Stavros Law Offices handles all personal injury claims on a contingency fee. No fee unless we win. On injury claims, if we do not recover money for you, you owe nothing: no attorney fee and no case costs. Consultations are free for every type of case. Your written fee agreement explains how the fee is calculated and how case costs are handled; under the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct, a contingent fee agreement must be in a writing signed by the client (Ill. R. Prof'l Conduct 1.5(d)(2)). Call (847) 520-4810 to schedule a free consultation.

General information, not legal advice. Last reviewed: October 2026.

What a Contingency Fee Means

With a contingency fee, the lawyer's fee depends on the outcome of the case. Instead of paying an hourly rate or a retainer up front, the client pays an attorney fee only if there is a recovery, and the fee is calculated from that recovery using the method stated in the written agreement. Illinois rules require that agreement to state the percentage or percentages that apply if the case is resolved by settlement, trial or appeal (Rule 1.5(d)(2)).

For many injured people, this arrangement is what makes hiring a lawyer possible. Someone who is out of work and facing medical bills is rarely in a position to pay hourly legal fees while a claim is pending.

How Fees Work at Stavros Law Offices

All personal injury claims at Stavros Law Offices are handled on a contingency fee basis. That includes car, truck and motorcycle crashes, pedestrian and bicycle injuries, premises liability and slip-and-fall claims, dog bites, nursing home neglect, medical malpractice and wrongful death. For these claims:

• No fee unless we win. If we do not recover money for you, you owe nothing: no attorney fee and no case costs.
• Free consultation. Consultations are free for every type of case. There is no charge to talk with us about what happened and your options.
• A written agreement. Before you hire us, we go over the fee agreement with you and answer your questions. Your written fee agreement explains how the fee is calculated and how case costs are handled.

Business and contract disputes handled through our civil litigation practice are billed under a different, hourly fee arrangement, which we explain at the free consultation.

What Illinois Requires in a Contingency Fee Agreement

Illinois Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5 governs lawyers' fees. For contingent fees, paragraph (d)(2) requires that the agreement:

• Be in a writing signed by the client
• State the method by which the fee is to be determined, including the percentage or percentages that apply in the event of settlement, trial or appeal
• State the litigation and other expenses to be deducted from the recovery
• State whether those expenses are deducted before or after the contingent fee is calculated
• Clearly notify the client of any expenses for which the client will be liable whether or not the client is the prevailing party

The same rule requires that, when a contingent fee matter ends, the lawyer give the client a written statement of the outcome and, if there is a recovery, show the remittance to the client and the method of its determination. Rule 1.5 also prohibits unreasonable fees and unreasonable amounts for expenses (Rule 1.5(a)), and requires that the basis or rate of the fee and expenses be communicated to the client (Rule 1.5(b)).

Attorney Fees vs. Case Costs

An attorney fee pays for the lawyer's work. Case costs, sometimes called expenses, are the out-of-pocket charges involved in pursuing a claim. Depending on the case, they can include:

• Court filing fees and fees to serve legal papers
• Charges for medical records, police reports and other documents
• Court reporter and deposition transcript charges
• Fees for doctors and other qualified witnesses who review records or testify
• Costs for photographs, models, exhibits or accident reconstruction

Fees and costs are different, and the difference matters when a case resolves. On an injury claim handled by Stavros Law Offices, if there is no recovery, you owe neither: no attorney fee and no case costs. Your written fee agreement explains how the fee is calculated and how case costs are handled. Because Illinois requires the agreement to state whether expenses are deducted before or after the fee is calculated, ask us to walk you through how that works on your agreement before you sign.

Questions to Ask Before You Sign a Fee Agreement

Whichever lawyer you consider, a clear fee agreement protects both sides. Useful questions include:

• What percentage applies if the case settles, goes to trial or is appealed?
• What kinds of case costs are expected in a case like mine?
• Are costs deducted from the recovery before or after the fee is calculated?
• Will I be responsible for any expenses whether or not there is a recovery?
• How will liens and medical bills be handled at the end of the case?
• Who will I communicate with, and how will I get updates?

The answers should appear in the written agreement, not only in conversation.

How Fees Fit Into Your Net Recovery

At the end of a case, several items may be paid from the gross settlement or verdict before the client receives the balance: the attorney fee, case costs as provided in the agreement, and liens or reimbursement claims, such as health care provider liens under the Health Care Services Lien Act (770 ILCS 23/10) and Medicare conditional payments (42 U.S.C. 1395y(b)(2)). The written closing statement required by Rule 1.5(d)(2) shows how the client's share was determined. Our page on how much an injury case is worth explains liens in more detail.

Why the First Consultation Matters

Consultations are free for every type of case, so the first meeting is a chance to ask about fees before you commit to anything. We listen to what happened, review documents you bring, explain how Illinois law may apply, describe your options, and explain our fee agreement. We cannot promise an outcome, because every case depends on its facts and the law. You decide whether to hire us.

Bring any insurance letters, medical bills, photographs and police or incident reports you have. If you are not sure you have a deadline problem, ask; see Illinois personal injury deadlines. For what happens after you hire a lawyer, see our injury case timeline.

Related Pages

See our personal injury overview, the Car Accident Resource Center, dealing with insurance after a crash and who pays medical bills after a car accident.

Our county pages explain where injury cases are filed: Cook County, Lake County, DuPage County, Kane County and McHenry County.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I pay anything up front to hire Stavros Law Offices for an injury claim?

No. There is no attorney fee up front for an injury claim, and the consultation is free. We handle all personal injury claims on a contingency fee: no fee unless we win. If we do not recover money for you, you owe nothing: no attorney fee and no case costs. Your written fee agreement explains how the fee is calculated and how case costs are handled.

What percentage is a contingency fee?

The percentage is stated in the written fee agreement, and we review it with you before you sign. Illinois rules require a contingent fee agreement to state the percentage or percentages that apply in the event of settlement, trial or appeal (Ill. R. Prof'l Conduct 1.5(d)(2)).

What happens if we do not win my injury case?

On injury claims, if we do not recover money for you, you owe nothing: no attorney fee and no case costs. Your written fee agreement explains how the fee is calculated and how case costs are handled.

What is the difference between attorney fees and case costs?

An attorney fee pays for the lawyer's work. Case costs are out-of-pocket expenses of pursuing the claim, such as filing fees, records charges, deposition transcripts and witness fees. On injury claims, if there is no recovery, you owe neither. Your written fee agreement explains how the fee is calculated and how case costs are handled.

Is the consultation really free?

Yes. Consultations at Stavros Law Offices are free for every type of case. Call (847) 520-4810 to schedule one.

Talk to Our Team

Stavros Law Offices is one team handling criminal defense and DUI, personal injury and civil litigation. We handle personal injury claims on a contingency fee for clients in our service area from our Wheeling office. Call (847) 520-4810 or request a free consultation online. Available 24/7 by phone at (847) 520-4810. Leave a message after hours and calls are returned promptly. Our bilingual staff can assist. Se habla español.

Stavros Law Offices
433 N. Milwaukee Ave, Wheeling, IL 60090
(847) 520-4810
Monday–Friday 9–5; closed Saturday
Free consultation. Serving clients in Cook, Lake, McHenry, Kane and DuPage Counties.

General information, not legal advice; no attorney-client relationship is formed until the firm is engaged. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Laws, deadlines and court procedures change and every case is different. Last reviewed: October 2026.