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.
