how many days soon should you consult with attorney after personal injury

What happens when you hire a personal injury lawyer?

Feb 06, 2019 · When you consult with a personal injury attorney, they will review the details of your case and see if they think you are a candidate for legal action. A good attorney will only take on cases that they believe are strong, and likely to result in a positive outcome.

When should I settle my personal injury case?

Feb 16, 2016 · As soon as you begin to suspect that you might need a personal injury lawyer’s help with your case, you should act right away. Every day you wait to get an attorney involved in your case puts your claim at risk.

When should I hire an accident attorney?

Feb 01, 2022 · If you suffered a personal injury in Florida and need help filing a personal injury claim and recovering compensation, contact a Fort Myers personal injury attorney at The Law Offices of Marc L. Shapiro, P.A., today at 239-649-8050 to schedule a free consultation.

When does a personal injury case go to trial?

There are no hard and fast rules about short settlements. The insurance adjuster's settlement offer might be 30 to 40 percent of what you might be offered if your case makes it all the way to the eve of a court trial. If you have a personal injury case, and are thinking that you just want to settle it fast without getting involved in a long ...

How often should you hear from your personal injury lawyer?

Your personal injury attorney should be contacting you at least once every few weeks to remain informed about the status of your medical treatment and whether there are any new issues to address regarding your overall claim.

How long do most personal injury claims take?

As a very rough guide, a claim may take 6 to 12 months if liability is accepted by the treatment or care provider immediately. If liability is disputed, it could take 12 to 18 months for more complicated claims. Very complex cases can take significantly longer.

How long should I wait to hear from my attorney?

A: The lawyer should be responsive to your questions within 24-48 hours after you left a message. If the lawyer is not responsive, perhaps he or she is on vacation and unable to return.Dec 28, 2019

How often should a lawyer contact you?

You should never be afraid or feel like an intrusion to contact your attorney every three weeks or so, or more frequently if there is a lot going on with your health or other matters related to your legal case. There is of course a limit to how much you should be contacting or sharing.Jun 17, 2020

What percentage of personal injury claims go to court?

5%Approximately 5% of personal injury claims go to court. Generally, only very complex cases or those where liability cannot be resolved, end in personal injury court proceedings. Quittance's solicitor panel settles the vast majority of claims are settled out of court.Feb 14, 2022

Should I accept my first compensation offer?

Should I accept the first compensation offer? Unless you have taken independent legal advice on the whole value of your claim, you should not accept a first offer from an insurance company.

What should you not say to a lawyer?

Five things not to say to a lawyer (if you want them to take you..."The Judge is biased against me" Is it possible that the Judge is "biased" against you? ... "Everyone is out to get me" ... "It's the principle that counts" ... "I don't have the money to pay you" ... Waiting until after the fact.Jan 15, 2010

Is it normal to not hear from your lawyer?

Throughout the process of getting your financial settlement after becoming injured, there may be periods of time that you do not hear from your attorney. Although this can be unnerving, it is a normal part of the legal process. Remember, your attorney's job is not to get you the fastest settlement.Oct 25, 2018

Why do lawyers take so long to settle a case?

Once a case gets filed in court, things can really slow down. Common reasons why a case will take longer than one would hope can include: Trouble getting the defendant or respondent served. The case cannot proceed until the defendant on the case has been formally served with the court papers.May 28, 2020

Why is my attorney not fighting for me?

For example, in a custody, divorce, criminal, or civil case, your lawyer might not be fighting properly. It might be a sign of incompetence or even a conflict of interest in your client attorney relationship. If you believe that my lawyer is not fighting for me, it may be due to the lawyer's style and mannerisms.Jul 24, 2020

How long does it take for a lawyer to call you back?

Even if your lawyer is working on another case, they should still get back to you within a day or two at the most. Your lawyer owes you responsive communication, even if you're not their only client. There's no excuse for an attorney who takes weeks to return calls or emails.Jul 29, 2020

What does it mean when your lawyer doesn't call you back?

So often when a lawyer does not return your call for a few days it may simply mean your lawyer is busy getting some important work done in your case or in another client's case. There is nothing going on with your case.May 9, 2018

Who Needs a Personal Injury Attorney?

If you’ve been injured due to negligence in an auto accident, product defects, premise defects, or any other case where someone else’s negligence resulted in your injury, you may be a candidate. It is your legal right to recover fair compensation for all injuries and damages.

Can I Handle My Case Myself?

For some, it is tempting to handle the case on your own. This is almost always a bad idea if there were severe injuries or if there are insurance companies involved. In these cases, even after paying your attorney’s fees, you are almost always going to come away with more compensation than if you handled the case yourself.

How do Personal Injury Cases Work?

When you consult with a personal injury attorney, they will review the details of your case and see if they think you are a candidate for legal action. A good attorney will only take on cases that they believe are strong, and likely to result in a positive outcome.

How to Find a Personal Injury Attorney

Personal injury claims can usually be made anytime within a few years of the injury taking place. However, it is best to consult with an attorney immediately to determine your best course of action.

Anderson Hunter

Anderson Hunter is the largest private law firm in Everett and Snohomish County with 16 practicing attorneys. We are proud to offer high-quality legal services at a fair price. We are committed to providing you with the best legal representation available.

When Do Most People Call a Lawyer?

If you’re like many of our clients, you might not think to call a lawyer right away. It often takes one of three situations for accident victims to decide they need help:

When Is the Best Time to Call a Lawyer?

As soon as you begin to suspect that you might need a personal injury lawyer’s help with your case, you should act right away. Every day you wait to get an attorney involved in your case puts your claim at risk. Here’s why:

Why does it take so long to settle a personal injury case?

If you can afford to wait, you never want to settle a personal injury case until you have reached a point of maximum medical improvement (MMI) from your injuries.

Why do insurance companies delay settlement?

Another factor that can delay settlement is if the case involves significant damages (a lot of money). Insurers simply will not pay big money on a settlement until they have done their due diligence. That means investigating every aspect of the case until they are convinced that:

Why do insurers delay settlements?

Further, sometimes insurers will delay settlement on a big case simply to see if the plaintiff will give up and accept less money. Some claimants cannot wait very long for compensation. Insurers know this and will try to wait it out. Get tips on negotiating the best personal injury settlement.

What is problematic legal or factual issues?

there are problematic legal or factual issues. the case involves a signficant amount of money, or. you have not reached a point of maximum medical improvement. In these situations, your case is simply going to take some time to settle, unless you are prepared to take pennies on the dollar in order to resolve it.

Can you settle a personal injury claim quickly?

You can settle a personal injury claim quickly, but that usually means taking less money . The important consideration is how much you'll be giving up. Let's look at why settlement might be taking longer than usual, and why you should probably think twice before taking a quick settlement.

Should I contact a personal injury lawyer?

If you have a personal injury case, and are thinking that you just want to settle it fast without getting involved in a long litigation process, you should still contact a personal injury lawyer for ta ilored advice on the risks of a quick settlement.

Why is it important to hire a personal injury attorney?

Because of possible situations such as statutes of limitations (which can vary by state), it's important to hire a personal injury attorney and get the claims process going as quickly as possible; however, you don't want to hire the first attorney for whom you see a billboard on the highway.

How to hire an accident lawyer?

Because an insurance company's lawyers have the knowledge to reduce compensation and even deny the claim altogether, hiring an accident attorney is the best option for people who: 1 Have suffered severe injuries. 2 Are faced with expensive medical bills. 3 Have experienced a significant loss of wages due to their injuries.

Why should I hire an accident attorney?

Because an insurance company's lawyers have the knowledge to reduce compensation and even deny the claim altogether , hiring an accident attorney is the best option for people who: Have suffered severe injuries. Are faced with expensive medical bills. Have experienced a significant loss of wages due to their injuries.

What is a dispute in insurance?

When an insurance company disputes its policyholder's liability for the car crash, the company is basically saying that the policyholder is not at fault (or is at least claiming you don't have enough proof of fault) and , therefore , the insurance company is not responsible for paying for your damages .

How long does a long term injury last?

Generally speaking, a long-term injury is one that lasts for around a year or longer , while a permanent injury is one that disables you for life. These types of personal injuries seriously affect your ability to become and stay employed—not to mention the quality of your life.

Do all personal injury attorneys have experience?

Not all personal injury attorneys have experience with cases that deal with personal injury caused by a car accident. Some focus more on slip-and-fall accidents, others on work-related injuries, and others still on premise liability cases. Make sure the attorney you choose has represented individuals who've suffered personal injuries specifically ...

What is a refusal to pay?

Refusal to pay (which can but doesn't necessarily stem from a disputed liability) or refusal to pay a fair amount is when an insurance company outright won't make a fair settlement offer—or any offer at all .

How much money do you need to settle a lawsuit without counsel?

For example, if you're expecting a $100,000 settlement without the benefit of counsel, a lawyer would need to get you more than $150,000 to make it worth the bother. Believe it or not, most attorneys give honest opinions on whether or not it would be worth your while to hire an attorney or take any easy settlement.

What is the importance of signing off on an agreement?

It is important, however, to have a high level of confidence that something unexpected isn't going to happen. Once you sign off on an agreement, you'll likely never have the chance to seek more money ever again.

Do insurance companies do their jobs?

In a lot of instances, insurance companies do in fact do their jobs as expected. There are definitely situations where you'd want an attorney to be involved, but there are also times when obtaining counsel is simply overkill. Let's take a look at some of the cases where you may NOT need to hire an attorney after an accident.

Can you file a personal injury claim if you have no injuries?

Generally, if no people were hurt, or there was no damage ( no broken bones or potentially lingering injuries that cause you to miss more than a couple days of work), then it may not be worthwhile pursuing a personal injury claim. Just be careful making this judgment of “no injuries” yourself.

Do you have to have counsel in small claims court?

You're certainly entitled to have counsel present to protect your rights in small claims court . The law firm, however, is likely going to expect a fee for their services rather than working on contingency, since the expected recovery would be very small. It depends on the situation.

Is the police report accurate?

The paperwork does not look accurate ( police report, insurance communications) Details are complicated (technical, legal, medical) Insurance is not playing nice. You do, however, have to ask if paying an attorney to recovery $10,000 in damages is worth the bother if you end up handing over $5,000 to the law firm.

What to ask a doctor about a pre-accident injury?

Your doctor or therapist will be asking you questions about your pre-accident health history. Likewise, your doctor or therapist will undoubtedly ask you whether you have had any accidents or injuries that may be affecting the same part of the body that was injured in the current accident. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of honesty when it comes to disclosing facts about your pre-accident medical history. Doctors rely on past medical history to diagnose and treat you. Providing incomplete information can impact that quality of medical care you receive. Concealing prior injury or illness from your doctor will also hurt your legal case. Once you make a legal claim, you can rest assured that insurance companies and their lawyers will be scouring your pre-accident medical records to see whether you have injured that same bodypart in a previous accident. If you try to hide your pre-existing injury (by not telling your treating physician about it) or forget to mention it to your treating doctor, you are making a big mistake. When you assert a personal injury claim, your doctor will be asked by the other side whether you disclosed the prior injury or prior medical treatment. If you provide your doctors with incomplete information, you doctor will be wondering what you are trying to hide. The other side will argue that your doctor’s diagnosis of your injuries is questionable because he or she was operating on incomplete information. It’s much better to be 100% truthful about your pre-accident medical history. Your doctor will usually be able to distinguish the injuries you suffered in the past from the injuries that were caused by the accident.

What happens if you stop seeking medical treatment?

Insurance companies and juries often believe if a person stops seeking medical treatment for an injury, the injury must be healed. They also believe that significant gaps between treatments suggest that you healed from one injury and must have suffered a new one unrelated to the first. If you have an injury that is affecting your ability to function, you should seek medical treatment until you are healed or until a doctor tells you that there is nothing more that can be done to improve your condition.

What happens if you miss a doctor's appointment?

When you miss doctor or therapy appointments, there is a very good chance that your doctor or therapist will begin to wonder whether you are really committed to getting better. Missing medical appointments or showing up late is likely to irritate your doctors and therapists. Irritated doctors and therapists do not make good witnesses for their patients. If your claim is not settled and your case ends up being tried to a jury, it is very difficult to explain to a jury why you missed scheduled doctor and therapy visits.

Do doctors want to be involved in a legal case?

Doctors do not enjoy being questioned by lawyers about their care and treatment of patients. Doctors hate being asked to take time out of their busy schedule to come to court to testify in a legal case. Most of them don’t want anything to do with lawyers or the legal system. Furthermore, doctors would prefer not to become involved with a patient who seems to be preoccupied with his legal case instead of recovering from his or her injuries.