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What is a personal injury?

       A personal injury is when you have suffered an injury due to the negligence of someone else.  Some examples might be a fall in a store because of a wet floor, an auto accident where you were hit by someone and it was due to their negligence (such as running a red light, speeding, or not paying attention), or a pedestrian or bicyclist hit by a motor vehicle.

If I'm injured at a store, or by an auto accident, wouldn't their insurance cover my expenses?

     Their insurance SHOULD cover your expenses, but you have to make sure the insurance knows about the injury.  First thing is to notify the authorities or someone in charge that you were injured.  There should be some kind of accident or incident report for you to complete stating what you were doing and how the accident happened.  You should provide your personal information (name, date of birth, address, etc.)  If you are taken to a hospital due to the injury, be certain that the ambulance and hospital are aware that this was an accident, where it happened and who will be responsible for paying the charges.  Be sure to keep the insurer informed of what's happening (doctor visits, medical treatment received, etc.).  It can take some time before all the bills are received and paid.  You can contact this office to act on your behalf to keep the insurance company informed and to negotiate a final settlement with them. 

A car rear-ended me at a stop light.  My car was damaged and I had some medical bills.  The other insurance company doesn't want to pay and I don't have money for a lawyer.  What can I do?

       Lawyers who accept personal injury cases may be willing to take the case on a "contingent fee" basis.  A contingent fee means that you will pay all expenses incurred (either at the time they are incurred or out of the final settlement), but the lawyer won't get any money unless they get money for you (but you will still be required to pay expenses incurred).  If the lawyer gets money for you, they will be paid out of the money you receive.  The amount paid to the lawyer is based on a percentage of the recovery.  A fee agreement signed by you and the lawyer will detail the terms   If you've suffered property damage and/or medical expenses due to an accident, please call for an appointment to discuss the matter.