Worker's Compensation Lawyer Fees in Illinois
April 1, 2010 By Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C.
Many injured workers in Illinois who are considering hiring a worker's compensation lawyer are concerned about the issue of attorney's fees and how they are going to pay for legal assistance. The good news is that Illinois worker's compensation lawyers work on a contingency basis, and that the fees are very reasonable.
Many workers are worried about hiring a worker’s compensation lawyer, concerned that it will be too expensive, or that the lawyer will end up with the entire settlement. These are legitimate concerns for workers who are under financial stress from a work-related injury. Families are left wondering how they will pay for a lawyer when it is hard to pay the bills.
The solution to the problem of paying for a worker's compensation lawyer in Illinois is the contingency fee structure. All worker's compensation lawyers in Illinois work on a contingency basis. In a contingency fee agreement, the lawyer is paid a percentage of the settlement, and if there is no settlement or award in your favor, you do not owe any attorney's fees. There is no fee for the initial consultation, and you will not be charged during the case for phone calls or letters. In virtually all cases, the only time fee are due is at the end of your case when it has been settled.
Fees in Illinois worker's compensation cases are set by statute. For virtually all cases, the fee will be 20% of the total settlement for permanent disability. Tying the lawyer’s fees to the amount to the amount of compensation that you receive creates a powerful incentive for the worker's compensation attorney to work diligently on your case and to get as a large of a settlement as possible for you. The larger your settlement is, the more the attorney receives in fees. The 20% figure is always the same, so the only way that a lawyer will be get more money is if the amount of your settlement increases. There should never be a case where “the lawyer get the whole settlement and I get nothing.” Worker's compensation attorneys cannot charge a fee on uncontested disability benefits or for medical expenses. This means that you should not be concerned that hiring an attorney will just create additional financial stresses for you and your family.
The only other deduction from your settlement besides the attorney's fees will be the costs advanced by the lawyer prosecuting your case. This would be for expenses incurred during the prosecution of the case for things like subpoenas and court reporters needed reach a successful result for your worker's compensation case. These costs normally do not amount to more than a few hundred dollars.
Hiring a worker’s compensation attorney to represent your interest does not require any up-front out-of-pocket expense from you, and provides you with significant advantages and protections during the course of your Illinois worker's compensation case. Each year, over 50,000 worker's compensation claims are filed at the Worker's Compensation Commission. Approximately 90% of injured workers hire an attorney instead of trying to represent themselves. This is because the fee structure makes hiring a skilled worker's compensation lawyer very affordable. If you are not using a lawyer for your case, you are in the minority.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Barry G. Doyle
Barry G. Doyle practices law exclusively in the area of plaintiff's personal injury and wrongful death litigation. He has not and will not represent insurance companies. He is a 1994 honors graduate of Loyola University of Chicago School of Law. He is a past co-chair of the Tort (Personal Injury) Litigation Committee of the Young Lawyers Section of the Chicago Bar Association.
Copyright Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C.
More information about Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C.
Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it is not intended to provide legal advice as individual situations will differ and should be discussed with an expert and/or lawyer. For specific technical or legal advice on the information provided and related topics, please contact the author.
The solution to the problem of paying for a worker's compensation lawyer in Illinois is the contingency fee structure. All worker's compensation lawyers in Illinois work on a contingency basis. In a contingency fee agreement, the lawyer is paid a percentage of the settlement, and if there is no settlement or award in your favor, you do not owe any attorney's fees. There is no fee for the initial consultation, and you will not be charged during the case for phone calls or letters. In virtually all cases, the only time fee are due is at the end of your case when it has been settled.
Fees in Illinois worker's compensation cases are set by statute. For virtually all cases, the fee will be 20% of the total settlement for permanent disability. Tying the lawyer’s fees to the amount to the amount of compensation that you receive creates a powerful incentive for the worker's compensation attorney to work diligently on your case and to get as a large of a settlement as possible for you. The larger your settlement is, the more the attorney receives in fees. The 20% figure is always the same, so the only way that a lawyer will be get more money is if the amount of your settlement increases. There should never be a case where “the lawyer get the whole settlement and I get nothing.” Worker's compensation attorneys cannot charge a fee on uncontested disability benefits or for medical expenses. This means that you should not be concerned that hiring an attorney will just create additional financial stresses for you and your family.
The only other deduction from your settlement besides the attorney's fees will be the costs advanced by the lawyer prosecuting your case. This would be for expenses incurred during the prosecution of the case for things like subpoenas and court reporters needed reach a successful result for your worker's compensation case. These costs normally do not amount to more than a few hundred dollars.
Hiring a worker’s compensation attorney to represent your interest does not require any up-front out-of-pocket expense from you, and provides you with significant advantages and protections during the course of your Illinois worker's compensation case. Each year, over 50,000 worker's compensation claims are filed at the Worker's Compensation Commission. Approximately 90% of injured workers hire an attorney instead of trying to represent themselves. This is because the fee structure makes hiring a skilled worker's compensation lawyer very affordable. If you are not using a lawyer for your case, you are in the minority.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Barry G. Doyle
Barry G. Doyle practices law exclusively in the area of plaintiff's personal injury and wrongful death litigation. He has not and will not represent insurance companies. He is a 1994 honors graduate of Loyola University of Chicago School of Law. He is a past co-chair of the Tort (Personal Injury) Litigation Committee of the Young Lawyers Section of the Chicago Bar Association.
Copyright Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C.
More information about Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C.
View all articles published by Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C.
Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it is not intended to provide legal advice as individual situations will differ and should be discussed with an expert and/or lawyer. For specific technical or legal advice on the information provided and related topics, please contact the author.
