Not All Personal Injury Law Firms Are Alike
Choosing a law firm to handle your car accident case is a big decision. Continue reading for some questions to consider when researching law firms for your Maine car accident case.
1. Are all law firms’ contingency fee arrangements the same?
2. Do I need to pay contingency fees for property damage and for first party medical payment coverage?
3. How do I know who I can trust?
1. Are all law firms’ contingency fee arrangements the same?
No. Contingency fee arrangements vary. One of the most important ways involves reimbursement of expenses.
Pursing a car accident case can be expensive. Although most people do not realize it, there are numerous costs associated with pursuing a claim for financial compensation. These include:
- Obtaining accident, driving, and criminal records
- Obtaining medical and employment records
- Hiring investigators
- Hiring reconstructionists, doctors, life care planners, and other experts
- Court filing fees
- Sheriff and witness fees
- Court reporter fees
- Travel expenses
- Expert witness fees
When choosing a law firm to represent you, look for a firm that includes these costs as part of your contingency fee arrangement. In other words, understand before you sign whether the fee agreement requires you to reimburse the law firm for these costs only if your case is successful or regardless of whether your case is successful.
2. Do I need to pay contingency fees for property damage and for first party medical payment coverage?
It depends on what firm you hire. Some firms charge contingency fees on property damage recoveries and on first party medical payment recoveries that are not contingent on liability, but at Fales & Fales, P.A. we do not. These claims are generally resolved fairly quickly, and we understand that you will probably need the full amount in order to repair or replace your car and in order to pay your medical expenses.
3. How do I know who I can trust?
While Maine used to ban lawyer advertising as unethical, today it is a widely accepted practice. For example, even this website is considered attorney advertising.
All lawyer advertising is required to be truthful and not misleading. Nevertheless, before hiring an attorney to represent you, do your research. You should feel free to ask questions like:
- How many car accident cases have you handled?
- How many of your cases have you taken to trial?
If a lawyer cannot answer these questions or tries to pressure you into becoming their client, maybe you should talk to another law firm.
Download The Maine Car Accident Book
For more information about contingency fees and how to choose an attorney for your car accident claim, we invite you to download The Maine Car Accident Book. This is a valuable resource that our attorneys have written in order to provide accident victims with the key information they need after suffering injuries in a collision.
Click here to download your free copy of The Maine Car Accident Book.
More Answers to Car Accident FAQs
- Auto Insurance – FAQs
- How to Value Your Case and Avoid Common Pitfalls – FAQs
- How Liens Can Affect Your Settlement – FAQs
Fales & Fales, P.A. | Lewiston Personal Injury Lawyers for Accidents in Maine
At Fales & Fales, P.A., we have decades of experience representing car accident victims and we have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. If you would like to speak with one of our attorneys, we invite you to schedule a free consultation. To contact our law offices in Lewiston, ME, please call (888) 526-9408 or complete our online form today.
