Fortunately most of us do not need the assistance of a personal injury lawyer on a regular basis. Most of us are blessed with good health and good fortune. However, life does throw us a curveball now and again. An automobile accident with an under-insured motorist, a slip and fall incident in your local mall, a catastrophic accident resulting in loss of life or general health can unfortunately come our way. In these cases, contacting the reputable and trustworthy attorneys at Walker & Crawford, P.C. should be your first move. What should you expect? Here are some answers to frequently asked questions regarding retaining the services of personal injury lawyers and a few tips to make the process more seamless and beneficial for all parties involved.
When I meet my personal injury lawyer for the first time, are there any particular documents I should bring with me?
Supply your attorney with as much information as possible. When your attorney has more information, he is better able to properly advise you of your legal rights. You need to bring in all documents pertaining to your case. The accident report is a very important document that you should bring your attorney. Also, if you have any eye witness statements or medical records or reports from your doctors, you should bring those to your lawyer. Any photographs of the accident or of your injury will be valuable information for your meeting with your attorney. If you don’t have the documentation, the attorneys at Walker & Crawford, P.C. may collect the documents for you.
What type of information will my attorney request at the initial consultation concerning my personal injury or automobile accident case?
Your attorney will request general information related to your medical treatment. The attorneys at Walker & Crawford, P.C. will begin to compile a list of the names and addresses of all treating physicians and medical providers. This will include physical therapists, chiropractors, visiting nurses and other medical providers. Your attorney may also ask you for a list of prior medical providers.
What usually happens at the first consultation?
The experienced personal injury lawyers at Walker & Crawford, P.C. you have selected will determine whether you have a valid legal claim. Once you retain them, they will request that you sign a retainer agreement. The retainer agreement is an important legal document which a lawyer is required to obtain. At the initial consultation, it is extremely difficult for your lawyer to tell you the value of your case. The value of your case is dependent on many circumstances which include but are not limited to the amount of your medical bills and the nature and extent of any pain and suffering. The value may be dependent on whether or not your injury is permanent, whether or not there were/are periods of partial or complete disability, whether or not there was any disfigurement, scarring or other physical injury and the amount of your lost wages, etc.
After you have completed treatment or have reached a certain point in your medical treatment, Walker & Crawford, P.C. will provide a settlement demand with all relevant medical records and documentation to the insurance adjuster. If the insurance company believes the claim has merit and the insurance adjuster and our attorneys can agree on a figure, then the case will be settled out of court. Despite the fact that your attorneys will attempt to settle the case out of court, they will also be preparing the case for court in the event that the case does not settle.
What is necessary to have a valid personal injury case?
If you were injured as a result of another person, person’s or entity’s negligence or intentional act, then you have a potential personal injury cause of action. However, it is not always required to have a physical injury to bring a personal injury lawsuit. A personal injury lawsuit can be pursued by the attorneys at Walker & Crawford, P.C. based on the diminution of your reputation or an intentional infliction of emotional distress.
What exactly is a settlement in a personal injury case?
If you settle a personal injury car accident or slip and fall case, you are agreeing to accept a sum of money in exchange for either not pursuing a personal injury case against the person or entity or dismissing a personal injury case against a person or entity. If the case settles out of court, you will need to sign a legal release form releasing any parties of any potential future liability. In order to determine whether or not you should accept a personal injury settlement, the attorneys at Walker & Crawford, P.C. need to assess the amount of damages you have suffered, the likelihood of prevailing at trial, and any other factors that they deem appropriate.
A settlement can be reached at any time prior to the filing of the lawsuit or after the lawsuit is filed and any time up until the jury’s verdict. The case can even be settled after the trial if the case is on appeal.
At Walker & Crawford, P.C., it is our philosophy that it is always the client’s decision whether or not to accept a personal injury settlement. Our role is to help you make that determination by providing all of the essential information and answering any relevant questions that you have. We often will give our recommendation as to whether or not a settlement is fair and we always purse THE most fair and equitable settlement available for our clients. We always let our clients make the final decision whether or not to accept a personal injury or auto accident settlement.
Is it a good idea to wait a period of time before I hire an attorney?
You should contact the experienced team of personal injury attorneys at Walker & Crawford, P.C. immediately after the accident. It is not a good idea for a person to be dealing with the insurance adjuster concerning their personal injury or car accident claim as they do not have all of the tools or knowledge needed to pursue a fair and equitable settlement. The team at Walker & Crawford, P.C. are standing by to help walk you through this difficult time and get you back on your feet again.
Am I required to give a recorded statement to the insurance company upon their request?
There is no legal requirement that you give a recorded statement to an insurance adjuster. However, if the insurance company is your own insurance company, you may be contractually obligated to give a recorded statement. You should not give any statement unless you have legal representation present and you should acquire a copy of the transcript. Again, the team at Walker & Crawford, P.C. will be there to advise you in this regard.
What types of cases are typically handled on a contingent fee basis?
Car/auto accidents, slip & fall, trip & fall, premises liability, bicycle accidents, motorcycle accidents, boating accidents, truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, wrongful death, uninsured or underinsured, motorist claims, intentional infliction of emotional distress, dog bite claims, etc. are often handled on a contingent fee basis.
For more information regarding ANY type of personal injury claims, accidents or wrongful death suits, please contact the team at Walker & Crawford, P.C. for a free consultation. We are standing by to help and to get you a fair settlement so that you can get back on your feet again!
Houston – 713-552-1117
Toll Free – 800-732-2934
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