You should call a personal injury lawyer if you were seriously hurt, if anyone is disputing who caused the incident, if an insurance company has contacted you, or if a filing deadline may be approaching.
Abels & Annes, P.C. has answered that question for injured people across Chicago and Cook County for more than 20 years, and the honest answer is usually sooner than people think.
If you’re wondering when you should call a personal injury lawyer, the sooner you call, the better. Nothing about calling commits you to hiring anyone. It is a conversation. Reach us at (312) 924-7575, and know that Free Consultations Available 24/7 means exactly that.
Schedule a Free Initial Consultation Today!
Signs Your Injury Case Needs a Lawyer
Some situations call for legal help almost automatically. If several of the following describe your personal injury case, a conversation is worth having.
- Your injuries required hospitalization, surgery, or ongoing treatment
- Someone is disputing who was responsible, including the police report
- An adjuster has asked you for a recorded statement
- You have been offered a settlement before finishing treatment
- More than one vehicle, driver, or business was involved
- The at-fault driver was uninsured, underinsured, or driving for a company
- You are missing work or cannot return to the job you had
Any one of these can complicate a personal injury claim on its own, and they rarely arrive alone. The more of them that apply, the more a claim benefits from someone handling it full-time.
Why Do People in Chicago Call Our Firm?
Because we answer, and because the answer comes from someone who handles these cases every day. Abels & Annes, P.C. works out of a main office on North LaSalle Street in the Loop and a second office in Evanston, and we take calls around the clock.
- More than two decades representing injured people throughout Cook County
- Super Lawyers Top 100 recognition from Thomson Reuters and an AVVO 10.0 Superb rating
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum membership
- Results including a $6,000,000 recovery for the family of a cyclist struck by a garbage truck and a $4,500,000 recovery after a commercial fence collapse
- Consultations by video, phone, or in person, including travel to you when getting out is difficult
- Service in English, Spanish, and Polish
Past results do not guarantee the outcome of any future case, and each claim depends on its own facts. You can review our published recoveries on our case settlements page. If we are not the right fit for your situation, we will say so. Call (312) 924-7575 to talk it through.
When Can You Handle a Claim on Your Own?
Sometimes you can, and it would be dishonest to suggest otherwise. A minor collision with clear fault, no injuries, and straightforward property damage often resolves directly with the insurer without any real disadvantage to you.
The picture changes once a physical injury enters it. At that point, the claim stops being about repair estimates and starts being about medical records, future treatment, lost income, and the effect on your daily life, all of which are harder to value and easier to underpay.
A reasonable rule of thumb: if you are still treating, if anyone disputes fault, or if the number being discussed is large enough to matter to your finances, get a second opinion before you sign anything.
Why Does Timing Matter So Much?
Because evidence fades and deadlines run whether or not you are ready. Both work against a claim that sits.
Surveillance footage from a business near the scene may be recorded over within weeks. Witnesses move, change phone numbers, and forget details that seemed unforgettable at the time. Vehicles get repaired or scrapped before anyone inspects them.
Illinois also sets time limits for filing injury lawsuits, and they are shorter than most people assume. Different circumstances carry different deadlines, some considerably tighter than the general rule, particularly when a government body or public transit agency is involved. That variation is precisely why guessing is risky.
What Happens When You Call Abels & Annes, P.C.?
You talk to a real person, and you get a straight read on your situation. There is no script and no pressure.
We will ask what happened, what injuries you have, what treatment you have had, and who has contacted you. From there, we can usually tell you whether you have a claim worth pursuing, what it is likely to involve, and what the immediate priorities are.
If we take your case, we handle the insurance communications, gather the records, and deal with the adjusters. You focus on medical treatment, which is where your attention belongs.
What Does It Cost to Call a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Nothing to call, and nothing up front to hire us. We work on a contingency fee, which means our fee comes as a percentage of what we recover for you, and there is no fee unless we win.
That arrangement exists so that the strength of your case, rather than the size of your bank account, decides whether you get representation. We also advance the costs of building the case, including records, filing fees, and any necessary opinions from treating physicians or reconstruction professionals.
Before you sign anything, we walk through the fee agreement line by line. You should understand exactly how it works, and if something is unclear, ask us to explain it again.
FAQs about When to Call a Personal Injury Lawyer
These are the follow-up questions we hear most often once the basics are covered.
Is it too late if the accident happened months ago?
Not necessarily, though every month makes it harder to gather evidence. Illinois deadlines vary by circumstances, so the only reliable way to find out where you stand is to have someone review the specific dates for your situation.
Should I call a lawyer before or after I talk to the insurance company?
Before, if you can. Adjusters often request a recorded statement early, and answering questions about your injuries before you have finished being evaluated can create problems that are difficult to undo later when dealing with the insurance company after an accident.
What if I already gave a recorded statement?
It is not fatal to your claim. It simply means the context around what you said matters, and that is something a lawyer can address as the medical record develops.
Does calling a lawyer mean I am suing someone?
No. Most injury claims are resolved with an insurance company and never become personal injury lawsuits. Calling a lawyer means getting your claim handled properly, not starting a courtroom fight.
What if the person who hurt me is a friend or family member?
This comes up constantly, and it is usually less personal than it feels. Claims are typically paid by an insurance policy rather than out of an individual's pocket, which is what that coverage exists for.
Can I switch lawyers if I already hired someone?
Yes. You have the right to change representation, and the fee arrangements between firms are generally sorted out without increasing your total cost. If you are unhappy with how your case is being handled, it is worth a conversation.
What if I am not sure I was hurt badly enough?
Call anyway. Injuries that seem minor in the first week sometimes turn into months of treatment, and a short conversation now costs you nothing and protects your options.
Call a Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Today
If you are asking yourself whether to call, that hesitation is usually its own answer. People rarely wonder about this when the situation is simple.
Abels & Annes, P.C. will listen, tell you what we think, and let you decide from there. There is no cost for the conversation and no fee unless we win your case.
Call (312) 924-7575 or contact our team whenever you are ready, day or night. Let Us Fight for You.
Schedule a Free Initial Consultation Today!
David Abels
Partner | Personal Injury Lawyer | Abels & Annes, P.C.
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.
Author's Bio