Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a Board Certified attorney?
A: A licensed attorney in Texas must complete the requisite area of
specialization practice and experience requirements, meet the
required continuing legal education standards and pass an extensive
written examination process to be Board Certified in an area of
legal specialization. Only 2% of the attorneys in Texas are Board
Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law.
Q: Do I have a case?
A: The honest answer is “IT DEPENDS”. Every case is different.
Personal Injury lawyers are taught to look for three things:
liability, damages and recoverability in determining if a case can
be made. Liability addresses the issue of who did what to cause
harm. Damages addresses the issue of the causal effect of the
conduct complained of. Recoverability addresses the issue of
compensation once you determine that liability and damages can be
established by the evidence.
Q: What if I am unhappy with my present
lawyer?
A: You should immediately contact your attorney and make an
appointment to see him or her and express your concerns. Most client
complaints about attorneys involve a lack of communication. If you
continue to be unhappy with your attorney, you have the right to
discharge or terminate the attorney-client relationship. However, if
the attorney has honored his obligation under the attorney-client
contract, the attorney may have rights to some amount of fees and
expenses.
Q: How much money will I get?
A: It’s impossible to know until all of the facts, (liability,
damages, recoverability) are
investigated and established. Anyone that says otherwise, is being
less than candid.
Q: How long will this take?
A: Civil cases, unlike criminal cases, do not have the right to a
“speedy” trial. Most civil cases in litigation are usually reached
for trial within 18 months. In injury cases, we like to be in a
position to complete the investigation and evaluation of the claim
and all relevant medical evidence and recommend settlement value at
a time commensurate with the end of medical treatment, or as soon as the
health care providers can tell us the full extent of the injury. The
sooner we are retained the better.
Q: Is my recovery taxable?
A: Monetary recoveries for personal injuries are not taxable as
income under the current IRS statutes.
Q: What should I do if I am involved in
a motor vehicle collision?
A: Call the police and report it. Call an ambulance if you are hurt.
If the police will not come for any reason, exchange insurance,
driver’s license and automobile information. Have someone take
photographs of the accident scene and vehicles immediately. A cell
phone with a camera is great for this. If there are any witnesses,
get their name and telephone numbers and thank them for coming
forward. If you are hurt, go to the doctor or hospital emergency
room as soon as possible, then call us.
Q: Is there a charge or fee for my
initial client consultation?
A: No, there is no charge for an initial client consult. And we only
get paid when the case is resolved and we make a recovery for the
client.