A premises liability lawyer can help you seek compensation if you have been injured in a slip-and-fall, trip-and-fall, or other premises-related accident in Illinois. Even if you are clearly entitled to compensation under Illinois law, proving your legal rights (and proving how much you are entitled to recover) starts with putting an experienced lawyer on your side.
But, how do you choose the right lawyer to represent you?
When it comes to hiring a premises liability lawyer, there is no single “right” choice. Different lawyers have different strengths, and you ultimately need to choose a lawyer who you believe is capable of helping you recover the financial compensation you deserve. With this in mind, here are some factors you may want to consider as you make your decision:
Just as you wouldn’t hire a family doctor when you need a heart surgeon, it is important to choose a lawyer who focuses his or her practice in your area of need. Different lawyers handle different types of legal matters; and, while a family lawyer might be extremely good at what he or she does, he or she may also lack the experience needed to help you recover from your accident-related injuries.
The lawyer you choose doesn’t have to focus solely on handling premises liability cases (few, if any, lawyers do), but you will want a lawyer whose practice is devoted to personal injury representation. A lawyer who has devoted his or her career to helping accident victims recover should have the knowledge and insights required to represent you effectively.
Beyond practice focus, you will also want to consider prospective lawyers’ personal experience. How long have they been practicing personal injury law? How many premises liability cases have they handled? How many of their cases have settled, and how many have gone to trial? These are all important questions to ask when making your decision.
You will also want to consider the firm’s size and location. While you don’t necessarily need a big firm to handle your premises liability case, you do need a firm with a team of legal professionals who are capable of handling your case efficiently. It is also a good idea to consider choosing a firm with offices in your local area, as this will make it easier to meet with your lawyer in person if necessary.
Client testimonials and reviews will give you an idea of the level of client service and legal representation you can expect if you hire a lawyer to represent you. If a lawyer or law firm doesn’t have client testimonials and reviews on its website, this isn’t necessarily a bad sign, but it is certainly worth asking why this is the case.
When you talk to a lawyer about your premises liability case, you can—and should—expect complete transparency. This means that you should be able to get clear answers to questions like:
If you can’t get clear answers to these types of questions, or if you have any reason to suspect that there might be information a lawyer doesn’t want you to know, you should not hesitate to talk to someone else.
When you hire a premises liability lawyer to represent you, the result of your case is ultimately what matters most. Thus, it can be helpful to know what results a lawyer has achieved in the past. While past results do not guarantee future success, you should expect your lawyer to have a history of securing favorable settlements and verdicts for his or her clients.
Finally, accessibility is important as well. When you have a premises liability claim, you need to be able to schedule a free consultation promptly. You also need to be able to get in touch with your lawyer when you have questions or concerns. With this in mind, you should feel free to ask what you can expect in terms of communication during your case, and you should factor this into your decision-making.
If you need a premises liability lawyer in Chicago, we invite you to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation at Coplan + Crane. We have extensive experience handling a wide range of premises liability cases. We know the hardships you may be facing after a serious injury and we are committed to helping you move forward with confidence.
Contact Coplan + Crane today online or at 708-358-8080 to schedule a FREE case evaluation. We help clients across Illinois, including Chicago, Oak Park, Rockford, and other areas. We handle premises liability cases on a contingency basis, which means you don’t pay unless we win.
