This information is not intended to serve as legal advice or as a substitute for consultation with an attorney. Specific legal issues, concerns, and conditions always require the advice of appropriate legal professionals. These answers are intended to provide general information only.
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A:To have a personal injury case, you must show that you have been injured through the fault of another, whether due to negligence, intentional misconduct, or strict liability.
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A case’s worth is based on a number of factors. For example, the nature of the injury-causing event, the severity of the injury, the amount of pain the injury causes, and whether the injury has lingering effects are all issues that affect the value of a case. However, only after all the information is gathered and negotiations have begun can your case truly be evaluated.
As we determine the value of a case, we take into consideration everything that a personal injury claimant may be entitled to recover, including the following:
A:No, you should not talk to an insurance company without first consulting with a lawyer. It is common practice for insurance adjusters to request that injury claimants give recorded statements immediately following an injury-producing event. These recorded statements are later used against you.
A:Before accepting a settlement, it is always in your best interest to consult with a lawyer. Adjusters work for the insurance company, not for you, and their job is to settle the matter for the lowest possible amount. A lawyer’s expertise is vital for injury victims who are ready to settle their cases, as an attorney will ensure that your rights are protected.
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People in motor vehicle accidents are often surprised to realize how difficult it is to get the coverage they are owed from their insurance company and the compensation they are owed from the other driver’s insurance company. It is unfortunate, but many accident victims need a lawyer to get the basic service and coverage an insurance company is supposed to provide.
Insurance companies are businesses like any other, and their goal is to make money. Paying out compensation cuts into their profits. Consequently, they have developed strategies to attempt to avoid paying out compensation.
One common tactic is to deny valid claims. Insurance companies may do this in some cases in the hope that the insured or third-party victim simply accepts the denial.
Delaying the processing of claims is also common. Some companies will purposely prolong the claims process, hoping the people involved get frustrated and give up. Many people do not have the resources to fight the insurance company.
Defending against the claim is another tactic. Insurance companies have lawyers and adjusters who are there to protect the company from risk and expense. They will work hard to deny fault and/or lower the value of the claim. Offering a lowball settlement is very common in vehicle accident cases.
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For small property damage claims with no personal injury, you probably do not need a lawyer. However, for any claim involving a personal injury, attempting to handle your own claim is unwise. Insurance companies earn profits by not paying. Insurance adjusters are very skilled at obtaining the information they need from you to deny or minimize your claims.
There is also a statute of limitations that affects your case. Depending on the circumstances, the statute of limitations requires that a suit be filed within a specific period. If you fail to file suit within the proper time limit, you will be prohibited from obtaining any compensation for your injuries.
Finding witnesses and gathering evidence to support your case becomes more difficult the longer you wait. Therefore, you should consult a lawyer as soon as possible. Feel free to contact our office for a free consultation.A:
We understand that any meaningful relationship is based on trust. Trust your instincts. Discuss your concerns with us and form impressions about what you are being told. Beware of lawyers who tell you what you want to hear in order to get your business. Choose a lawyer who answers your questions, seems genuinely concerned about your problems, and creates realistic expectations. Furthermore, retain an attorney who specializes in personal injury cases, and has the experience, ability, and means to go to trial if necessary.
Some of the critical questions to ask a lawyer include:
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The last thing you need to worry about after a vehicle accident is how much it will cost to hire a lawyer to represent you. You already have vehicle repair or replacement bills and medical bills and may be unable to work due to your injuries.
Fortunately, you do not have to factor in the cost of your attorneys’ fees. In personal injury cases such as motor vehicle accidents, the case is handled on a contingency fee. This means the firm advances all the fees and court costs out of our own finances. We do this because our payment, including those fees and costs, comes out as a portion of the verdict or settlement we obtain for you. So, basically, you owe us nothing until a verdict or settlement is reached in your case.
Our fee is based on a percentage of the money collected, which is typically 33 percent. Remember, if we do not collect for you, you do not owe us any money.
If you decide to become one of our firm’s clients, we will sit down with you and explain in more detail how contingency fees work. If you agree to it, you will then sign a written fee agreement to retain our firm in your case.
Because we represent clients on a contingency fee basis, you pay no fees upfront. This allows us to provide the representation and support clients need without having to be concerned about attorneys’ fees during a difficult time. If we decide to represent you and take on your case, we believe your case has merit and will likely result in a recovery for you.
A:This is a very common question. The lawyer should be honest and tell you if their services will result in your recovering enough money to pay their fee and still cover your injuries and losses. Most of the time you will make more money hiring a lawyer than if you seek compensation on your own. We turn away cases if our efforts will not benefit an injured victim financially. Please feel free to contact our office for a free consultation about the specifics of your case.
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Since a consultation is free, it won’t hurt to ask if we can help. Having worked with insurance companies on thousands of cases, we know that no matter how nice insurance adjusters may sound on the phone, they have one goal in mind—to pay you as little as possible. They are trained to do this.
Insurance companies do not work for you. They are not trained, nor are they qualified, to explain your legal rights. They will not give you a fair assessment of the value of your case.
If your injuries are significant, a good attorney can help you in numerous ways. When you hire a lawyer who is willing to take a case to trial, value is added to your case. A competent lawyer will seek every category of damages that applies to your case and find ways to support those damages with evidence that will be admissible in court. Also, the threat of a trial itself adds to your bargaining power. Make no mistake—the insurance company knows that it’s almost impossible for an injury claimant to take a case to trial and win without a lawyer.A:No. You decide if your case goes to court. Most personal injury cases are settled out of court.
A:Personal injury cases do not have to result in a lawsuit. We understand that lawsuits are unpleasant, and we strive to do all that we can to resolve your case short of filing a lawsuit. If a lawsuit is necessary though, we will make the process as easy on you as possible, helping you every step of the way.
A:Absolutely! You may contact us by telephone, fax, or e-mail. We answer our telephones 24 hours a day. If you have a personal injury or wrongful death case, we will schedule a consultation appointment that fits your schedule. We will attempt to schedule the meeting around your work and personal obligations so as to minimize the inconvenience to you.
A:Personal injury and wrongful death cases are our only business. We do not attempt to handle divorces, wills, criminal cases, or any other type of case. When you do one thing all day, every day, for more than fifteen years, you become very good at it. We have successfully resolved thousands of personal injury claims and recovered approximately $130 million on behalf of our clients since we opened our doors. We have received countless referrals from satisfied clients.
A:If you hire us to represent you, you will play a significant part in your case. We may ask you to help us gather information and documentation to support your case. You will need to keep us informed about your medical treatment and physical limitations. If we have to file a lawsuit, you will need to participate in this process. We will help you every step of the way.
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The time it takes to settle a personal injury case depends on the circumstances surrounding it. The more complex the case, the longer it may take to settle. Most cases are resolved within a few months to a year. However, some cases may take longer, especially if the claim is disputed by the defendant or their insurance company and a lawsuit must be filed.
We have successfully represented thousands of people with a wide range of personal injury claims. Every claim is different. Feel free to contact our office for a free consultation.
A:Yes, you have the right to fire your current attorney and hire a new one. It is a common practice for your new and old lawyers to share the eventual fee. The new lawyer will pay your old attorney a portion of the fee for their services. If there is a dispute as to this amount, an arbitrator or judge will make the final decision. The bottom line is that you should not have to pay more than your agreed fee percentage. Feel free to contact our office and we will provide greater detail.
A:Many people think that all auto insurance companies are the same. Nothing could be further from the truth. Check around and look not only for the best rates but for good service. Often you are trading service for lower premiums, so you get what you pay for.
A:The basic types of coverage are liability, uninsured and underinsured motorist, collision, comprehensive, medical payments (or PIP), roadside assistance (towing) and rental reimbursement. In order to have full coverage, you need all of these types of insurance. You should also ideally have the highest limits for your liability, uninsured/underinsured and medical payments coverages. Unfortunately, many insurance agents only recommend that you get the state-mandated minimums, which will likely not be enough coverage if you were involved in an accident with serious injuries. Click here for more information
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You should try to bring as much of the following information and/or documentation that you can reasonably obtain before our initial meeting. Don’t worry if you have not collected all of it. We will work together to gather what is needed after we meet in person.
With more than 30 years in practice and $175 million recovered for his clients, Scott is known for his aggressive approach to litigation. Some of his accolades include:
Attorney Scott J. Corwin recognizes that no two cases are exactly alike. While he draws on over 30 years of past experience in motor vehicle accident and personal injury claims, he also develops innovative legal strategies based on the unique factors of each individual case. He has a long track record of standing by his clients, even through the toughest of challenges, and is ready to advocate tirelessly for you throughout the legal process.
