How do I know if I have a case?
The best way to find out about your case is to meet with a knowledgeable, experienced attorney at a well-established law firm. The McHale Law Firm offers a free initial
consultation. Call 1-800-353-6364 to have your case reviewed by our accomplished staff.
How much can I get for my injuries?
The greater an injury, the greater the compensation. The law
allows you to recover the full extent of your losses, such as lost wages, medical
expenses, and pain and suffering. After your case is evaluated the attorneys at the McHale Law Firm can discuss the complex variables which will influence any settlement or verdict you may receive.
What is your hourly fee?
We do not charge for an initial consultation fee. Our firm, like almost all law
firms who handle personal injury cases handle them on a "contingent fee" basis,
meaning that we only get paid at the end of the case if the case results in a
settlement or a plaintiff's verdict. Our fee is a percentage of the recovery, usually
one-third. The fee we earn is contingent on a successful outcome, which means
that you pay nothing to us if we lose.
How long after the injury can I still file a lawsuit?
It depends upon the type of case and who is being sued. This period of
time is called the Statute of Limitations. However, it is never advisable to
delay. As time passes, crucial witnesses and evidence may disappear and
that can damage your case. Taking immediate action to explore and preserve your rights is
always a good idea. If you think you've been hurt due to negligence,
call our office to speak to a qualified attorney who can advise you of your rights.
What is an auto accident?
A person who operates a vehicle is expected to do so in a safe manner and to exercise reasonable care.
A failure to use reasonable care resulting in an accident is considered
negligence. A person who negligently operates a vehicle may be required
to pay for any damages, either to a person or a person's property, caused by his
or her negligence.
What must be proved in a personal injury action based upon an auto accident?
The injured party is required to prove that the person who caused the
accident was negligent, that negligence was a proximate cause of the
accident, and that the accident caused the plaintiff's injuries. A
driver may also be liable for an accident due to his or her intentional
or reckless conduct.
What are the damages recoverable in an auto accident?
The law permits a person to seek recovery after an accident to make him/her whole again. The central concept is that one should be compensated
in a manner that, as best as the law can arrange, places one back in the
same position as he/she were before the accident. In addition to
normal compensatory damages, punitive damages may be awarded in extreme
cases if the injury was the result of someone else's reckless or
irresponsible behavior, or if the cause of the accident or the extent of
the injury was caused by defective or dangerous nature of the vehicle
that the manufacturer should have corrected.
What should I bring with me for my meeting with a lawyer?
You should provide a lawyer with any
documents that might be relevant to your case. Police reports, for
example, contain eyewitness information and details about the conditions
surrounding auto accidents, fires, and assaults. Copies of medical
reports and bills from doctors and hospitals will help demonstrate the
extent and nature of your injuries. Information about the insurer of the
person who caused your injury is extremely helpful, as are any
photographs you have of the accident scene, your property damage, and
your injury. The more information you are able to give your lawyer, the
easier it will be for him or her to determine if your claim will be
successful. If you haven't collected any documents at the time of your
first meeting, however, don't worry; your lawyer will be able to obtain
them in his investigation of your claim.
What if a person dies before bringing a personal injury lawsuit?
It depends on whether the person died as a
result of injuries from the accident or from unrelated causes. If a
person injured in an accident subsequently dies because of those
injuries, that person's heirs may recover money through a lawsuit known
as a wrongful death action. Also, even if a person with a personal
injury claim dies from unrelated causes, the personal injury claim
survives in most cases and may be brought by the executor or personal
representative of the deceased person's estate.
