What is my case worth?
One of the most common questions our firm gets for our personal injury case is: “how much is my case worth?” Obviously, there’s no way to determine the answer in the abstract. Each case is different and complex in its own fashion. In fact, if you contact another attorney who places a value on your claim without listening to the details of your situation, ignore that figure! A wide variety of factors determine settlement amounts and trial verdicts.
These can include:
- The nature and severity of your injury/injuries
- Whether or not the liable insurance company accepts fault
- Your condition following medical treatment
- Whether or not you’ll need ongoing treatment, such as physical therapy or counseling
- Whether or not you were partially at fault or negligent
- Tactics and strategies your attorney employs to negotiate with the insurance company or other liable parties
How will I pay my lawyer?
Our office has flexible billing including flat rate, hourly, and contingent. We are flexible and will work with you to achieve the best results.
Who makes the decisions about my case?
In a criminal case you decide whether to: go to trial or plead guilty, have jury trial or a bench trial, testify or maintain your right to be silent. Your case is your case. In a civil case your lawyer should consult with you before making any settlement decision.
If I speak privately with my lawyer, must he keep my statements confidential?
Generally, yes. Any conversation that you have with your attorney which you and he intend to keep private is considered to be completely confidential. Indeed, all communications between you and your lawyer, whether they be, written, spoken, or otherwise, fall within this rule of confidentiality which in the legal profession is referred to as the “attorney-client privilege.” This strict rule of confidentiality applies not only to the attorney involved, but to his partners, associates and other staff members, including the lawyer’s secretary.
There are some narrow exceptions to the rule of confidentiality between lawyers and their clients. These involve instances where a client reveals his intention to commit a crime or fraud in the future in which there is a likelihood that serious injury to anther’s person or property will be caused. In those circumstance, the lawyer may disclose the client’s communication to the authorities.
What is a lawyer?
A lawyer is someone who provides legal advice and counsel on behalf of someone involved in a legal dispute or legal issue. Also called attorneys or counselors, lawyers typically represent people before a governing body (such as a court) by conducting legal research, gathering relevant documents and witnesses, drafting written briefs, presenting oral arguments, and negotiating legal rights and responsibilities of their clients. To become a lawyer, a person must complete at least three years of intensive legal education and training, take and pass a rigorous state licensing exam (known as the “bar exam”), and pass a personal and moral fitness test.
