Why Retain A Personal Injury Attorney?
At Kirkpatrick and Boswell, an experienced personal injury lawyer will assist you in protecting your rights from the date of your injury until the conclusion of your case. Legal representation can ensure that you receive any immediate benefits to which you may be entitled, such as:
- Payment of lost wages
- Payment of medical bills
- Rental car
- Repair or replacement of your damaged vehicle
When dealing with an injured person who has not hired a lawyer, insurance representatives have an unfair advantage because of their knowledge of the law and experience in negotiating injury claims. Insurance adjusters may attempt to obtain information that will jeopardize or damage your claim. Many times you will be asked to provide information which the insurance company has no legal right to know. (Even if you have already supplied this information, an attorney can take steps to limit the usefulness of this information, and can stop the insurance company from obtaining additional medical or other information.)
Insurance laws are complex. An attorney should be consulted so that none of your valuable rights are jeopardized.
In many cases, more than one insurance policy is available from which to collect damages. All possible insurance coverage and all potentially responsible parties must first be identified and the appropriate insurance companies must be notified.
DOES HIRING A LAWYER MEAN THAT I WILL BE SUING THE PERSON WHO CAUSED MY INJURIES?
Not necessarily. Ninety-five percent (95%) of all injury claims are settled before a lawsuit is ever filed. The insurance company is ordinarily given an opportunity to pay damages before the case goes to trial. In most instances, when a case is thoroughly prepared by an experienced attorney, the insurance company prefers to pay the fair value of the case and avoid the cost of defending the lawsuit.
Be certain that you hire a lawyer who has the experience and willingness to fight it out in court when necessary; but who possesses the wisdom to know when it is in the client's interest to fight, and when it is best to settle through negotiation.
HOW MUCH AM I ENTITLED TO?
The Constitution of the United States and the laws of California guarantee injury victims the right to claim compensation for injury and personal damages, once negligence is established. The victim is entitled to be reimbursed for all expenses, such as repair or replacement of a damaged vehicle or other property, medical bills, lost income, prescription charges, and other incidental expenses.
The law also provides for recovery of money damages for injuries, mental and physical pain, upset and discomfort, and for your loss of ability to engage in non-work activities, which you previously enjoyed. You also may be entitled to payment for expected loss of income, expected medical bills, and pain and suffering in the future, if your doctor states that your injuries are permanent or will last beyond your release from treatment. In some instances, job-retraining benefits are appropriate and available.
WHAT ARE THE CHARGES FOR YOUR SERVICES?
There is no charge for the initial phone call and office visit to KIRKPATRICK AND BOSWELL.
In motor vehicle accident cases, there is no attorney's fee for recovering damages for repair or replacement of your vehicle when resolved as part of your injury case.
Most clients choose to have their case handled on a contingency fee. This means that there are no attorney fees whatsoever until a recovery is obtained for you. The attorney's fee is a percentage of the recovery, as agreed upon, at the beginning of our representation.
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