Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much is it going to cost me to hire you to represent me in an accident?

A: We charge a contingency fee for bodily injury claims. The percentage is competitive but varies with the complexity of your case. Charging a contingency fee means that we don’t get paid unless and until you get paid. You don’t pay us anything unless and until you get paid.

In cases involving property damage (i.e., damage to a vehicle) and personal injury in an accident, we don’t charge any attorney fees for handling your property damage claim. We don’t believe that it is fair for an attorney to be taking some portion of the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle.

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Q: I’ve taken care of my car like it was my child but the insurance company wants to pay me book value. Can you help me recover the true value of my car?

A: Over time, you car can become almost like a member of your family. We understand that book value isn’t enough to compensate for a vehicle that has been declared a total loss in all cases. There are times that your vehicle is “your baby,” and you are entitled to more than book value.

When there is a gap between what you say your car is worth and what the insurance company says its worth, The Law Firm can help you receive the highest compensation for your vehicle.

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Q: Do I have to pay any expenses up front for you to represent me?

A: No. We invest not only the amount of time needed for handling serious injury cases but also the amount of money needed to properly handle your claim. Unlike many other lawyers, we’re not afraid to invest substantial amounts of money to hire the best possible experts that we need to pursue your serious injury claim.

This may include accident reconstructionists, economic damage experts, medical experts, vocational rehabilitation experts, as well as other experts in various sciences. We have relationships with many experts in various fields and are prepared to hire experts in any area reasonably needed in any serious injury case.

While we recover the cost of expert witnesses when your case is settled or a verdict is obtained, you are not expected to pay any of these expenses, no matter how large, unless and until we make a recovery for you.

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Q: Will it take longer if I use a lawyer?

A: No, in fact it will probably shorten the amount of time but you will receive more money in most cases. Hiring us early insures that we immediately gather and preserve all evidence that is favorable to you.

We will conduct a thorough investigation and make sure that all favorable evidence is secured. We work closely with your physicians to get the necessary medical documents to pursue your claim and provide these to the insurance company.

We can answer your questions to help you get the best possible medical care to get back to work and recover from your injuries as quickly as possible. By hiring us early, you are less likely to have to file a lawsuit because all of the steps necessary to settle your case will be taken.

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Q: When do I need to get an attorney involved?

A: We recommend contacting us as soon as possible after being involved in an accident. Property damage claims are generally settled within the first few weeks after an accident.

Hiring us early helps to insure a fair settlement for your property damage claim (without having to pay us an attorney fee when we also represent you on a bodily injury claim). We also insure that storage fees on your damaged vehicle are kept to a minimum.

Additionally, hiring us early allows us to preserve all evidence that is favorable to you. We are also able to stop insurance companies from obtaining a statement from you, while you are in pain and not thinking clearly due to the stress of the accident and injury, and to use your statement to either pay less or pay nothing at all on your claim.

Early involvement also insures that all documentation necessary to pursue your claim is obtained in a timely fashion.

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Q: My car shows no sign of damage but I’ve been in pain since the accident. Is it possible that I was hurt in the accident?

A: Yes. There is little, if any, correlation between the injury sustained in an accident and the extent of the property damage. Studies and testing show that injury can be predicted based upon whether the occupant of a vehicle has been subjected to certain risk factors in a collision.

We can discuss these risk factors with you in person. Our attorneys are trained in recognizing and evaluating the risk factors involved in injuries in low speed rear impact collisions that result in little, if any, visible property damage.

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Q: What’s my case worth?

A: No attorney can truthfully answer this question without knowing the nature, extent and duration of your injuries. The value of your case depends upon the damages that you will incur that result from the fault of a third party.

We need to know the extent of your injury, what treatment you will require in the future, whether your injuries are permanent, whether you will have any lost income or ability to earn income in the future, and other information to be able to evaluate the value of your case.

Once this information has been obtained, we have the experience, training, and skill to evaluate your case.

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Q: Do I have to sue?

A. There are many benefits from getting an attorney involved in your case as early as possible. One of these benefits is that it generally reduces the possibility that a lawsuit will have to be filed to recover a fair amount for your injuries. We will work to get a fair value for your case.

However, there are instances where a fair settlement cannot be reached and it becomes necessary to sue. We will only file suit after discussing all other options with you and, of course, we will keep you informed of the status of your case throughout the course of representing you.

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Q: What can I do to save my neck in a rear end collision?

A: Adjust the height of your vehicle’s headrest. Specifically adjust the headrest up or down until the center of the headrest meets the center of the back of your head. This will help keep the head from pivoting over the top of the headrest in a rear end collision.

Check to make sure that your head is not sitting too far in front of the headrest when you drive. The center of the back part of your head should be no further than the width of four fingers from the headrest.

Keep your eyes on the road and your head straight while driving. Having your head or body turned during a collision can increase your chances of a significant injury.

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