Here at Kaiman and Crahan, we do our best every day to help make our clients feel protected. Our goal is to provide our clients with a resolution, which best suits their needs. When we first meet with a client, we often hear some of the same questions. Today we’re going to review and answer the top 3 common questions we hear from our clients.
1. What is a Contingency Fee?
You have probably heard the term “taken on contingency” regarding a personal injury or medical malpractice case. This term means a lawyer only gets pad if he or she wins the case for the client. The lawyer’s fee is a certain percentage of your settlement or verdict.
During our free consultations, we discuss the merits of our client’s case and advise him or her of our fees in advance. This allows our clients to determine whether or not it is in their best interest to use our services.
2. What are Damages, and How Do They Figure into My Compensation?
‘Damages’ is another popular term used when discussing a personal injury case. In short, damages are compensation. For instance, in most personal injury cases, there are damages for medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, etc. These damages are intended to compensate a client for what he or she has lost as a result of an accident. Aside from compensatory damages, there are also punitive damages. These types of damages are meant to punish the liable party for any egregious behavior.
3. What is the Difference Between a Verdict and a Settlement?
This is a very commonly asked question that is fairly simple to explain and understand. A verdict means that your case has been to trial, and the amount of compensation received was decided by a jury.
A settlement is a voluntary agreement with the insurance company as to what compensation will be, and it does not require a trial. A client’s personal injury attorney will help negotiate a settlement, but the client has the final say whether or not you want to accept.
If a settlement cannot be agreed upon, a client’s case may go to trial, where the lawyer will use trial skills and testimony of expert witnesses to present the case to a jury, who will then deliver a verdict.
Do you have any other questions for Kaiman & Crahan you would like answered? Let us know in the comments below or give us a call today to schedule your FREE consultation.