Q. Will I have to go to Court?
A. Possibly you will - but not necessarily. Nearly all cases are settled, sometimes during a trial, often before it begins.
Q. Why do we so frequently win favorable settlements?
A. Because we try to deal from strength, not from weakness. We're always prepared to go to trial. The defendant knows about our years of experience and, sooner or later, understands how well prepared we are. There is no guarantee, of course, but at the right point a favorable settlement becomes more likely.
Q. Can I afford your services?
A. You certainly can. We usually work on a contingency basis. What that means, in simple terms, is you pay no legal fees unless you win an award, either through settlement or trial. If we succeed on your behalf, we are paid a percentage of the award - and that sum is regulated by Court rule. We are also reimbursed for our expenses.
Q. Will I have to get on the stand? Will the other lawyer attack me and try to break me down in cross-examination? I'm not sure I could.
A. Please understand: you are the victim in this case, and compensation for what has been done to you should not be painful, and, for the vast majority of plaintiffs - it is not. Courtroom dramas on television are not real life. They are exaggerated for dramatic effect. Even actual televised trials are most often selected because they are sensational. In actuality, there is a plaintiff, a Defendant, a Judge and usually a Jury in the Courtroom. If the case is tried, the Judge and Jury are sworn to do what is right. Jurors are people like you, and they do not like lawyers abusing witnesses. Remember that.
Q. How long will this process take?
A. There is no certain answer. We'll move as quickly as possible, but a wide range of factors can affect the resolution of your case, primarily the backlog in the Courts. What helps is the fact that our knowledge and experience often make it possible for us to get to Court relatively quickly. Once there, as we have said, the opposing lawyers may well seek a settlement early in the proceedings - or even sooner.
Q. Will you take my case?
A. Sometimes this question can be answered almost immediately. In other instances, we need additional time, effort and investigation to make the decision. If you have been seriously injured, we will use all of our resources to try to help you. If we cannot do so, we will tell you as quickly as possible.
