Frequently Asked Questions

No. Personal-injury cases are handled on a contingency-fee basis, which means there are no upfront or hourly fees — the attorney fee comes out of any recovery. Clients may be responsible for litigation costs and expenses regardless of the outcome, and Paul explains exactly how that works, in writing, before you sign.

In most Illinois personal-injury cases, you have two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit (735 ILCS 5/13-202). Claims against a local government entity — a CTA bus or a city vehicle, for example — generally must be filed within one year. Because deadlines vary and evidence fades, it is best to speak with an attorney sooner rather than later.

You are generally not required to give the other party's insurer a recorded statement, and doing so before you have advice can hurt your claim. It is reasonable to get a legal opinion before you give a statement or accept any offer. The initial consultation is free.

Illinois follows a modified comparative-fault rule (735 ILCS 5/2-1116). You can still recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault, though your recovery is reduced by your percentage of the blame. Insurers often try to assign you more fault than the facts support, which is one reason to have an attorney involved early.

Claims against local public entities and their employees run on a much shorter clock in Illinois — generally one year under the Tort Immunity Act (745 ILCS 10/8-101) instead of the usual two — and they carry their own procedural rules. In a city full of CTA buses, city trucks, and police vehicles, this comes up more than people expect. If any government vehicle was involved, talk to an attorney promptly.

There is no formula. The value of a claim depends on the injuries, the treatment and recovery, lost income, how the injury affects your life, the available insurance, and the facts of fault. Anyone who quotes you a number before reviewing your case is guessing. Paul will give you an honest, grounded assessment.

Most personal-injury cases settle without a trial. But cases are prepared as if they will be tried, because that preparation is often what produces a fair settlement. If a fair resolution isn't offered, Paul is prepared to take the case to court.

You work directly with Paul. This is a solo practice by design — the attorney you meet at the consultation is the attorney who handles your case, all the way through.