Tell him what happened
Tell him what happened, in whatever order it comes out. The first conversation is free, it puts you under no obligation, and you are not committing to anything by having it.
Call him
The fastest route to a straight answer, and the right one if something is already moving: an insurer chasing a recorded statement, or a crash recent enough that camera footage still exists somewhere.
(312) 701-0076- J.Zito@Karnolaw.com
- Before you call
- How a claim actually works
Or write it down first
Useful when the situation has a sequence to it, and easier if you are still in treatment. Describe what happened in order, with the dates.
Sending this form does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not include confidential information until a written engagement is in place.
What happens on the first call
01
You describe what happened
In your own words. What happened, when, where, who else was involved, and what has hurt since. There is no wrong order and no need to have it organised.
02
He asks the dull questions
Dates, treatment, insurers, letters received, days missed from work. The unglamorous details are what a claim is actually built out of.
03
You get a straight read
Including, sometimes, that you may not need a lawyer. If there is something genuinely time-sensitive, you will be told that first, before anything else.
What to have to hand
None of this is required, and having none of it is not a reason to put off calling. It just makes a free conversation worth considerably more than it otherwise would be.
A collision of any kind
The police report or its number, photographs from the scene, the other driver's insurance details, and anything their insurer has already sent you. If all you have is a report number, that is genuinely enough to start.
A fall or an injury on a property
The incident report if one was made, photographs of the actual condition, and the name of the business or owner. Dates and times matter here more than documents, because footage is retained by the day.
An injury at work
What you told your employer and when, in writing if it exists, plus your medical records so far. Also worth mentioning: whether anyone other than your employer was involved.
A death, or a catastrophic injury
Nothing. Call when you are ready and bring what you have. If there is something genuinely time-sensitive you will be told that first, and then left alone to decide.
Finding the office
33 N LaSalle St, Suite 3500, Chicago, IL 60602. North LaSalle between Washington and Randolph, in the middle of the Loop, and the practice is on the thirty-fifth floor.
The Blue Line at Washington and the Brown and Orange lines at Clark/Lake are both a couple of minutes away, and the Daley Center is a short walk east. Driving into the Loop at rush hour is possible and rarely the faster choice. The firm also keeps an office in Aurora, by appointment.
If you are still deciding whether to call, the practice areas set out what each kind of claim involves, and how a claim actually works covers most of what a first conversation would.
Before you get in touch
Is the first conversation really free?
Yes. Call (312) 701-0076 or send the form and describe what you are dealing with. There is no charge and no obligation to go any further.
Does contacting him make him my lawyer?
No. Contacting this office does not create an attorney-client relationship, and please do not send confidential information until one has been established.
What should I bring or attach?
Whatever you have: the police or incident report, photographs from the day, anything an insurer has sent you, and a rough note of your treatment so far. If you have none of it, call anyway.
Can you tell me my deadline?
Not from a form or a web page. Illinois deadlines vary with the type of claim and with who the defendant is, and getting that wrong is serious. Ask on the call, and ask sooner rather than later.
Do you handle cases outside Chicago?
The practice is Illinois-wide, and the firm keeps offices in Chicago and, by appointment, in Aurora. Call and describe where it happened.
What does it cost to hire him?
Personal injury matters at the firm are handled on a contingency basis, so the fee comes out of a recovery rather than from you up front. Ask for the specific terms in writing before you sign.