How will the lawyer know what my case is worth?
Every case is different, but generally speaking, a lawyer will review your medical records, speak with witnesses, review accident reports and analyze how the injury has affected your life. No one, including your attorney, can tell you what your case is worth until you are finished with medical treatment and all the evidence relevant to your claim has been gathered and assessed. In the case of litigation, the evaluation of your claim may be ongoing as evidence is produced by all parties and the testimony of witnesses is obtained.
If I was injured because someone else did something wrong, what should I do?
If you are injured, the most important thing to do is seek medical care. When you go to the hospital or to the doctor, make sure to give an accurate history of how you were injured. You may need to keep a journal that documenting your injury, who you spoke to, the doctors you have seen and any other information. You also need to preserve evidence and take photographs when appropriate. A good attorney will guide you through all of these steps.
What is a statute of limitation?
This is the time limit that you have to file a case. For example, if there is a two year statute of limitation, after two years your case is barred no matter how strong a claim you might have had. In injury cases most statutes of limitation start from the time you knew, or reasonably should have known, you had grounds to bring a case. To protect yourself, you should seek legal counsel as soon as possible. Remember, it doesn't cost anything to consult with a lawyer on an injury case.
How much will it cost for me to hire a lawyer?
Attorneys that handle injury claims normally work on a contingency basis. That means they only get paid if you receive a recovery. If they do not recover any money for you, then you owe them nothing. The attorney’s fee is a percentage of what you recover and is entirely dependent on whether you obtain a settlement or favorable judgment. You should never pay for a consultation or for the attorney to handle your case.
