| 1. | Do I need an attorney?
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| 2. | An insurance adjuster left me a message to call him regarding settling my case. Should I return his call before speaking to you?
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| 3. | How do I pick an attorney?
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| 4. | How much do you charge for your services?
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| 5. | Will I have to file a lawsuit and go to court?
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| 6. | Who decides whether or not I will settle my case?
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| 7. | What can I expect to happen after I retain you?
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| 8. | Do you handle cases for children?
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| 9. | What can I do to help you win my case or get a good settlement?
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| 10. | If I have to go to court, will you prepare me?
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| 11. | Have you handled cases like mine?
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| 1. | Do I need an attorney? |
| | Yes. Almost always. Attorneys like me exist to safeguard your rights. I have the education, training, and experience to protect you from falling into one of the many traps that could make it so that you recover too little, or even nothing, for your injuries. I also make sure that an insurance adjuster does not take advantage of you. It is sad but true that there are many unscrupulous insurance adjusters who will take advantage of injured persons by offering them less (usually far less) than their claim is worth. I do my best to make sure that you receive the maximum amount possible for your injury claim. I leave no stone unturned in my quest to get you a fair and satisfactory result. |
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| 2. | An insurance adjuster left me a message to call him regarding settling my case. Should I return his call before speaking to you? |
| | No. Let's face it, insurance companies make money by collecting premiums, not by paying claims. Insurance adjusters know this and are more than happy to pay you less than your claim may be worth. They hope you will not hire a lawyer, especially one like me who will vigorously protect your rights and fight to get you the best possible settlement. Call me before you contact the adjuster. |
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| 3. | How do I pick an attorney? |
| | The best way to know if a lawyer is right for you is to ask him lots of questions. A good lawyer will be happy to talk to you and will not charge you a fee for the initial consultation. You should always be able to call him on the phone or make an appointment to meet with him in person. If you feel comfortable after talking to him, and you trust that he has the experience and background necessary to do the job, chances are good that you have found the lawyer you're looking for. |
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| 4. | How much do you charge for your services? |
| | It depends on how the case turns out. I handle personal injury cases on a "contingency fee" basis. This means that I do not earn any fee unless I settle the case or win it in court. |
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| 5. | Will I have to file a lawsuit and go to court? |
| | Not Necessarily. I will try to settle your case without going to court. Settling out of court almost always mean that you will receive your money faster than if we have to take your case to court. A court case can often take a year or more to complete, whereas a settlement can result in you getting your money months or even a few weeks after the settlement is reached. I am also mindful of the fact that many people wish to avoid the entire experience of going to court. While I try to make the experience of going to court as easy for my clients as possible, it is nevertheless a stressful activity that most everyone prefers to avoid in possible. |
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| 6. | Who decides whether or not I will settle my case? |
| | You do. Remember, it is your case, not mine. You have the last word on settlement. Certainy there may come a time when I recommend settlement because I believe an offer made by the other side represents the best you can expect to receive without going to court. However, if you disagree with my assessment of the settlement offer, you have the absolute right to reject it. No one can make you settle until you are good and ready. |
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| 7. | What can I expect to happen after I retain you? |
| | Each case is different, but there are certain common elements in all personal injury cases. The first thing I do is to notify the insurance adjuster that you have an attorney. From that point forward you will not have to deal with the insurance company directly. I will be in charge of working with the insurance adjuster. Next, I set about collecting key documents, such as your medical and employment records, the police report, and the like. I monitor the progress of your recovery with the goal of starting settlement negotiations with the insurance company as soon as you have stabilized. Sometimes there will be mediation or some other type of settlement conference. If the case does not settle, then we go to court and make our case before a jury. If the case goes to court, I will handle all of the pretrial work and discovery, including all depositions and motions. I will prepare you extensively for your court appearance. |
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| 8. | Do you handle cases for children? |
| | Yes. Having a child as a client presents unique challenges. You need a lawyer like me who understands these challenges and enjoys working with kids. Your children are always welcome in my office, so you don't have to worry bout daycare when you come to see me. |
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| 9. | What can I do to help you win my case or get a good settlement? |
| | There is a great deal you can do. To begin with, you can make it easy for me to contact you, because there will be many times when I will need to speak to you about your case. For example, I may need to talk to you about your injuries or the medical care you are receiving. I also may need to discuss a settlement offer made by the insurance company. Making it easy for me to get in touch with you helps me do my job. You ca also help by keeping good records of the medical care you receive for your injuries. Some clients even keep a diary or journal for the purpose, which is something I always appreciate. My most helpful clients always keep me apprised of their condition and the progress of their recovery. |
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| 10. | If I have to go to court, will you prepare me? |
| | Yes. Extensively. I will personally prepare you for your deposition and for any formal appearance you have to make in court. No need to be nervous. I'll turn you into a seasoned professional! |
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| 11. | Have you handled cases like mine? |
| | Yes. Almost certainly. I have been a lawyer for twenty years. During that time I have handled hundreds of cases of all shapes, sizes, and kinds. Although each case has its unique facts, it is more than likely that I have handled at least one similar to yours. |
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