PRACTICE AREAS
Should I hire a lawyer?
What do you charge for legal services?
Do I have a case?
Should I talk to the other side's insurance company?
What is my case worth?
Whether or not to hire a lawyer is a personal decision that must be made after weighing all of your legal options. The experienced personal injury attorneys at our firm can inform you of all of your legal rights so you can make an informed choice. Our initial consultation is free of charge and does not obligate you to hire our firm.
What do you charge for legal services?
We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don't pay a fee unless we recover money in your injury case. Instead of billing the plaintiff on an hourly basis, a contingency fee means we are entitled to a percentage of the settlement or trial award, usually one-third. If you do not receive any compensation for damages, our firm is entitled to nothing. The percentage of the award charged on a contingency fee basis depends upon the type of case. Our attorneys advise our clients up front of all applicable fees and openly address any questions our clients may have. Although one case may demand a higher percentage fee than another, all contingency fees are paid only when there is a monetary recovery on behalf of the client.
If you wonder if you have a case, give us a call. If you have questions you need answered, give us a call. We will either answer your questions over the phone, or make an appointment for you to come in and talk at NO CHARGE. If for some reason we can't take your case, we'll try to help you find someone who can.
Should I talk to the other side's insurance company?
Never give an oral statement to the other side's insurance company. If you do, you will regret it. If you are contacted, be polite, but decline to talk. Insurance companies' claims adjusters are professional negotiators, with extensive experience in using every psychological technique to maneuver you into giving information which can hurt your claim, including discouraging you from using the professional services of a lawyer.
Claims adjusters are hired because they sound good over the telephone, but they are well trained by insurance company lawyers to ask questions in a manner designed to hurt you and help them. You cannot beat an expert at their game. Do not try it. Simply say "thank you for calling but I am not prepared to discuss this matter with you at this time."
You should seek the advice of an experienced personal injury attorney, who can determine the best way to proceed with the adverse insurance company.
The most significant issue to most people involved in a personal injury claim is the issue of damages. By using our vast experience and the extensive resources available to us on your behalf, we focus on achieving the highest possible monetary recovery for you. Compensatory damages are derived from the word "compensate," meaning "to make up for" or "to make whole". Generally, these damages can be broken up into two sub-categories — actual damages and general damages. Actual damages seek to reimburse a plaintiff for out-of-pocket expenses incurred, or financial losses sustained. Actual damages typically include:
- Medical and hospitalization bills incurred to treat your injuries
- Wages lost due to work missed while you recuperate
- Costs of household or nursing help during recovery, including costs of wheelchair or crutches required
- Cost of rental car or substitute transportation
- Cost to replace or repair damaged property
As noted, injured victims can also sue for general damages in addition to actual damages. General damages include the things that can't be precisely documented in dollars spent, including:
- Pain and suffering endured due to injuries and any subsequent mental anguish
- Disfigurement resulting from injuries
- Value of medical expenses you are likely to incur in the future
- Value of wages you are likely to lose in the future
- Permanency of injury and resulting pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium (benefits of a relationship)
- Loss of opportunity
