| Below
are the answers to a few of the questions we hear most
often. To find answers to questions more specific to
your type of case, please contact
us.
Q:
How does William Schneikart get paid in injury
cases?
A:��No
legal fees are owed unless we make a recovery for you.�
The fee is a percentage of the recovery based on several
contingencies that are clearly spelled out in a written
contract.
Q:��Who
Pays for the costs of handling my case?
A:���Mr.
Schneikart will advance the costs of litigation, which under
ordinary circumstances will be paid back only out of
a recovery made for you.
Q:��During
my free consultation, will I meet with Mr. Schneikart?
A:��Yes!�
Unlike many law firms where your meetings are with a
paralegal or a case manager, Mr. Schneikart makes it
a point to personally attend every consultation. Mr.
Schneikart suggests that you never retain a lawyer whom
you have not met.
Q:�How
long will my case take?
A:��Generally,
most cases should not be concluded until after you have
reached maximum medical improvement or MMI.� This determination
is made by your treating physician and not by your attorney.�
MMI is that point in your treatment when your physician
believes that you will not significantly improve in
the future.� At this point your doctor determines and
describes the nature and extent of any permanent injury
that you have sustained.� Ordinarily it takes anywhere
from six months to a year for physicians to determine
that a patient has reached MMI.� Thereafter, your case
may be concluded by settlement within a few months or
through litigation in court over a period of a year
or so.
Q:�How
much is my case worth?
A:��Although
this is a common question, you should be wary of anyone
who has a ready answer for this question early in a
personal injury case.�Once we can determine: 1)
the extent of your permanent injuries; 2)
the type and cost of past, present and future medical
care; and 3) your lost wages and lost
earning capacity, an experienced attorney can venture
his opinion as to a possible jury range.
Q:�Can
I handle my case myself without a lawyer?
A:�There
is of course no requirement that an injured person hire
an attorney.� Indeed, insurance companies and adjusters
often go to a great lengths to keep injured people from
seeking legal advice.� Adjusters are experts in the
personal injury field and have their own best interest
in mind.� A legal consultation is always a good idea
and few non-lawyers can deal with insurance adjusters
on an equal footing.� The threat of going to trial is
what often prompts the insurance company to pay and
that threat is less if you do not have a lawyer.
Q:�If
I am hurt, when should I see a lawyer?
A:�You
should have a legal consultation absolutely as soon
as possible.� Insurance adjusters may try to get you
to do or say something that will harm or ruin your case.�
Evidence and witnesses may be lost if your lawyer is
not on the job right away.� There is nothing to be gained
by delay.
Q:�Can
I discharge my lawyer and hire another one?
A:��You
of course can discharge a lawyer retained under a contingency
fee agreement.� There may be certain advantages or disadvantages
in doing so and a second legal option would be helpful
before taking such a step.
Call now for your free consultation.
727.530.4600
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