Question 1

Should I have to pay the lawyer any money up front?

Accepted Answer

In personal injury cases, unlike other areas of law, the lawyer should be willing to handle the case entirely on a contingency fee basis. The lawyer should believe in your case enough to put his time and money into your case and wait for reimbursement until he obtains a successful recovery for you.

The cases we take on are almost always taken on a contingency basis. What this means is that YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PAY ANY MONEY UP FRONT. This is valuable to many clients, because in the majority of cases, injured parties are already strapped for cash due to time lost from the job, incurred medical expenses and the stacking monthly obligations. Furthermore, NO fee is owed to the firm unless we are successful at obtaining money for you. If you have been asked by an attorney to pay money up front – for any reason, you might want to consider changing firms.

Question 2

How much is my case worth?

Accepted Answer

No attorney can accurately tell you how much your case will be worth, especially in the beginning. The value of your case depends on many variables that cannot be determined in the early stages of your case. The factors that affect the value of your case depend on the nature, extent and severity of the injuries and damages, i.e. How long will it take for you to recover? Are you left with permanent residual limitations? How much time and money have you lost from work? What affect has the injury had on your life?  These and other questions need to be answered first.

Question 3

Can I change my current attorney?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A client has an absolute right to change lawyers at any time. However, you should not arbitrarily switch lawyers just because it appears that your case is moving too slowly or simply that you have not heard from your lawyer lately. These things do not necessarily mean that the attorney is not working hard for you. You should contact your lawyer if you are not sure about the work he or she is doing. You should ask specific questions and obtain satisfactory answers. Your lawyer should contact you on request to discuss your case.
 
If you cannot reach your lawyer or do not get satisfactory answers to your questions, you should consider changing lawyers. You also have the right to review your file at any time and ask for copies. If your lawyer will not allow you to review your file, you should consult a new attorney.

Question 4

Will my case settle or will I have to go to court?

Accepted Answer

The answer depends on many factors. You should assume that your case will go to trial, and therefore, you and your lawyer must approach your case from the beginning as if it will go trial. If the other side sees that you are ready, willing and able to go trial they are more likely to make a more reasonable offer in lieu of trial.

Ultimately, the decision to settle or go to trial is yours. The attorney cannot decide for you. You must decide to either accept the highest offer that can be obtained or to fight in court to try to obtain a better result. Having an attorney with a proven track record will generally help bring about a favorable settlement. Insurance companies and defense attorneys will check to see how well your attorney has done in the past. A good track record makes them more inclined to settle.​

Question 5

How long do I have until I file a personal injury lawsuit?

Accepted Answer

In California, generally the statute of limitations on personal injury claims is 2 years from the date of the injury producing incident.  This does not include claims against a governmental entity.  Please consult our office immediately if your claim is against a governmental entity.

​If your lawsuit is not timely filed, you may be prevented from recovering any compensation for your injuries forever.  It is also crucial to make sure that evidence is collected quickly, before it is lost or destroyed, and that witnesses are interviewed while their recollections are still accurate.

Therefore, you must seek competent legal counsel immediately to assure that your rights are preserved and that you obtain the highest compensation for your injuries and damages.

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