1. The adjuster from the other driver’s insurance company wants me to give a statement: Do I need to?
As a general rule, you are not required to provide a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company, and we very rarely permit our clients to give a recorded statement. If you retain Simons & Goldner to represent you, we will communicate with all insurance companies on your behalf, and you will not have to deal with the stress and aggravation of speaking with insurance adjusters.
2. What information should I obtain at the accident scene?
As much information as you can gather. Take cell phone photographs of the damage to both vehicles, as well as the other party’s driver’s license, license plate and vehicle registration. Be sure to get the name and phone number of all witnesses, and the investigating officer.
3. The insurance company offered me money right away to settle my case; can I accept it?
Usually, any insurance settlement includes a Release, which closes out the claim against the at-fault driver. If you accept a quick settlement, and later find that you are more seriously injured and incur additional medical bills, you would be precluded from obtaining another settlement. Therefore, although every case is different, we generally do not recommend that you settle with the insurance company soon after an accident. At Simons & Goldner, we can help you assess your claim and its potential value.
4. If my case must go to Court, will my case be referred to a different law firm?
Unless there is some conflict of interest that arises, your case will NOT be referred to another firm for litigation. Mr. Simons & Mr. Goldner handle all of their own litigation matters “in-house” and in fact, get trial referrals from many other personal injury lawyers due to their experience and consistently good trial results.
5. How long will it take for my case to be resolved?
At Simons & Goldner, we take pride in moving our cases quickly, and getting cases resolved as soon as possible after our client is discharged from medical treatment. Every case is different, and every insurance company is different, and the speed in which we can resolve your case depends mostly on your medical treatment. As a general rule, depending on the insurance company, we are ready to begin negotiating with the insurance company within 30 days after you are discharged from your doctor.
6. How much can I expect to receive from a settlement?
The value of every case is different and depends on a variety of factors. However, you can be sure that Simons & Goldner will negotiate for reimbursement in full for your medical bills and lost wages and will fight for fair compensation for your pain and suffering. We file suit routinely against insurance companies who make unreasonably low settlement offers, and we are willing to fight in court for the best possible result for our clients.
7. Do I still have to pay an attorney’s fee, or expenses, if there is no recovery?
No. Our injury cases are always handled on a contingency fee basis, which means if there is no recovery, there is never a fee. You also will NOT be responsible for payment or reimbursement of expenses if there is no recovery.
8. Is there a consultation fee to discuss my injury case?
We are always happy to discuss your potential case by phone, or in-person, at no cost.
