KC

Katherine Cárdenas, Personal Injury Attorney in Chicago, Illinois

Trauma Lawyers

Chicago, IL

Trusted personal injury attorney serving Chicago.

Practices in

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Quick answer

Katherine Cárdenas is an attorney based in Chicago, ILLINOIS. The practice focuses on Personal Injury. Currently practicing at Trauma Lawyers.

Based in
Chicago, ILLINOIS
Experience
attorney
Known for
Personal Injury
  • Handles Personal Injury matters from Chicago, ILLINOIS.
  • Recognized with Best Lawyers in America — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs (2026).

About Katherine Cárdenas: Katherine Cárdenas is an attorney based in Chicago, ILLINOIS. The practice focuses on Personal Injury. Currently practicing at Trauma Lawyers.

Areas of practice

Katherine's practice areas in Chicago

Katherine concentrates on personal injury. Each area below outlines the kind of case Katherine handles, typical outcomes to expect, and how the intake process starts.

Personal Injury cases in Chicago, Illinois

Katherine takes personal injury matters in Chicago, Illinois. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Katherine agrees to represent you.

Biography

Katherine Cárdenas, personal injury attorney serving Chicago

Katherine Cárdenas is an attorney based in Chicago, ILLINOIS. The practice focuses on Personal Injury. Currently practicing at Trauma Lawyers. Katherine works from Chicago, Illinois and takes on personal injury matters across the region.

Ms. Cárdenas has more than 25 years of experience representing adults and minors who have suffered debilitating injuries in every area of personal injury. Ms. Cárdenas is a member of the highly esteemed Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum due to her repeated success in winning multimillion-dollar settlements for her clients. Starting in 2012, Ms. Cardenas has consistently been named as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers. She prides herself on tenaciously representing her clients from day one to the very end.

She is an Indiana University graduate and obtained her law degree from Loyola University School of Law Chicago. Ms. Cárdenas has tried numerous cases in Cook County, Will County, and Lake County, Illinois. She has represented clients in Federal Court and has argued before the Supreme Court of Illinois. Ms. Cárdenas is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the American Association for Justice and the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association.

Education
  • Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Chicago, Illinois
    • Doctorate of Jurisprudence - 1996
  • Indiana University
    • Bachelor of Science - 1988
Professional Associations
  • Illinois State Bar Association, Member
  • American Association for Justice, Member
  • Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Member
  • Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, Member
  • Nashville Bar Association, Member
Honors
  • Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Member
  • Top 100 Trial Lawyers

How Katherine handles personal injury matters

Ms. Cárdenas has more than 25 years of experience representing adults and minors who have suffered debilitating injuries in every area of personal injury. Ms. Cárdenas is a member of the highly esteemed Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum due to her repeated success in winning multimillion-dollar settlements for her clients. Starting in 2012, Ms. Cardenas has consistently been named as one of…

The kind of cases Katherine takes

Katherine reviews new inquiries case-by-case for personal injury matters in Chicago and the surrounding Illinois area.

Credentials

Credentials — where Katherine studied and practices

  • Loyola University Chicago

    J.D. · 1996

Katherine studied at J.D. in Loyola University Chicago.

Law school and academic background

Katherine completed J.D. in Loyola University Chicago. Formal legal training is one signal of substantive knowledge — the day-to-day practice Katherine runs in Illinois is where that training gets applied to real client questions.

Recognition

Katherine's legal honors and published work

Katherine has received 1 formal recognition from bar associations, industry bodies, and peer-review services.

  • Best Lawyers in America — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs

    2026

Legal awards and honors

Best Lawyers in America — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs (2026).

Locations

Katherine Cárdenas's office in Chicago

Katherine's primary office is at 221 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 1763, Chicago, Illinois, 60601. In-person meetings are by appointment; a phone intake usually comes first.

Main office

Trauma Lawyers

221 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 1763

Chicago, Illinois 60601

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Client feedback

Client reviews of Katherine Cárdenas

Katherine has not yet collected verified client reviews on LawyersListed. Reviews here are all from confirmed clients; anonymous ratings are moderated out.

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Hiring guide

How to hire Katherine Cárdenas — what to expect in your first consultation

Working with a new personal injury attorney should feel structured. Here's how the first two conversations with Katherine usually go, from the moment you request a consult to the day representation begins.

Consultation formats and pricing

Katherine charges for the initial consult. That fee is credited toward representation if you retain Katherine's office.

What to bring to your first meeting

Bring any documents you already have — police reports, medical records, filed pleadings, correspondence from an insurer, a copy of the contract at issue. If you're not sure, err on the side of bringing everything; Katherine will tell you what matters and what doesn't.

Questions to ask a personal injury attorney in Chicago, Illinois

A short list to run through before you commit: How many personal injury matters have you handled in the last year? What's your fee structure? Who else in the office will work on this? What's your realistic estimate of timeline and range of outcomes? How do I reach you between meetings?

Fees & payment

Fees, payment methods, and consultation options for Katherine

Katherine discusses fees during intake so the arrangement fits the matter. Contingency, hourly, and flat-fee options are all common in personal injury practice — ask which fits.

Hourly rates, contingency fees, and flat-fee options

Every personal injury matter is priced differently. Simple document review might be a flat fee. Injury litigation is often contingency. Complex commercial disputes usually run hourly with a retainer. Katherine confirms the model in the engagement letter before any work starts.

Payment methods and payment plans

Katherine's office accepts standard payment methods. Ask about payment plans if the retainer is a stretch — many personal injury practices work with clients on structured schedules.

Frequently asked

Frequently asked questions about Katherine Cárdenas

  • How much does it cost to hire Katherine for a personal injury case?

    Cost depends on the type of matter, the fee model (contingency, flat, hourly), and how contested the case becomes. Katherine walks through the likely range during the consult so there are no surprises.

  • Does Katherine offer a free consultation?

    Katherine charges for the initial consult; that fee is credited toward representation if you retain Katherine's office. Some personal injury attorneys offer free consults — check Katherine's current terms during booking.

  • How long do personal injury cases in Illinois typically take?

    Simple personal injury matters can wrap in a few weeks; disputed cases can run 6–18 months from intake to resolution, longer if the matter goes to trial. Katherine gives a realistic estimate for your facts at the consult — vague answers here are a red flag.

  • Can Katherine take my case if I'm outside Chicago?

    Katherine is licensed in Illinois. Matters governed by Illinois law are the natural fit. Out-of-state matters are handled case-by-case, sometimes with local co-counsel. Ask during intake — Katherine will tell you if the case is a fit or refer you to someone closer to your court.

  • What should I bring to my first meeting with Katherine?

    Bring every document that touches the dispute: contracts, correspondence, police or medical reports, filed pleadings, invoices, photographs, insurance letters. Also bring a written timeline of what happened, in your own words. Katherine will filter what matters — over-preparing at intake is always cheaper than needing a second meeting.

  • Is Katherine accepting new personal injury clients right now?

    Katherine's intake status shifts week to week. Submit the form; the office will confirm availability or refer the matter out.

Areas served

Personal Injury attorneys serving Chicago, Springfield and Northbrook in Illinois

Katherine handles personal injury matters throughout Illinois. Each city below is a direct link into the search page for verified personal injury attorneys in that community.

More counsel

If Katherine's intake is full or the fit isn't right, these personal injury attorneys in Chicago handle similar matters. Every profile below is verified and open to consultations.