Frequently Asked Questions about Personal Injury Law

Local personal injury attorneys act as your advocate. At Wilson & Novak Law Offices, our experience in personal injury cases protects you from being cheated out of fair compensation. 

According to Bankrate, in 2020 the average costs were $1.75 million for a fatal car accident and $101,000 for a disabling injury. 

Our team knows the insurance industry and its practices. We can assess whether an offer from an insurance company or other party is appropriate and fair. If the offer is not fair, we'll take on your case with no up-front costs so you can fight for the compensation you deserve.

When you have been in an accident, your first priority is to get immediate medical care! Even if your injury isn’t life-threatening, see a physician as soon as possible. 

Make sure that you get all the information you can at the time of the accident — even if you have to ask a witness to help you. Get the names and contact information of anyone directly involved. 

If you are hurt in a place of business, try to find out who manages the store, the business, or the property. Try to take pictures of the scene on your cell phone, or ask someone to take pictures and send them to you. 

Finally, make sure that you ask for copies of all your medical records. See our page about Steps to Take After an Accident for more information on getting in touch with local personal injury attorneys.

Keep in mind that insurance companies are on the lookout for their best interest, not necessarily yours. They want to save their money, and that may not be in your favor. 

Do not blindly accept an offer without having an experienced personal injury attorney look at it. 

Do not sign anything, and never admit any fault when you speak with insurance company representatives. 

As your advocates, the team of local personal injury attorneys at Wilson & Novak Law Offices will handle the insurance company for you to protect your rights.

There is no easy way to say how long a personal injury case will take to settle. Each case is different and it depends on the circumstances of your specific personal injury case. 

As your advocates, we only get paid for our accident attorney fees if — and when — you win, so we have a strong incentive to work hard for you. 

Sometimes we can negotiate a quickly non-litigated settlement, but other times we have to go to court. We have taken cases to trial many times and won their cases because we have experience going to trial. There are some attorneys who only have experience settling personal injury cases, not arguing them at trial. You will never have to worry about settling a case due to a lack of experience with Wilson & Novak Law Offices. The important thing is that you get proper compensation and we will help you fight every step of the way to make it happen.

When you have been in an accident, it's important to start collecting as much information as possible as soon as you can. 

You should start by collecting relevant:

• Medical records 
• Police reports  
• Witness statements and testimony  
• Photos or video from the scene  
• Evidence of lost working hours 
• Your pay stubs prior to the accident  
• Receipts for any vehicle repairs or estimates for repairs   

See our page on What to Do After an Accident for more detailed information about when to get in touch with an accident attorney.

The answer depends on the type of claim. Auto accidents are different from wrongful death claims. There are many intricacies that go into a final settlement for a personal injury case. We have handled small personal injury claims as well as multi-million dollar settlements. We can honestly say no two are alike and there is no cookie-cutter approach when it comes to personal injury cases. For example, there are different limitations depending on whether you are dealing with an accident that happened in Indiana or Illinois.

If you need a reliable accident attorney, get in touch with us today.

Our accident and personal injury lawyers handle personal injury cases on a “contingency fee” basis. This means that we don’t charge for our time unless we win. 

There are some cases, other charges may be passed on to you, but our staff will inform you of this possibility in advance.

Auto accidents can wreak havoc, both financially and emotionally. We have handled hundreds of cases, giving us a unique understanding of damages that many do not even realize until it’s too late. Rest assured we will pursue any and all damages possible. Some damages an accident attorney can seek compensation for include:  

• Auto repairs  
• Ambulance bills  
• Hospital stays  
• Physical therapy  
• Pain and suffering  
• Physical disfigurement  
• Prescription medications  
• Loss of income  
• Loss of companionship and consortium  

To get a better idea of the value of your claim, you should meet with the experienced personal injury attorneys at Wilson & Novak Law Offices. We have decades of experience fighting for victims involved in car accidents. We offer a free consultation to discuss the details of your situation, and there is no fee until we win your case.

Most personal injury cases do not go to trial. However, at Wilson & Novak, we are not quick to settle a claim for less in order to avoid going to trial. Our accident and personal injury lawyers have experience fighting and winning for clients in court. We have the knowledge, staff, and tools required to gather the appropriate evidence needed to prove your claim so that we can argue for the maximum compensation allowed by law.

At Wilson & Novak we do not ask for any fees upfront if we agree to take your case. We will agree to a small percentage of the proceeds that we will be paid once the case is settled. Our accident and personal injury lawyers are transparent about the fees involved and you will know what to expect before we even begin working on your case.

Chances are, no, you will not get more money. The chances are far greater that you will not even receive what you deserve. 

Personal injury law is complex. Not every law firm has experience in the intricacies involved in dealing with insurance companies, even if they say they handle personal injury cases. We have attorneys who used to work for the insurance companies, so we know how they operate and have an intimate knowledge of the laws and issues involved in accident claims.