Willens & Baez is a contingency fee personal injury and medical malpractice law firm.
This means that our clients don’t pay us a dime until we obtain monetary compensation for them. In addition, we cover all out-of-pocket costs to fund our clients’ cases.
Because we do not employ a conventional fee arrangement, and instead accept cases on a contingency basis, there is no financial risk to the client when they choose Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers, P.C.. We employ this type of payment arrangement because we want to help all of our clients get the justice they deserve, and we believe that the cost of hiring an attorney should never get in the way of an individual’s ability to obtain justice. In the best-case scenario, at the conclusion of a case, Willens & Baez will be sending you a check for your award amount, minus our contingency fee and expenses. In the worst-case scenario, we won’t be sending you anything at all. We will not be sending you a bill. Frankly, we would not know how.
At Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers, P.C., we advance all of the costs associated with getting your case ready for trial, in exchange for a certain percentage of the award that we win for you after the trial is over. Our typical contingency fee is one third of the award amount, or 33 1/3%.
Willens & Baez offers prospective clients a free initial consultation during which the prospective client can discuss the case with one of our experienced attorneys. Each case is then evaluated to determine if the case has legal merit and if the case is worth the financial risk to the firm in order to prosecute.
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The Big Picture: Legal Costs in Personal Injury Cases
Making sense of legal costs can be overwhelming when you’re injured and trying to recover in Chicago. With more than 112,000 crashes and nearly 26,000 injuries in the city in 2024 alone, understanding what you’ll pay—and what you won’t—when hiring a personal injury attorney can bring comfort and peace of mind to anyone facing tough times after an accident. Let’s dig deep into the real numbers, processes, and key factors, so you know exactly where you stand. Most Chicago personal injury lawyers—like Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers, P.C.—level the playing field with contingency fee representation. That means:
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You pay no attorney’s fees upfront.
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Your lawyer only gets paid if you win or settle your case.
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The payment is a percentage of your compensation, typically 33%–40%.
This system empowers anyone, regardless of their financial situation, to fight for fair compensation against large insurers and corporations.
Real Cost Considerations When Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney
1. Contingency Fee Representation
Contingency fee arrangements are designed to help clients seek the justice they deserve by eliminating any financial barriers that could have made seeking justice infeasible, or impossible to do because of inadequate availability of funds. To put it another way, a client does not need to pay any money to an attorney unless the attorney wins the case, and even then, the attorney’s fee comes out of the award, rather than out of the client’s pocket. In a contingency fee arrangement, an attorney who accepts a case takes a gamble that he or she will win that case. The attorney will front any costs that are associated with preparing the case for trial, with the hope that the attorney will win the case and be able to recover those expenditures from the award that the client gets.
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Standard in Chicago: 33% if settled, up to 40% for trial.
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Example: Win a $90,000 settlement, your attorney takes $29,700 at 33%.
2. Free Initial Consultations
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Nearly all reputable injury firms offer free consultations—assess your claim and ask anything at no cost.
3. No Upfront Costs
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No hourly rates or flat fees at quality personal injury firms; pay nothing out-of-pocket to get started.
4. Case Expenses
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Filing fees, deposition transcripts, expert witnesses, medical records, investigations, and court costs.
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Top firms advance these costs—deducted from your award only if you recover money.
5. Written Fee Agreements
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Detailed contracts spell out the fee percentage and how costs are handled. Always review before signing.
6. Understand “No Win, No Fee”
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If you don’t win, you owe nothing in attorney fees. (Rare exceptions may apply for specific costs—always clarify.).
7. Percentage Varies with Complexity
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More complex or high-stakes cases (catastrophic injuries, multiple defendants, appeals) may carry a higher percentage.
8. Experienced, Licensed Lawyers
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Verify that your attorney is licensed in Illinois. Check disciplinary records on the Illinois Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission.
9. Hourly & Retainer Fees—Rare in PI Cases
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Some minor claims (property-only) or disputes outside PI law might use hourly or retainer models—expect $150–$500/hr or $2,500–$10,000 retainer if so, but not the norm for PI in Chicago.
10. Settlement vs. Trial
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Fees may increase if your case requires trial; standard is 33% pre-trial, 40% or more if tried.
11. Negotiable Terms
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For high-value cases, you can sometimes negotiate fee percentages, but always get any agreement in writing.
12. No Surprises
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Top lawyers are transparent from day one about ALL possible costs—no hidden fees or surprise deductions.
13. Value Added
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Statistics show represented injury victims recover 2.5-3.5 times more than people who try to settle without a lawyer.
What Costs Are Usually Involved in Chicago Personal Injury Cases?
| Cost | Typical Amount/Impact | Who Pays Upfront? |
|---|---|---|
| Attorney’s Fee | 33%–40% of total recovery | Deducted from award if you win |
| Filing Fees | $400–$700+ (varies by court & complexity) | Advanced by attorney |
| Expert Witness Fees | $1,000–$7,500+ each (if needed) | Advanced by attorney |
| Medical Records | $50–$400+ | Advanced by attorney |
| Deposition Transcripts | $200–$1,000+ per transcript | Advanced by attorney |
| Investigation Costs | $100–$1,500+ | Advanced by attorney |
| Administrative Expenses | $50–$500+ (copies, postage, travel, etc.) | Advanced by attorney |
Most reputable lawyers (like Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers, P.C.) advance these costs and subtract them ONLY if you win.
Common Cost Concerns & Blind Spots
Blind Spot 1: Not Reading the Fee Agreement
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Always ask for details. Don’t sign unless ALL percentages and expense handling details are outlined.
Blind Spot 2: Confusing “No Fee” with “No Expenses”
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Remember, you may be responsible for reimbursing case expenses from your award; clarify who advances them, and how.
Blind Spot 3: Assuming Hourly/Retainer is the Norm
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Hourly billing almost never applies for Chicago injury victims. If you’re quoted one, ask why.
Blind Spot 4: Missing Hidden Costs
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Demand breakdowns of every possible expense—no reputable lawyer will refuse.
Blind Spot 5: Not Verifying Lawyer Status
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Make sure your lawyer is Illinois-licensed, with no disciplinary record.
FAQ – Myths and Truths About Personal Injury Lawyer Costs
| Myth/Question | The Truth |
|---|---|
| “All lawyers are expensive up front.” | In personal injury, you pay nothing up front. No recovery = no fee. |
| “I’ll lose all my money to legal fees.” | You keep the majority—lawyers get 33%-40%, but settlements are often far higher thanks to expert advocacy. |
| “Lawyers hide the real costs.” | Top firms are fully transparent and put fee details in writing. |
| “Anyone can handle a PI case—why pay more?” | Data shows represented clients receive much larger settlements. |
| “Initial consults cost money.” | In Chicago, they are nearly always free—including at Willens & Baez. |
| “I can’t afford a famous law firm.” | With contingency fees, top lawyers are accessible to all. |
Why Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers, P.C. Is Chicago’s Top Choice
Willens & Baez is repeatedly recognized for elite results:
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Record verdicts: $1.5M (largest dog bite in IL), $3.8M (wrongful death), $475,000 (O’Hare bus crash).
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Top attorney honors: Illinois Super Lawyers (2012–2025), AV Preeminent, National Top 100 Verdicts.
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A+ Better Business Bureau rating.
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Million Dollar Advocates Forum: Exclusive membership for lawyers with multiple million-dollar wins.
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Dozens of 5-star testimonials—clients rave about transparency, results, client-first care.
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Decades of experience fighting—and winning—for Chicagoans injured due to negligence.
Maria, a West Side teacher, is struck in a multi-car accident. Medical bills soar, paychecks stop—and insurance companies start pushing quick, low-ball settlements. At her free consultation with Willens & Baez, she gets total transparency: no payment unless she wins, every cost explained, and senior attorney attention. Her final settlement is triple what the insurer first offered, and every dollar of cost is clear and accounted for—from day one.
Get Fair Costs, Full Answers, and Elite Results
Don’t let financial fears keep you from getting justice. Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers, P.C. offer a free, no-risk consultation and a clear, fair contingency fee. Call (312) 957-4166 to get Chicago’s elite injury team on your side—no out-of-pocket payment, no confusion, no hidden costs. The call could change your future.
