Personal Injury FAQs
Personal injury is exactly that, an injury to you. Personal injuries can be serious, such as traumatic brain injuries, torn ligaments, and broken bones, or they can be less serious, such as whiplash, sprains, and strains. Regardless of the injuries, we treat every personal injury case with the same care and attention to detail, because that is what you deserve.
If you have been injured by the careless actions of another person or company, then you have a personal injury case. The value of your case depends on many factors: including, but not limited to the type and nature of your injuries, the amount of your medical bills, the treatment you received, any treatment you may need in the future, and if you missed time from work or school. Because each case is different, we would be happy to set up a consultation to further discuss your specific case.
It is very common to not immediately feel hurt. In fact, with the adrenaline and anxiety of being involved in a motor vehicle collision it is likely that you may not feel any pain until the next day or even several days later. If you begin to feel hurt later, it is important to get checked out by a medical professional as soon as possible.
Not all personal injury attorneys are created equal. It is important to find an attorney with the necessary skill and experience to handle your case, someone that can negotiate with the insurance company to settle your case, but who has taken cases all the way to trial in case that becomes necessary. It is important to talk to the attorney that will be working on your case to make sure you are comfortable with them. At larger firms, it is quite likely that your case will not be handled by one of the main partners, but it will probably be given to a new attorney.
Well, after you have been injured in an accident, the first thing is to make a claim with the other party’s insurance company. If they are unwilling to settle the case for a fair amount, then a lawsuit is filed and we proceed through the litigation process. This includes exchanging written questions, the taking of depositions or answering questions under oath, and ultimately going to trial.
No, you should not talk to the other insurance company. Often times, they want to take a recorded statement from you right away. The risk in doing this is you may inadvertently say something to them that harms your case. You must always remember the insurance company has one goal and that is to settle your claim for as little as possible.
Even if you do not wish to sue the person or party responsible for your injuries, you are still entitled to be compensated for your injuries. You should find an attorney that understands your concerns and is willing to make every effort to settle your case without filing a lawsuit. Of course, if the other insurance company refuses to negotiate, it may become necessary to file a lawsuit, but there is no harm in trying to settle your case before the lawsuit is filed.
Most medical providers understand that if you have been injured in an accident, you may not be able to pay your bills right away. Your attorney should be able to work with you and your medical providers to let them know what is going on with the case.
A release is simply a legal agreement releasing the person or party responsible for your injuries from any further liability. It is a standard part of any settlement agreement, but it is something your attorney should review prior to your signing.
The answer to this question is it depends. Once a case has been settled, most insurance companies send the checks right away to your attorney. However, if you have outstanding medical bills, your attorney should work to get those bills reduced for you. This process can take several weeks to complete. But once it is complete, your attorney is able to disburse the settlement check by paying your legal fees, paying any outstanding medical bills, and disbursing your check to you.
In personal injury cases, lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. You should never be asked to pay anything up front and you will never owe the attorney anything unless the attorney is successful in getting a settlement or judgment in your favor.
A contingency fee is a legal fee agreement where you agree to pay your attorney a percentage of any money recovered on your behalf.
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michele h.Eric Cotton Was brought in by another lawyer I went... read moreEric Cotton Was brought in by another lawyer I went too And He dealt with my settlement case. He is easy to get in contact with And I think he did a wonderful Job read less
alexander p.One of the few law firms that represents people with... read moreOne of the few law firms that represents people with civil rights lawsuits read less
victor j. -
Cotton Law Firm did a great job for my son!... read moreCotton Law Firm did a great job for my son! Very honest and responsive to phone calls. He does what he says he is going to do! I appreciate this from a law firm. I highly recommend. read less
Michelle J.Eric Cotton and The Cotton Law Firm has handled both... read moreEric Cotton and The Cotton Law Firm has handled both of my car accident cases with professionalism. He worked hard to get my case settled and get me the best possible outcome for my situation. I am completely satisfied with how Eric handled my cases. He's an excellent attorney!! read less
Kerry B.He’s always available when I need him. Fast results all... read moreHe’s always available when I need him. Fast results all of the time. read less
Charisma C. -
Eric Cotton is a wonderful attorney! He is fair, honest,... read moreEric Cotton is a wonderful attorney! He is fair, honest, easy to get in contact with and truly fights for your rights. He works for the best interest of his client and gets you the maximum settlement possible. Not only is he a fair and honest attorney but he's also easy to talk to with no sugar coating and explains legal information in layman's terms. For this reason he's a 5 star attorney that will get my buisness again if I'm ever in a situation where I'm needing an attorney in the future. read less
travis j.I was in a head on collision a little over... read moreI was in a head on collision a little over 2 years ago and had someone that used to be a friend recommend me to Eric and I am so thankful I did because I would have been so lost especially dealing with the insurance companies! He went above and beyond for my case. No one could ask for a better lawyer. I will continue to use him in the future for any legal matters I may have. read less
thomas W.My "fact checker" to-go-to before I reach out to my... read moreMy "fact checker" to-go-to before I reach out to my haters on the other side of civil court... Very experienced and really knows what he's doing. Client for over 15 years! read less
Rick -
I recommend Eric Cotton and The Cotton Law Firm to... read moreI recommend Eric Cotton and The Cotton Law Firm to anyone who really wants an attorney who really cares about you and your case. I've known him for several years and can guarantee he'll treat you well and do the best job he can for you. read less
Jason B.Most sincere, honest, hard working and integrity driven individual I... read moreMost sincere, honest, hard working and integrity driven individual I know. Recommend him to any one! read less
Jud O.Didn't get what I was hoping for, but Eric explained why.
Lawyers.com U. -
Very professional and these guys know what they're doing .... read moreVery professional and these guys know what they're doing . Thank you read less
Lawyers.com U.Great service. Knowledgeable staff. Worked hard for me.
Lawyers.com U.Great communication. Fair and honest.
Lawyers.com U. -
Mr. Cotton did a wonderful job representing me. He provided... read moreMr. Cotton did a wonderful job representing me. He provided me with a clear picture of all my options up front, and I was happy with the outcome of the settlement and his fee. read less
Lawyers.com U.Very professional. Very personable. Very honest. My experience with Mr.... read moreVery professional. Very personable. Very honest. My experience with Mr. Cotton was very positive. He helped tremendously within my case. I recommend him highly. read less
Lawyers.com U.Eric was very helpful, and easy to work with. It... read moreEric was very helpful, and easy to work with. It was a pleasure working with him. read less
Lawyers.com U. -
Eric Cotton in my opinion is a responsible and capable... read moreEric Cotton in my opinion is a responsible and capable lawyer regarding the person/and or firms whom he chooses to represent in litigation. I was always kept informed of all filings and proceeding in regards to my case with Mr. Cotton. Mr Cotton was always available and reliable in returning phone calls when not readily available, and was very pleasant in explaining information that I did not quite understand. I highly recommend Mr.Cotton and would not hesitate to consult with him in the future. read less
Lawyers.com U.Eric Cotton handled my issue with care and professionalism. He... read moreEric Cotton handled my issue with care and professionalism. He worked hard to get us the fair outcome that we deserved and made a hard time easier for me and my family. I would recommend him to anyone! read less
Lawyers.com U.I ask if they were available to look at my... read moreI ask if they were available to look at my case. I dropped my file June 2017 .around June 2018 .I had to call n call to request my file . It hadn't been looked at till that moment. 15 mins later .oh no case. Sorry. Waisting a year. .my fault . But I couldn't move forward in to 20/20 with out saying this . The way I felt treated would not be recomm. read less
Kerwin M. -
Instead of fighting for my rights I was told to... read moreInstead of fighting for my rights I was told to do it myself and the prosecutors and judges are immune to the law. The us is a totalitarian country where only the law itself may be free of tyranny and not the people. When the government fears the people there is liberty and we the people fear the government there is tyranny. Welcome to the world's largest prison ran by the worlds evilest people... Sorry citizen's if you've been wronged your not getting help here. read less
Paul B.If your considering Eric cotton, don't.
Samuel S.
Eric Cotton Was brought in by another lawyer I went too And He dealt with my settlement case. He is... read moreEric Cotton Was brought in by another lawyer I went too And He dealt with my settlement case. He is easy to get in contact with And I think he did a wonderful Job read less
alexander puente5/23/2020