Thomas P. Polacek
Attorney
Tom practices primarily in the area of personal injury, representing the seriously injured in state and federal trial courts. He also represents clients in criminal defense and DUI matters, as well as in general administrative litigation. Tom has litigation experience before trial and appellate courts in Missouri and Illinois, including arguments before the Illinois Supreme Court. He has represented clients and tried cases in U.S. Federal Courts in the Illinois Central and Northern Districts.
Tom was an academic All-American football player at Washington University in St. Louis, and is married to a former national champion volleyball player. He maintains a strong interest in all sports and counts riding his bicycle, reading fiction, and listening to music as his leisure activities.
Through his three very active children, Tom is involved with the Joliet Park District, the Inwood Figure Skaters Competitive Team, and the Juventus Soccer Club of Shorewood, Illinois, as well as the Joliet YMCA and Joliet Montessori School. He was a member and former President of the Will County Bar Association, and continues to be involved in that organization as part of its Past Presidents Committee.
Practice Areas
Bar Admissions
- Missouri, 1992
- Illinois, 1993
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 1994
Education
- Washington University School of Law, 1992, J.D.
- Washington University in St. Louis, 1988, A.B.
Testimonials
"Tom Polacek handled by bodily injury claim. At our first meeting Tom gathered all my information, and he totally took it over from there. Throughout the process Tom and his staff did a great job communicating on a weekly basis. My case was closed in a timely manner with great results. Over the past 5 years I have hired Tom for other things also. His firm has helped me with real estate closings (Brian Cichon) estate planning (John Rossi) and I have referred people to the firm for help with divorces. This firm will continue to handle any and all things I need help with."
"Tom Polacek handled my case in an extremely competent and professional manner. His efforts to reach a prompt and fair settlement is greatly appreciated. I will gladly recommend his services to my family and friends. I also want to thank Susan for her hard work."
"Attorney Tom Polacek's skill and expertise were invaluable in the handling of the mountains of medical bills and other paperwork which were the result of a car accident! Attorney Polacek was honest and fair and told us what to expect every step of the way. Because of his knowledge in dealing with auto accidents, Attorney Polacek was able to negotiate a fair settlement for us without having to go to arbitration. We will forever be grateful for his help."
"Attorney Tom Polacek and his staff handled my personal injury case with professionalism and the knowledge I needed to get through a tough journey. He kept me informed and updated on all issues in a timely manner. I would highly recommend Tom to my friends and family in need of any legal advice."
"This was our first experience with a personal injury attorney. Tom Polacek and his staff were easy to contact and easy to work with. He always kept us updated on the progress of our case. All decisions were made after we either had an office or phone consultation with Mr. Polacek and he always thoroughly explained all of our options to us. Mr. Polacek is very professional, honest, respectful, easy to work with and helped us bring closure to our situation. We highly recommend Tom Polacek and wouldn't hesitate to hire him again if needed."
"Unfortunately, we had to use Tom on multiple occasions due to some personal and delicate situations. Tom took the time to explain and ensure all of my expectations were realistic. Both my wife and I view Tom as a friend now, he has the unique ability to dissolve the "Lawyer" stereotype and just would get it done for us. A true pleasure to work with."
"Tom Polacek was fantastic in handling our car injury case. He gave us realistic expectations and didn't make promises he couldn't keep. He was totally ethical, competent, and genuinely wanted to help us with a relatively small case. I was very satisfied with both the process and the outcome. His assistant Susan was just as professional and pleasant, too".