When an accident occurs resulting in injury, loss of limb or organ, hospitalization, loss of time from work, or death, it is wise to see a personal injury attorney. The attorney, acting as the client’s advocate, must prove that the client is entitled to just compensation by establishing legal responsibility. When legal responsibility is established, the attorney must see to it that the client receives just compensation from the wrongdoer, usually through the wrongdoer’s insurance company.
We offer the following suggestions on selecting a personal injury attorney:
Do Not Sign Away Your Rights
Soon after an accident, the wrongdoer’s insurance company may offer you a settlement that seems attractive. They may ask you to accept the settlement and sign away any future right. This may seem like an easy solution that will avoid the trouble of legal action. But they may not be offering adequate compensation, and you may be giving up rights to future damages, for example if your situation worsens as a result of the accident. Do not sign anything without consulting with an attorney first.
Ask for Referrals
In any area of expertise, there are always firms or individuals who have the unqualified respect of both peers and adversaries. A law firm will earn this kind of respect through a demonstration of capabilities, and a record of success and client satisfaction. Before selecting a personal injury attorney or firm, ask other attorneys, judges, court reporters, health care professionals or others whom they might recommend. Don’t make the mistake of engaging an attorney or firm who might not have the experience or financial resources necessary to properly represent you and take your case to trial (and through appeal if necessary) to gain just compensation. In short, investigate before you choose. You deserve the best possible representation.
Many of our cases are referred by attorneys who recognize our expertise in the areas noted. It is our policy to keep referring attorneys informed in the progress of their client’s cases. Miles, Sears & Eanni advises these clients to return to the referring attorneys for their other legal matters.
Choose an Attorney Who Utilizes the Contingency Fee
The contingency fee is a long-established method of compensation for various types of attorneys. Under this method of payment, the client does not pay a retainer fee to the attorney. Instead, the attorney agrees to receive a percentage of the recovery he secures for the client on settlement or verdict. This percentage usually ranges from one quarter to one third of the recovery amount, depending on the difficulty of the case, at what stage the case is resolved, and the amount of expenses that have been advanced or incurred. If no recovery is secured, the attorney receives no fee. The client is then responsible only for the costs advanced or incurred in the lawsuit.
The contingency fee, which has been used by the legal profession for many years, is the standard method of payment used by Miles, Sears & Eanni. It allows clients who could not otherwise afford an attorney to have their day in court. No retainer fee is required, and there is normally no initial outlay of funds by the client at the outset of the case.