DOMESTIC RELATIONS AND DIVORCE

CRIMINAL AND TRAFFIC LAW

PERSONAL INJURY LAW

PERSONAL INJURY LAW

1.   How long does a person have before he has to file suit in a personal injury case?

If you are injured in an accident and wish to file suit for personal injuries, you must do so within two years of the accident. You should not however, wait that long before seeking the assistance of an attorney with your case. Any delay in your efforts to recover for your injuries could be construed by the insurance company representing the other party that you do not take your case seriously. You should see an attorney as soon as possible after your accident and let your attorney handle your case promptly.

2.   How does an attorney determine the value of a personal injury case?

The amount of recovery you can expect in a personal injury case requires a complex assessment of many factors. Initially, there must be good grounds for a recovery. Your attorney will need to make a legal analysis of whether there is any legal grounds which may prevent you from being able to recover anything in your case. After making that determination, the focus then becomes your particular injuries and damages. The degree of your injuries, the extent of your medical bills, the doctor's assessment of your potential for full recovery, and the impact of the accident and your injuries are major components in the analysis. In addition, you should also be entitled to recover additional damages for time you missed from work because of your injuries and any out of pocket expenses you incurred. If the person at fault in your accident acted in a manner the court could find to be egregious, you may also be entitled to punitive damages in addition to all else. The determination is complex, but after years of experience in dealing with personal injury claims, we can make that determination and effectively argue for the maximum recovery in your case.

3.   How do attorney's usually charge for personal injury cases, and what is a contingency fee?

Typically attorneys will handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that the fee in your case is due only upon your recovery. The attorney will set your fee as a percentage of the recovery you receive in the settlement or trial of your case. This sort of arrangement is attractive to the client because the client is not required to pay for the attorney fees while the case is in progress. The fees are settled when the case is finalized and are paid when the funds are distributed.. In addition to the attorney's fees you will also be responsible for the court costs and other associated costs incurred in your case. In personal injury cases there are usually costs associated with recovering medical records and reports concerning your injuries and securing the testimony of your treating physicians. Those costs will vary from case to case. By working with our personal injury clients on a contingency fee basis we create a relationship which makes it beneficial for both the attorney and client to recover the maximum amount on each case.