What to Ask Your Potential Illinois Personal Injury Attorney

How can you determine whether you want to hire a specific attorney? Open the phone book or search on the internet and you are faced with a long list of attorneys and law firms that want to take your case. That is where we can help. We can help you narrow that seemingly endless list of attorneys to find you the best possible attorney for your unique situation. Contact us and one of our lawyers will point you in the right direction. All calls are free and confidential.

No matter who you are considering hiring as your Illinois personal injury lawyer, we recommend that you ask certain questions before agreeing to be their client.

Many lawyers are general practitioners who handle a wide variety of cases. In a serious injury case a jack of all trades attorney is not right for you. Ask how much of the attorney’s practice is devoted to personal injury. Preferably, personal injury cases represent 90% or more of the attorney’s caseload, usually 100% of their practice for firms you’d consider for serious injuries. If they handle accident cases along with divorce, criminal, etc. we suggest that you keep looking.

Ask whether the attorney has handled cases similar to yours. We recommend that you find a lawyer with the most experience with the type of problem that you have. Personal injury is a specialized practice and you want to hire an attorney with a proven track record of success with the issues in your case. This is especially important if you have a unique claim like asbestos exposure, sexual abuse or something complex like a traumatic brain injury.

Ask what the attorney can do for your case. Your personal injury attorney should know what is needed in order to build a solid case on your behalf. With experience comes valuable insight. Your attorney should have seen many personal injury cases before and should be able to guide you and enlighten you about things you may have not yet considered.

Most law firms publish the success they have had. Don’t hesitate to ask for information on past results the firm has achieved.

Ask whether the attorney is familiar with the judges and lawyers in the county where your case will be filed. Simply put, success or failure can hinge on a lawyer’s familiarity with the procedures and people of the court where your case will be heard.

Ask whether the attorney you are hiring is going to be the one that will primarily handle your case. Some personal injury firms in Illinois have the potential client meet with an experienced partner at first, only to then dump the case on a younger associate that is getting his feet wet with your case. We never recommend firms that do this because again, experience in personal injury cases is so important.

Ask how you and your lawyer will communicate. It is very important that your personal injury lawyer can communicate well with you. You are the client, and the lawyer should take or promptly return your calls, emails, or to meet you in person. Your attorney should always keep you updated on any changes or major developments in your case. If your attorney is so swamped that he or she doesn’t have time to respond to your correspondence in a timely manner, then it may be time to seek other representation.

Ask how the attorney will be paid. Most personal injury attorneys are paid on a contingency fee basis. This means that unless the injured employee secures a recovery against the employer, there is no attorney’s fee charged. If the attorney will not take your case on a contingency basis, find another attorney. Make sure you get the fee agreement in writing.

Also, ask whether the costs associated with your case, such as obtaining medical records or paying expert witness fees, will be advanced by attorney. Confirm that you are not responsible for these costs upfront. Because your case is handled on a contingency basis, your attorney should only receive money after your case is over and only if you recover.

Each situation is unique, that is why there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all Illinois personal injury lawyer. If you have any questions about your situation or would like a referral to an experienced Illinois personal injury attorney who will work hard for your case, please contact us.