindale-Hubbell
AV Preeminent Rating — Highest Possible
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Trial Lawyer of the Year, 2022
Illinois State Bar Association
Member, Tort Law Section
American Association for Justice
Member in Good Standing