Dallas Personal Injury Frequently Asked Questions

What Should I Know When I Am Arrested?

1. What should I do if I'm involved in a traffic accident?
2. How do I pay my legal fees?
3. How are the case expenses paid?
4. How long will my case take?
5. Should I wait to see you before going to a doctor?
6. My adjuster says I don't need a lawyer. What do you say?
7. Should I give a statement to the adjuster?
8. When should I come to see you?

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1. What should I do if I'm involved in a traffic accident?

What should I do if I'm involved in a traffic accident?
The most important thing you can do is to document the entire situation by taking careful notes soon after your accident. While this step is often overlooked, it can help make the entire claim process easier on you -- and increase your chances of receiving all the compensation to which you are entitled. Having notes to remind you of all the details of what happened, and what you went through, is far easier and far more accurate than relying on your memory.

Write things down as soon as you can: begin with what you were doing and where you were going, the people you were with, the time and the weather. Include every detail of what you saw, heard and felt. Be sure to add anything you remember hearing anyone -- a person involved in the accident or a witness -- say about the accident.

Finally, make daily notes of the effects of your injuries. You may suffer pain, discomfort, anxiety, loss of sleep or other problems which are not as visible or serious as another injury, but for which you should demand additional compensation. These notes can be very useful two or six or ten months later, when you put together all the important facts into a final demand for compensation.

Another important form of documentation is pictures. Make sure that you take pictures of the vehicle before it is moved from the scene if possible and definitely before having the vehicle repaired. You also want to make sure that you take pictures of any visible physical injuries that you may have such as bruises and lacerations.

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2. How do I pay my legal fees?

We take cases on a contingency fee basis. If we are unable to make a recovery, you owe us nothing for our services.

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3. How are the case expenses paid?

Every case requires funding for development of the evidence and to prepare the case for trial. In most cases, we will advance the funds necessary to cover the expenses. We ask our client to reimburse us for the case expenses if and when there is a recovery in the case.

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4. How long will my case take?

Some cases can be completed in a few months and others might take years. If the case can be resolved without filing a lawsuit, it typically takes much less time. If litigation is necessary, each court differs in the amount of time it takes to bring a case to trial. Unfortunately, litigation tends to be agonizingly slow, but we make every effort to push the case to a conclusion as quickly as possible.

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5. Should I wait to see you before going to a doctor?

Usually, no. Get good medical care as soon as possible. If you cannot afford it or don't have a referral, we probably can help you.

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6. My adjuster says I don't need a lawyer. What do you say?

Adjusters are trained to try to get you to sign a release for the least possible amount of money. They know that in many cases, they will be able to take advantage of an unrepresented individual. Adjusters know that on average, if you do not have a lawyer, the chances are much greater that your case will settle for less money. Therefore, some adjusters will try to befriend you and gain your confidence in the hopes that you will not hire an attorney. Each case and each adjuster is different.

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7. Should I give a statement to the adjuster?

Not without counsel and preparation with us. Sometimes a statement is not advisable.

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8. When should I come to see you?

The sooner the better, for many reasons. There are many pitfalls for the unwary.

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