Tips For Selecting A Personal Injury Attorney In Chicago

Have you been injured through no fault of your own? Even the best household budget and responsible savings habits can fall short when an unexpected accident puts you out of work and starts filling your mailbox with medical bills. Disaster has a way of striking at the exact moment when we’re least prepared.

Fortunately, despairing and accepting the debt isn’t your only option. If someone else caused the accident and your injury, even indirectly through negligence or inaction, they could be liable to cover your costs.

No one deserves to go bankrupt, just because of someone else’s careless actions or unsafe conditions in a store or home. Your first step to seeking redress and finding out what your options might be is to find a lawyer. Here are a couple of tips to help you find the right lawyer to take your case:

Shop Around

Take your time to find a lawyer to guide you in your claim. In the state of Illinois, the statute of limitations gives you up to two years to file a claim against someone for an injury they’re liable for. This is meant to give you time to recover from your injury and seek legal representation.

Even if you really like the first attorney you talk to, don’t commit or sign anything until you’ve had the chance to meet at least a few more. They shouldn’t charge you for a consultation, so explore your options and see what each one says about your case.

Pick a Lawyer You Trust

Once you’ve chosen a Chicago personal injury lawyer to start working with, you’re going to rely on them for a long time. Personal injury lawsuits typically don’t resolve very quickly, and it could take months, or even years, especially if it goes to trial.

This lawyer is going to be your partner and advocate throughout the entire process to come. If you’re going to be counting on this attorney so much to help you win the case and get the compensation you need, you need them to be someone you can really trust to have your best interests in mind.

Ask for Recommendations

The best way to find good attorneys in your area is to start with people you know. Check with family and friends in your social network and see what experiences others have had with various lawyers. See what suggestions people can give you.

After you’ve checked with the people around you, it’s time to expand your search. Find a legal database online to find more attorneys in your area if you’re not sure where to start. You can also look for local reviews on each of these attorneys to see what other clients have said in the past.

Find Lawyers That Have Done Cases Like Yours

Different attorneys have different specialties. The field of law is so big and complicated that it’s impossible for any attorney to be competent in every area. Even within the specific field of personal injury law, you will find attorneys accustomed to particular types of cases within that field.

As you meet with different lawyers, look them up or ask them directly about the work they do. The lawyer that is best prepared to get you what you need is the lawyer that has succeeded in dozens of cases like yours in the past. That’s how you know that a lawyer can get you results.

Check Your Lawyer’s Credentials

Once you’ve narrowed your choices down to just a few, you need to do all of your homework before making a commitment and signing on the dotted line. Reviews on the internet will tell you a little bit, but there’s no substitute for going to the source.

Double-check on your potential attorney’s background to be sure that everything they’ve told you is the truth. Online you can verify your attorney is in good standing in their legal practice and doesn’t have anything troublesome on their record.

Look for Integrity and Dedication

This is going to be a long, stressful journey pursuing your personal injury claim. The two most important things you can find in a lawyer are integrity and dedication. First of all, they should be honest. If one lawyer sounds far more optimistic than any other and promises you a bigger payout, it’s too good to be true.

You want a lawyer that will tell you the truth, no matter how pessimistic it sounds, and then go fight as hard as they can to get you an even better result. They need to be committed to putting in the work for you and giving you the support you need. Don’t give up, and find an attorney that won’t give up either.