Most personal injury lawyers, including our team at Abels & Annes, P.C., are paid through a contingency fee agreement. In simple terms, this means you pay absolutely no attorney's fees unless and until we win your case.
The fee is a pre-agreed percentage of the total financial recovery we obtain for you. We understand that after an injury, your focus is on healing, not on how you're going to afford another bill. The worry about legal fees can prevent people from getting the help they need to secure their financial stability.
Thankfully, the personal injury system is structured so that you do not have to make a choice between your health and your right to justice. The financial risk and the complex work of a claim are burdens for us to carry, not you. Let our team at Abels & Annes, P.C. provide a free case review to explain your options.
Call us at (312) 924-7575 today.
What Does "No Fee Unless You Win" Actually Mean?
The Contingency Fee Agreement Explained
A contingency fee is a partnership. Our law firm invests our own time, effort, and financial resources to build and pursue your case. Our payment is entirely contingent on successfully securing compensation for you. If there is no recovery, you owe us nothing for our work. It is a powerful arrangement that removes the financial barrier to pursuing a claim and ensures that you can have dedicated legal help without any upfront cost.
A Shared Objective
This payment structure perfectly aligns our goals with yours. We are driven to pursue the maximum compensation available under the law because our success is directly tied to your success. Our payment comes from the financial recovery we secure on your behalf, so it is in our mutual best interest to make that recovery as substantial as possible.
The Written Agreement Is Your Assurance
As required by professional rules of conduct, every detail of this arrangement is put into a clear, written retainer agreement. This document is your guarantee. At Abels & Annes, P.C., we will review this document with you, line by line, to ensure you have full clarity before you sign anything. There are no surprise charges or hidden fees. Everything is transparent from the very beginning.
Are There Other Costs Involved Besides the Lawyer's Fee?
This is a distinction that can cause confusion. It's important to know the difference between attorney's fees and case costs. While they are related, they are two separate categories of expenses associated with a personal injury claim.
Understanding Fees vs. Costs
- Attorney's Fees: This is the percentage-based payment to the lawyer for their work, knowledge, and time spent on the case, as outlined in the contingency fee agreement. This fee covers the legal services provided by the attorneys and staff at the firm.
- Case Costs: These are the necessary out-of-pocket expenses required to investigate, build, and prosecute a claim. Think of them as the operating expenses of the case, separate from the legal service itself.
What Kinds of Costs Are Common in a Personal Injury Case?
The specific costs will vary depending on the complexity of your case, but some common examples include:
- Court and Filing Fees: The administrative charges required by the court system to file a lawsuit and other legal documents.
- Expert Witness Charges: These are fees paid to professionals whose analysis and testimony are needed to prove your case. This could include medical doctors, accident reconstructionists who can explain the physics of a crash, economists who calculate future lost wages, or vocational planners who assess your ability to work.
- Evidence and Record Retrieval: There are costs associated with obtaining official police reports, all of your medical records and bills from various providers, and other essential documents needed to build a strong case.
- Deposition Expenses: These are charges for court reporters who create a word-for-word transcript of witness testimony given under oath before a trial.
How Are These Costs Paid For?
This is where a dedicated personal injury firm provides immense value. Abels & Annes, P.C., like most personal injury lawyers, advances all of these case costs on your behalf. You will not be asked to pay for these expenses out of your own pocket while your case is active. We cover these costs to ensure that we can build the strongest case possible without creating a financial burden on you. These advanced costs are simply reimbursed to the firm from the total settlement or verdict at the conclusion of the case, as clearly specified in your agreement.
Why Not Just Handle the Claim Myself and Keep the Whole Amount?
While it might seem like handling a claim on your own saves money, the data and practical realities show a different picture. The central question is not just about cost, but about net value.
The Power of Representation
Independent studies have shown that, on average, individuals who have a lawyer receive settlements up to three times higher than those who represent themselves. In many cases, even after the attorney's fee is paid, the client takes home significantly more money than they would have secured on their own. The presence of a knowledgeable attorney signals to the insurance company that the claim is serious and cannot be dismissed with a lowball offer.
Leveling the Playing Field
An insurance adjuster's primary role is to protect their company's financial interests by paying out as little as possible. They are highly trained negotiators with vast resources and experience in minimizing claim values. Our attorneys have years of experience handling these exact types of negotiations day in and day out. We understand their tactics and know how to counter them, ensuring you are not taken advantage of during a vulnerable time.
We Do the Work So You Can Heal
Pursuing a claim is a full-time job that requires a specific skill set and significant resources. When you are recovering from an injury, the last thing you should be doing is taking on this burden. Our firm handles every aspect of the claim, which includes:
- In-Depth Investigation: We have the resources to gather all necessary evidence, from tracking down and interviewing witnesses to hiring engineers to reconstruct an accident scene. We build a powerful and persuasive case file designed to prove liability and damages.
- Calculating the Full Value of Your Claim: How do you put a number on future medical needs or the pain you have endured? We work to account for every category of damage—not just your current medical bills, but the cost of future care, your past and future lost income, and the full extent of your pain and suffering. These are complex calculations you may not know how to perform accurately.
- Managing the Entire Process: We handle every phone call, email, and piece of paperwork. We manage all communications with insurance companies and defense lawyers, ensuring every deadline is met and every document is filed correctly. This frees you from the stress and administrative headache of managing a complex legal claim.
The Unseen Cost of Waiting to Act
One of the most common misconceptions is that you have plenty of time to decide whether to hire a lawyer. While Illinois law sets a formal deadline for filing a lawsuit, the practical deadline for preserving your ability to win the case is much, much shorter. Waiting is one of the most significant mistakes you can make.
Evidence Has a Short Shelf Life
The strength of a personal injury case is built on a foundation of evidence. Unfortunately, that evidence begins to disappear almost immediately after an accident.
- Witnesses' memories of the event begin to fade quickly. What was a clear recollection a day after the incident becomes a hazy memory a month later.
- Critical video evidence from security cameras, doorbell cameras, or traffic cameras is often recorded over within days or weeks as part of a standard automated process.
- Physical evidence from an accident scene, like skid marks on the road or debris from a vehicle, is quickly cleaned up and gone forever.
A Delay Can Make a Claim Unprovable
Long before the official statute of limitations expires, the loss of this key evidence can make it impossible to prove what happened and who was at fault. An insurance company will use this lack of evidence against you. Contacting a lawyer immediately is not about pressure; it is about the practical necessity of evidence preservation. It is a defensive move to protect your rights.
Allow Us to Begin Protecting Your Rights Today
The moment you retain our firm, we spring into action. We send out letters of representation to put all parties on notice, and we immediately begin the process of preserving the evidence your case will depend on. This is our responsibility, freeing you to focus on your recovery.
FAQ for How Much a Personal Injury Lawyer Costs
Will I ever have to pay money directly from my own pocket?
No. At Abels & Annes, P.C., we handle cases on a pure contingency fee basis and we advance all of the case costs. You pay nothing unless we secure a financial recovery for you. If for any reason your case is not successful, you owe us nothing for our time or the expenses we fronted. The risk is entirely on us.
Does the contingency fee percentage ever change?
The percentage is fixed in your written agreement from the start. In some instances, the percentage may be different if a case must go all the way through a contested trial, which demands a much greater commitment of firm resources and time. Any such provision will be clearly spelled out and explained to you so you can agree to it at the very beginning. There are no surprises.
Are contingency fees regulated in Chicago?
Yes. The Illinois Supreme Court sets forth Rules of Professional Conduct that mandate all attorney fees must be reasonable and that all contingency agreements must be in writing and signed by the client. For specific types of cases, such as medical malpractice, Illinois law places distinct limits on attorney's fees (735 ILCS 5/2-1114), ensuring that fees remain fair and standardized.
Can your firm help lower my medical bills?
Absolutely. A vital service we provide is negotiating with hospitals, doctors, and health insurance companies to reduce the liens they have placed on your settlement. This process is called lien resolution. Our goal is to resolve these bills for a lower amount, which directly increases the money that you put in your pocket at the end of the case.
How does Abels & Annes, P.C. use technology to help my case?
Our firm uses current case management technology to run our practice efficiently and improve client communication. Technology allows us to organize complex evidence, track every deadline meticulously, and give you a more transparent view of your case’s progress from start to finish. This efficiency helps us build stronger cases and keep you informed every step of the way.
Is the first consultation actually free?
Yes, 100%. Your initial call and consultation with our team is always free. It is a no-obligation opportunity for you to tell your story, ask us any questions you have about how much a personal injury lawyer costs, and learn how we believe we can help you. We want you to have all the information you need to make the right decision for yourself and your family.
Your Job Is to Heal. Ours Is Everything Else.
The question of cost should never stand in the way of securing justice. The contingency fee model exists for a single, powerful reason: to give everyone fair access to the legal system, regardless of their financial situation. It levels the playing field and allows you to have a dedicated advocate on your side without any upfront financial risk.
You have only one job right now: focusing on your physical and emotional recovery. Our job is to handle the legal complexities, manage the administrative burdens, and fight for your financial future.
Contact Abels & Annes, P.C. for a free, no-pressure consultation to discuss your case. Let us show you how we can help. Call us today at (312) 924-7575.
David Abels
Partner
David Abels has carved a niche for himself in the personal injury law sector, dedicating a substantial part of his career since 1997 to representing victims of various accidents. With a law practice that spans over two decades, his expertise has been consistently recognized within the legal community.
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