How do I know if I have a case?
If you have been injured or traumatized by someone else and you believe they are at fault, then you probably have a personal injury case. It is essential that both of these elements are present. An experienced personal injury lawyer will be able to tell you whether the facts of your case merit a lawsuit.
The Law Offices of Adam J. Zayed, P.C. handles cases throughout DuPage County, Cook County, Will County, Kane County, Lake County, McHenry County, Naperville, Oak Brook, Oak Park, Chicago, and throughout Illinois.
If I have been injured and I want to file a personal injury lawsuit, what should I do?
It is essential to get your facts in order. When you hire a personal injury attorney, he will be able to research, organize and ultimately mold the facts of your case into a cohesive argument. It is important that you first gather the facts of your personal injury case. You may consider writing down all the facts that you know including: specifics of the accident, insurance information, records of expenses, including medical expenses.
It will also be important to get information about potential witnesses to your accident and to get a copy of the police report.
The most important step is to retain the services of a personal injury attorney. Your chances of receiving the compensation you deserve increase exponentially when you retain a personal injury attorney.
Why should I hire a personal injury attorney?
After a short while, a personal injury attorney will know your case better than anyone. A personal injury attorney will be able to discover the facts and circumstances leading to your injury. Furthermore, an experienced personal injury attorney will be able to make a valid claim on your behalf. This includes spotting the legal issues unique to your case, identifying all defendants, and controlling witnesses, including those who actually witnessed your accident and expert witnesses.
A personal injury attorney will ensure that you receive the maximum amount of compensation to which you are entitled. When caught in the middle of a legal battle over a personal injury, it is important to have an advocate who’s on your side. After all, between insurance defense lawyers, insurance companies, and defendants, it’s hard to find people who are actually on your side.
How much does it cost to hire a personal injury lawyer?
Illinois personal injury attorneys generally charge on a contingency fee basis. This means that you will not pay until your personal injury attorney recovers money for you, either by way of settlement or by a trial. At The Law Offices of Adam J. Zayed, P.C. we charge on a contingency fee basis for our personal injury work.
After I retain a lawyer, what else do I have to do?
When you retain The Law Offices of Adam J. Zayed, P.C., we immediately set to work getting you results. You are an integral part of the case that we will construct. In fact, you are the very center of the case we will construct.
You will need to update us on your medical treatment, your progress, your work situation, and this is all in an effort to ensure that the unique facts of your case are presented in their clearest light to defense counsel, judge and jury. Additionally, we have found that most of our clients prefer to be involved in their cases. At The Law Offices of Adam J. Zayed, P.C. we take great pride in the relationships we built with our clients.
More specifically, you will have to help us answer written questions by opposing counsel, and you will likely have to sit down at a question and answer session with opposing counsel—otherwise known as a deposition. In the event that your case goes to trial, you will have to be present, and may be called to the stand. An experienced personal injury attorney will help prepare you for all stages of this process, and of course we will ensure that this process is as convenient as possible for you.
What will I receive compensation for?
When someone is involved in an accident and suffers a personal injury, they feel as though they have been wronged. They feel they have undergone significant discomfort, inconvenience, and injury. They may have missed significant amounts of work. In the event of a catastrophic injury, they may have even lost their life.
The United States legal system has recognized cognizable means of recovery, some of these “damages” are:
- Lost wages
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Property damage
An experienced personal injury attorney will be able to navigate the facts of your claim in order to recover the compensation you are entitled to.
At what point should I file a personal injury lawsuit?
It is important to contact an Illinois personal injury attorney as soon as possible after your accident. Generally, speaking the sooner you take your case to a personal injury attorney the better chance of success your case stands.
There is a statutory limitation on when people can file suit in relation to their personal injury claims in Illinois. An experienced Illinois personal injury attorney will be able to determine your statute of limitations time period.
How long will my case take? How long will it take to recover for my losses?
Personal injury cases in Illinois can take up to two or three years. The length of time a case takes can vary substantially depending on the complexity of the case and congestion of the court system.
When it comes to filing a personal injury lawsuit, patience is definitely a virtue. However, a vigorous and diligent personal injury attorney can make a significant impact when it comes to speed of case resolution. At The Law Offices of Adam J. Zayed, P.C. we ensure that all our cases are aggressively pursued.
What if I was partly at fault for the accident?
In Illinois the concept of “fault” definitely has an impact on personal injury claims. Although this area of law is always changing, an Illinois personal injury attorney will be able to assess the impact “fault” will play in your case.
Generally speaking, if you are less than 50% at fault, you are entitled to recovery.
We have addressed this topic in more detail at Illinois-PersonalInjury.com
Can I ask some questions for free?
Of course! If you have any other questions, please contact us at contact@zayedlaw.com. You can also reach us toll free at 815-726-0100 in Joliet or 312-726-1616 in Chicago. A personal injury attorney familiar with Illinois law will answer any question you have without charge.
What are some educational resources that might be of interest?
