Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about how our Chicago law firm can help you
If you or a loved one has been injured by someone else’s reckless or negligent behavior, you probably have a lot of important legal questions. That’s why our Chicago personal injury law firm wants to help.
At Ferrell Young, LLC, we know how overwhelming and confusing legal cases can be for injury victims and their families. We also understand the urgency of your legal matter. You want answers as soon as possible. But you also want to know how the legal process works. That’s why we created this page focusing on many of the questions we often get at our Chicago law firm.
What is your legal question?
Below, you can find the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we receive at our law firm and how we work. We also encourage you to contact us and schedule a free case evaluation as soon as possible. You can reach us online or call us to schedule an appointment. Se habla Español.
- What types of cases does the law firm handle?
- Do you charge fees for a consultation?
- What fees do you charge?
- How long have you been in business?
- How much time do I have to file a claim?
- Do I need a lawyer if I or a loved one has been injured?
- What if I don’t want to go to court?
- How much will this cost me?
- How much is my case worth?
- Do I have to travel to your office?
- How long will this take?
- Why don’t you want me to date the authorization forms?
- Why do you need the signature of the informant listed on the death certificate if I am the next of kin?
What types of cases does the law firm handle?
Ferrell Young, LLC represents people injured by the negligence of others, particularly in nursing home abuse and neglect cases as well as car and truck accidents and other injuries caused by negligence. We also represent families who have lost loved ones in wrongful death cases. We only represent injury victims and their families, not big businesses or insurance companies.
Do you charge fees for a consultation?
No. We believe injury victims should be able to know their rights without worrying about how much it costs to talk to us. That’s we offer a free case evaluation to all potential clients. You probably already have enough bills due to your injury. Meeting with us should not add to your financial burden.
What fees do you charge?
Along with offering a free consultation, we work on what’s known as a contingency fee basis. This simply means that you only have to pay us for legal fees if we secure a financial settlement or verdict for you. If we don’t win your case, you don’t owe us a penny. It’s that simple.
How long have you been in business?
Ferrell Young LLC was founded in 2019. However, our attorneys bring decades of experience to every legal case we handle at our law firm.
How much time do I have to file a claim?
It depends on the type of case. In Illinois, you generally have two (2) years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. In wrongful death cases, you generally have two years from the date of death – which is not necessarily the date of the accident or injury that caused the death. However, different deadlines can apply in some circumstances. The only way to know which time limits apply to your case is to talk to an attorney.
Do I need a lawyer if I or a loved one has been injured?
Technically, you do not have to hire an attorney if you or a loved one was injured in an accident caused by someone else in Illinois. However, it’s important to understand that the at-fault party (and their insurance company) will likely hire investigators and lawyers to build a strong legal case. Why? Because there’s often a lot of money at stake. Depending on the severity of your injuries and other factors, you could be eligible to receive thousands of dollars or much more. That’s why you should talk to a lawyer who knows how to handle such legal cases right away. You don’t want to be the only one without legal representation.
What if I don’t want to go to court?
Most personal injury and wrongful death cases settle out of court. Few cases actually go to trial. Moreover, as the injured person, it’s ultimately your choice whether to accept a settlement or take your case to court. Our attorneys will explain your options, the likely timeframe and outcome, and whether we believe it’s in your interest to take a settlement or go to trial, but the final decision is yours.
If your case does go to trial, we will make sure you are prepared every step of the way.
How much will this cost me?
You don’t pay us anything up front or by the hour. If we win your case, our fee is a percentage of your recovery, so you still don’t pay us out of pocket. If we don’t win, you don’t owe us anything. The insurance industry’s own data has shown that people who hire an attorney consistently recover more than those who do not, even taking the attorney’s fee into account.
How much is my case worth?
There’s no set dollar amount when it comes to different legal cases or injury claims. Similar cases might be worth very different amounts. What matters most is you should be financially compensated for all your injury-related expenses, now and in the future. This might sound simple. But you might not realize just how many expenses you should receive money for if you are seriously injured. And there’s often a great deal of debate about which expenses to include when calculating your injury claim.
That’s why should talk to a lawyer at our Chicago law firm. We can review your case and provide you with an estimate of how much money you could be eligible to receive for your case.
Do I have to travel to your office?
No. If you cannot make it to our Chicago law office, we can meet you at another location that’s convenient for you. Often, we meet with clients in their hospital room, their home or wherever works best for them. Simply contact us and schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced Chicago personal injury lawyers.
How long will this take?
There’s no simple answer to this question because every injury claim and legal case is different. Some might take a few weeks to resolve. Others might take several months or longer to finalize. The best way to know is to talk to an attorney at our Chicago law firm. This is why we offer a free case evaluation. That way, you can have a better idea about how long your case could take. And if you decide to take legal action, we promise to keep you informed about the status of your case.
Why don’t you want me to date the authorization forms?
Authorization forms to order records are time-sensitive and must be used immediately once dated. We keep undated authorizations on file so that we can move quickly to order records we need to move your case forward.
Why do you need the signature of the informant listed on the death certificate if I am the next of kin?
Unless you are named as the executor of the estate, the informant listed on the death certificate may be the only individual to whom records will be released.