What to Expect When Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer
If you are planning on retaining an attorney or already have retained an attorney to help you in an injury case, you should have some idea of what the process will look like.
What To Expect
Personal injury attorneys work on a contingent free contract, meaning the attorney fee will be paid after successfully recovering the money for the client. Generally, that fee is 33% of the recovery but can go up to 40%.
At every point of the case, the attorney must keep the clients informed. You will know what happens at every step of the case. For example, if there is an offer of settlement made by the opposing party or scheduling of a deposition, the attorney is expected to inform the client immediately before making any decision.
Your attorney should stay informed about the case. For example, if you are in the hospital, then the attorney should be aware of whether the doctor is addressing all the concerns, what treatment the client is going through, and what diagnostic test had been last checked. The attorney should also keep a log that documents all the visits and calls and should be available to answer your questions whenever you require it or need clarification.
Insurance coverage
Health insurance can be useful in paying the medical bills at a reasonable time after the case has been settled. Your attorney can help with the process of paying through insurance.
Settlement Negotiation
Settling a case is not an overnight process, many factors affect the time it takes to agree on a fair settlement. First, work must be done in gathering evidence necessary to confirm the accident occurred and establish the faulty party. Such evidence includes (witness, photographs, officials reports). Second, the doctor needs to release from the hospital and you have recovered from your injuries, or at least your physical conditions have stabilized in order for and attorney to proceed with the case. Third, lawyers generally solicit advise from insurance companies that are involved. Some delay can be caused since the case is reviewed by number of insurance company employees. When an offer is presented, it will be sent to you and the lawyer will discuss possible course of actions. Fourth, if fair settlement is not obtained from the insurance company then a lawsuit can be filed. Lastly, after the discovery proceedings, you are ready to move on further in the case.
Personal Injury lawyers are great tool to help you get through a traumatic experience. Not only are the lawyers there for support, but also to do all the hard work to obtain our recovery so you don’t have to spend your time and energy fighting for damages and compensation.