How does Ballard Law charge for personal injury cases?
Answer:
Ballard Law uses a contingency fee arrangement on all of its personal injury cases. This means that we take our fee from the amount we recover for our personal injury clients. If there is no recovery, then there is no fee.
What is underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage and why do I need it?
Answer:
Underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage applies when you are in an accident with either a driver who has no insurance, or a driver who does not have enough insurance to compensate you for your property damage and personal injuries. For this type of insurance to apply, the uninsured or underinsured motorist must be at least partly at fault in the accident. Despite laws in place that require every driver to carry insurance, there are still a lot of uninsured or underinsured drivers on the road. If you’re in an accident with one of these drivers, and want to get compensated for your damages, then it is extremely important that you have underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage in place at the time of your accident. Many accident and injury victims don’t know the many different scenarios in which this type of insurance applies. That’s why it’s important to contact an accident attorney who is experienced in handling personal injury cases involving uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance.
How much is my personal injury case worth?
Answer:
This is by far the most popular question, and we wish there was a simple answer. But unfortunately, there is no magic formula for determining exactly how much your case is worth. There are, however, several factors that come into play in determining the value of your case. Some of the factors are (1) the amount of your medical bills; (2) the amount of any lost wages you may have; (3) the extent of your injuries; (4) the amount of available insurance coverage; (5) whether you will require future medical treatment; and (6) the type of personal injury case.
How long does it take to finish my personal injury case?
Answer:
This is by far the second most asked question. And there is no simple answer. Every case is different, and the time it takes to resolve your case depends on many different factors such as the (1) severity of your injuries; (2) the length of time it takes for you to recover from your injuries; (3) the type of accident; (3) whether liability is disputed; and (4) the amount of insurance coverage available.
Will my personal injury attorney file a lawsuit or settle out of Court?
Answer:
At Ballard Law, we have settled many of our clients’ cases outside of court. However, if the insurance company or the person responsible for your injuries does not offer a fair settlement, then we do not hesitate to file suit on our client’s behalf.
Who pays my medical bills after my accident?
Answer:
There are several different entities who could pay your medical bills after your accident. First, it is best if you give your health insurance information to your medical providers and have them bill your insurance. However, your medical provider may or may not agree to bill your health insurance if your treatment is related to your accident. Second, you may have purchased what is often referred to as Medical Payments Coverage through your automobile insurance policy, and your or your medical providers can submit bills to your automobile insurance carrier for payment. A third option is to reach an agreement with your medical provider where you agree to pay your medical bills from the proceeds of any recovery you make in your case. As you can see, sometimes the process of getting treatment for your accident related injuries can be complicated. Your personal injury attorney should be able to simplify the process, and help you navigate through these sometimes difficult issues. So the sooner you contact a personal injury lawyer after your accident the better.
The accident was the other persons fault so why would I submit my medical bills to my insurance company?
Answer:
In a typical personal injury case, the responsible party’s insurance company will only pay for your medical bills once your case is over. If you prevail in your case, the responsible party’s insurance company will normally write a check at the end of your case that will cover things like your medical bills, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and lost wages. They will write you this check in exchange for you signing a Release promising not to sue them or the person responsible for your injuries and damages. So the reason why you would submit your medical bills to your insurance company is because the bills generally become due before your case is concluded. And if your medical bills aren’t timely paid, then your medical providers can turn your bills over to a collection agency. A personal injury attorney can help you navigate through these difficult issues, and in some instances can be successful in getting your medical providers to hold off on collections until your case is resolved. So it is important to contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible after your accident.
Do I have to reimburse my insurance company for the amounts they paid in medical expenses?
Answer:
If you prevail in your case, then you typically do have to reimburse your insurance company for the medicals bills they paid that are related to your accident. However, an attorney can be successful in reaching an agreement with your insurance company to reduce this amount. Which means more money in your pocket. That’s another way a personal injury attorney can help with your case.
