Since 2001 Findgreatlawyers.com has been the leading internet resource to find Illinois lawyers and Illinois legal information

Findgreatlawyers.com is a one of a kind service. Since 2001 we have helped people find the right attorney for their Illinois legal situation. If you are looking for an Illinois nursing home abuse lawyer, or attorney for any other situation, we can likely help you. We don’t promise a result, but do promise that our attorneys will treat you like a family member or friend. If you want our help please contact us at (312) 346-5320. We recommend nursing abuse lawyers everywhere in Illinois.

If a loved one is killed or injured due to possible nursing home malpractice, it is a good idea to hire an attorney to investigate what happened as soon as possible. Every case is different and choosing the right attorney can be a challenge. Below are some questions to ask a lawyer you are thinking about hiring that will hopefully help you make the right decision.

1. What are your fees? A nursing home abuse lawyer should represent you on a contingency basis, which means that you pay nothing unless you win. If you win, the attorney is paid – typically 1/3 of the recovery amount. If you lose, the attorney gets nothing, which is the cost of doing business in this type of law.
2. Will I have to pay for costs? The answer should be "No." Your nursing home abuse lawyer should be part of a financially stable firm that is able to advance costs over the course of the litigation. You should not have to pay anything upfront.
3. Who will be handling my case? Oftentimes, you will meet with the partner of the firm but a more junior associate will actually handle your case. You don’t want anyone with little to no experience in nursing home abuse cases working on your matter. It is ok to insist that only the partner and a senior associate, who you have also met, work on your case, especially on material matters like depositions, settlement discussions or trial.
4. How much of your practice is nursing home abuse law? The area of nursing home abuse can be complex. You will be best represented by an attorney who deals with these kinds of cases on a daily basis and as the main part of their practice. You want someone who focuses in this area and has at least ten years of experience.
5. Have you seen cases like this before? Following up on the last question, you want to know specifics. You want to know that they have a proven track record and how cases like yours have been handled in the past and what the result was. Unless your case is extremely unique, you don’t want the attorney you hire to be learning on the job. Beyond that, if your loved one has bed sores, it will increase your chance of success if you hire a law firm that has handled scores of bed sore cases.
6. What type of documentation do you need to represent me? A good nursing home abuse lawyer will ask for records related to everything you witnessed with respect to the treatment of your loved one. This includes copies of medical records you obtained and possibly even a detailed journal of what you witnessed and when.
7. How often and in what form will we communicate? Nursing home abuse cases can take years before they are resolved but that doesn’t mean you should go too long without hearing from your attorney. Your attorney works for you and should keep you informed of all significant developments. If you want monthly updates even if nothing has changed, let the lawyer know.
8. Are you familiar with the nursing home where the malpractice occurred? This isn’t a deal breaker, but it helps. At the least they should be able to do some research about that home and provide information about past cases against them.
9. How should we proceed in my case? State your goals. What do you want to get out of this lawsuit? Your attorney should listen to you and understand your wants and needs. Together, you should come up with a plan that you are comfortable with and that strives to meet those goals.
10. Is there anything else I should know or consider? You shouldn’t be expected to know everything, but it’s a good idea to be involved with the case. Your lawyer should educate you on the process and discuss things that you aren’t thinking about, but should be.

Learning that your loved one has been mistreated in a nursing home is a taxing and emotional discovery. Finding the right lawyer to represent you and your loved one is important at such a vulnerable time. If you would like our help in finding the right attorney for an Illinois nursing abuse lawsuit please contact us. We can’t guarantee a result, but do promise to treat you like a family member or friend. If we think you may have a case, we will recommend an independent law firm that we feel best fits your needs.