Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. If you were injured due to someone else’s negligence, you may be able to recover compensation for past and future medical bills through a personal injury claim. This can include hospital care, surgeries, therapy, medications, and ongoing treatment.

No. Spiros Law works on a contingency fee basis. This means:

• No upfront costs
• The firm covers case expenses
• Legal fees are only paid if compensation is recovered

Yes. An attorney may be able to:

• Negotiate medical liens
• Work with providers to reduce outstanding balances
• Ensure medical bills are properly addressed in your settlement

A lawyer can:

• Handle all communication with insurance companies
• Protect you from saying anything that could harm your claim
• Push back against low settlement offers
• Negotiate for fair compensation

Depending on your policy, coverage may include:

• Medical Payments (MedPay)
• Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage
• Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage

An attorney can identify all available coverage options.

If an insurer delays, denies, or undervalues a valid claim, a lawyer can challenge unfair practices, negotiate, and pursue legal action if necessary.

In most cases, you have two years from the date of the injury. Some exceptions apply under the discovery rule, when injuries are not immediately known.

Yes. Common Illinois deadlines include:

• Personal injury and car accidents: 2 years
• Medical malpractice: 2 years from discovery, subject to a 4-year maximum in many cases
• Wrongful death: typically 2 years
• Workers’ compensation: generally 3 years from the injury or 2 years from the last payment of compensation, whichever is later

Missing a deadline can permanently bar your claim. Different rules and exceptions may apply depending on the circumstances.

Negligence occurs when someone fails to act with reasonable care and causes injury to another person.

Liability means being legally responsible for another person’s injuries and damages.

You must generally show:

• The other party owed a duty of care
• That duty was breached
• The breach caused your injuries

Police issue an initial report, insurance adjusters investigate, and fault may ultimately be resolved through negotiation or court proceedings. Illinois follows a modified comparative fault rule.

You may still recover compensation through:

• Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage
• Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage

Whether coverage applies depends on your policy and the circumstances of the accident.

Police reports typically include:

• Date, time, and location
• Parties involved
• Witness statements
• Diagrams and officer observations

You may have a claim if:

• Another party acted negligently or recklessly
• You suffered physical, emotional, or financial harm
• Your injuries resulted in losses or expenses

Whether you have a viable claim depends on the facts, evidence, and applicable law.

Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider fails to meet the applicable standard of care and that failure causes patient injury.

Common warning signs include:

• Unexplained injuries
• Poor hygiene or malnutrition
• Emotional withdrawal
• Sudden behavior changes

Depending on the circumstances, compensation may include:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages and future earnings
• Pain and suffering
• Disability or disfigurement
• Long-term care costs

Case value depends on:

• Injury severity
• Medical costs, including future care
• Time missed from work
• Long-term impact on your life

An attorney can provide an estimate after reviewing the facts and available evidence. No particular recovery can be guaranteed.

Important evidence may include:

• Medical records and bills
• Accident or incident reports
• Photos or video
• Witness statements
• Proof of lost income

If possible:

• Seek medical care right away
• Document what happened
• Collect witness information
• Keep relevant records and photographs

Prioritize safety and medical care. If you are unsure what to do next, consider seeking legal advice before providing additional statements to an insurer.

A free consultation allows you to discuss your accident, understand your legal options, and ask questions without an obligation to hire the firm.

Our team can explain the consultation process, discuss your questions, and provide information about potential next steps if the firm is able to assist.

An attorney can evaluate an offer, review documented losses and potential future expenses, negotiate with the insurer, and prepare a case for litigation if needed. Whether legal representation is appropriate depends on the circumstances of your claim.

Consider consulting a lawyer when:

• Injuries are severe or permanent
• Long-term care is required
• Multiple parties are involved
• Liability is disputed
• The insurance company delays or refuses to pay

Spiros Law handles personal injury cases on a contingency-fee basis. Depending on the terms of your written agreement, our firm may advance case expenses such as court filing fees, medical record charges, deposition costs, and expert fees.

If your case does not result in a recovery, whether you owe any case expenses depends on the fee agreement. We explain how attorney fees and costs are handled before you decide whether to hire us.

Have questions about legal fees or case expenses? Contact Spiros Law to discuss your options.

Under a contingency-fee agreement, the attorney’s fee is generally a percentage of the compensation recovered. The percentage and how case expenses are deducted depend on the written agreement.

Some personal injury agreements provide for a one-third fee before litigation and a different percentage if a lawsuit is filed or the case proceeds further. Your agreement should clearly explain the applicable fee, expenses, and how any recovery will be distributed.

You can review these terms with our team before deciding whether to move forward. Contact Spiros Law to learn more about our fee arrangements.

Spiros Law can help you understand your options for managing medical bills while a personal injury claim is pending. Depending on the circumstances, our team may communicate with healthcare providers, review medical liens, or discuss arrangements for payment from a future settlement.

However, a pending injury claim does not automatically stop collection activity or protect your credit. A letter of protection or other payment arrangement may be available in some cases, but its terms depend on the provider and agreement.

If medical bills are becoming difficult to manage, contact Spiros Law to discuss your situation.

Reaching out to Spiros Law is an opportunity to discuss what happened and learn about your options. Submitting a consultation request does not obligate you to hire our firm.

The process generally includes:

1. Initial conversation: Share basic information about the accident, your injuries, and any treatment you have received.
2. Case review: Our team evaluates the information you provide and determines whether further review is appropriate.
3. Discussing next steps: If we can assist, we explain the potential process, relevant considerations, and what working with our firm may involve.

You can ask questions and decide whether to proceed. Contact Spiros Law to request a free case review.

An injury can make traveling to a law office difficult or impossible. Spiros Law may be able to arrange a consultation by phone or secure video conference if you are recovering at home, staying in a rehabilitation facility, or receiving hospital care.

In-person meetings may also be possible depending on your location, condition, and attorney availability. Our team can discuss available options and determine what works best for your circumstances.

Contact Spiros Law to discuss arranging a consultation.

Information you share when seeking legal advice may receive confidentiality protections, including protections that can apply to prospective clients. However, attorney-client privilege does not automatically cover every communication in every circumstance.

You can ask our team about confidentiality before sharing sensitive details. If you are concerned about an injury, workplace issue, or possible medical negligence, we can explain how to begin discussing your situation.

Contact Spiros Law to request a consultation.

Giving a recorded statement does not automatically prevent you from pursuing an injury claim. The statement may become part of the insurance company’s evaluation, so it is important to understand what you were asked and what you said.

Before providing additional statements or signing documents, consider speaking with a personal injury attorney. If you hire Spiros Law, our team can communicate with the insurance company on your behalf, review available claim information, and help you understand the potential effect of your statement.

You do not need to assume that your claim is lost because you have already spoken with an adjuster. Contact Spiros Law to discuss what happened.

You generally have the right to discharge your attorney and seek new representation, subject to applicable law and court requirements. Before making a change, consider how it could affect your case schedule, pending deadlines, and existing fee agreement.

Changing attorneys does not automatically mean you will pay two full contingency fees. However, your former attorney may have a claim for fees or expenses under the existing agreement or applicable law, and the details depend on the circumstances.

If you are considering a change, Spiros Law can discuss your concerns and explain the steps involved in evaluating a potential transition.

Contact Spiros Law to discuss your options.

You may still be able to recover compensation under Illinois law even if you share some responsibility for an accident.

Under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116, your recovery is generally reduced by your percentage of fault. You may recover damages if your share of fault is 50% or less. If your fault is greater than 50%, recovery is generally barred under this rule.

For example, if your total damages are $100,000 and you are found 20% at fault, your potential recovery would be reduced to $80,000.

Insurance companies may evaluate fault differently from injured people. Evidence such as photographs, witness accounts, accident reports, and available video may help clarify what happened. Contact Spiros Law to discuss your circumstances.

Many personal injury cases resolve through settlement without a trial. However, whether a settlement is possible depends on the evidence, liability disputes, the extent of the injuries, and whether the parties can agree on compensation.

If a lawsuit becomes necessary, the case may involve discovery, depositions, expert opinions, court hearings, and potentially a trial. Preparing evidence and evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of a claim can help inform settlement negotiations, but no attorney can guarantee a particular outcome.

Spiros Law can explain the available options and help you understand what to expect as your case progresses. Contact Spiros Law to request a free case review.

The timeline depends on factors such as the severity of your injuries, the course of medical treatment, disputes over fault, insurance coverage, and whether a lawsuit is necessary.

Some claims resolve within several months, while more complex cases may take a year or longer. There is no guaranteed timeline, and resolving a claim too early may leave future medical expenses or lasting effects insufficiently accounted for.

Attorneys often consider whether the person’s medical condition has stabilized, sometimes referred to as maximum medical improvement (MMI), before evaluating a settlement. However, reaching MMI is not an absolute requirement in every case, and the timing of settlement depends on the circumstances.

If you are unsure whether to settle or continue pursuing your claim, contact Spiros Law to discuss your options.