Answering Common Car Accident Questions
Victims of auto accidents in Hamilton often have a number of questions. This article addresses common issues that arise during an initial consultation with a personal injury attorney.
Understanding Legal Fees and Costs
As personal injury attorneys, we are often asked about the financial aspects of legal representation. Understanding how legal fees and costs work is crucial for accident victims.
Are Consultations Free of Charge?
Yes. I am often asked whether we bill new clients for the time it takes to meet and discuss his/her case for the first time. Consultations at McKenzie & Snyder are always free of charge.
How Do You Charge for Your Services?
This is another common question. For personal injury cases, we work on a “contingency fee” basis. This means payment is "contingent" upon a recovery or award in the case.
Payment is then a percentage of the amount recovered (e.g., 1/3). Our clients often prefer this method over hourly billing due to the financial burdens car wrecks can cause, such as missed work, medical bills, and property expenses.
What About Case Expenses?
Expenses can significantly impact your case. In certain circumstances, these expenses may be required upfront.
For example, if a settlement could not be reached and a lawsuit had to be filed, a filing fee of $300 would reduce your final recovery. Other expenses include, but are not limited to:
- Costs of obtaining medical reports
- Deposition fees
- Expert witness fees
Whether our firm requires expenses to be paid upfront is determined on a case-by-case basis. However, we rarely require upfront payment for expenses.
Preparing for Your Initial Consultation
Knowing what to bring and what to expect can make your initial consultation more productive.
What Should You Bring to the Consultation?
We are often asked what new clients should bring to the consultation. The short answer is everything you have related to the case. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Accident or crash reports
- Photographs
- Medical records
- Witness information
- A medical history
The more information provided at the time of the consultation, the more thorough the free consultation may be. That being said, the only thing required during a consultation is the new client himself/herself. Any documentation, photographs, etc., can be located later.
What Happens During the Consultation?
During your initial consultation, you will meet with one of three attorneys from our office. We offer consultations at our office, your home, a nearby restaurant, or even over the phone.
After a brief introduction, we will ask you for information about your case to help us determine the best course of legal action.
Information Collected During Consultation
Such information includes, but is not limited to:
- Name, address, phone number, email address
- Time and date of accident
- Doctors and other medical providers seen to date
- Diagnostic testing performed and/or scheduled
- Vehicles involved and passengers
- Insurance coverage and medical payments (“medpay”) provisions
- Body parts injured
- Previous injury history
- Previous motor vehicle crash history, etc.
We may also discuss what further information is needed to make a better determination. If you have questions about your case, we will try to answer them fully.
What happens after the initial consultation varies greatly from case to case. If you would like to schedule a free consultation, contact us at (513) 737-5180 or email us using the form to the right.
McKenzie & Snyder LLP has been practicing personal injury law for over 25 years.
