Monday, August 2nd, 2010
If you have had the misfortune to be involved in a car accident recently, then you are likely in the process of retaining a car accident attorney to represent you in your case. Many people that have never been through the legal process involved in a car accident are somewhat lost when it comes to understanding what a car accident attorney does for you and what to expect from one. According to California car accident attorney Emery Ledger of Ledger & Associates, the following is a list of things that you should expect from any car accident attorney. While every situation is different, and your case may call for more from your car accident attorney, you should certainly not settle for less.
1. Free consultation. Before you even hire your car accident attorney, they should offer you a free consultation. The length of the consultation may vary from attorney to attorney, but it should belong enough to get the basic facts in your case and provide you with general answers to your most important questions.
2. Courteous and knowledgeable staff. As a rule, you will need to interact with your attorney’s staff on a regular basis throughout the pendency of your car accident case. While your attorney should certainly consult with you on all important matters and be available for frequent updates, you will also want to look for an attorney that has a friendly, courteous and capable staff for all the other interactions you will have with his office.
3. Experience. There simply is no substitute for experience in a car accident attorney. When you go for your initial consultation find out how long the attorney has been practicing law, what areas of the law he specializes in, how many car accident cases he has handled and ask about his trial experience.
4. Answers and information. Your car accident attorney should be willing and able to answer all of your questions. He should also be forthcoming with information in a timely manner. You should not have to make repeated calls to his office to get a question answered or have to wait weeks to find out when something important has happened in your case. Remember – your California car accident attorney works for YOU, not the other way around.
5. Results. A car accident case can be settled quickly or drag on for months depending on the issues involved and the extent of the injuries to the victim. At the end of the day, however, your car accident attorney should show you acceptable results. The reason you retain an attorney is to make sure that you receive the compensation you are entitled to so it is only fair to expect results in the form of a reasonable compensation settlement.
Whether your California car accident case involves a simple fender bender or a catastrophic collision, you should expect at least the above five things from your car accident attorney. If you would like a free detailed evaluation of your car accident case from an experienced California car accident attorney, please contact the car accident firm of Ledger & Associates at 1-800-300-0001 or visit them online at www.ledgerlaw.com
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Monday, March 8th, 2010
If you have been in a car accident and suffered physical injuries as a result, you undoubtedly have a pile of medical bills and probably lost wages that are all adding up. If the car accident was not your fault, then you may already know that the other driver will be responsible for paying for your medical bills, lost time from work and other special – or economic – damages. We all know, however, that physical injuries are not the only consequences of an auto accident. Whether it was a relatively minor accident or a catastrophic collision, there are emotional and mental injuries that go along with the physical injuries that we suffer. You may be wondering how those injuries factor in to any settlement or jury award that you may receive from your auto accident case. According to auto accident attorney Emery Ledger, of Ledger & Associates in California, pain and suffering damages can vary tremendously from case to case and from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
The laws of personal injury can vary from state to state. For instance, some states still use a system for determining negligence called “contributory negligence”. Under contributory negligence, if your actions “contributed” at all to the accident, then you cannot recover anything for your injuries. Most states, however, use “comparative negligence”. Under a comparative negligence system, negligence – or fault – can be apportioned among all the parties to the accident. In other words, if your actions were 10% responsible for the accident, then you can only recover 90% of the value of your injuries. California is one state that uses comparative negligence, according to Attorney Emery Ledger. Each state may also have slightly different laws regarding what is included in the “pain and suffering” portion of your auto accident case. In California, for example, pain and suffering damages are referred to as “non-economic damages” and can include: physical pain – both past an future; physical impairment; mental suffering; loss of enjoyment of life; disfigurement; emotional suffering; inconvenience; grief; anxiety; humiliation; and loss of consortium (loss of spousal companionship and services).
What you are entitled to for pain and suffering is very case specific, but there are certain things to consider when evaluating your pain and suffering damages. For instance, the type and extent of your physical injuries will generally have a direct relationship on your pain and suffering. If you were seriously injured or if you will need long term treatment, then it is reasonable to expect that you had more pain and suffering as well. Sometimes, though, a small injury can have a huge effect on someone. Imagine a professional athlete that suffers a broken knee in an auto accident. For most people that might not be a life changing event, but for a professional athlete it could be the end of a career. “Who the plaintiff is can be as important as what injuries they suffered” says attorney Emery Ledger, of Ledger & Associates. Your auto accident attorney must consider what a jury would likely award you if your case were to go to trial when deciding what to ask for in compensatory damages and while attempting to reach a settlement with the insurance company. An auto accident attorney knows how juries in your community are inclined to behave. Do they tend to be sympathetic to car accident victims or do they tend to favor defendants? Do they award large verdicts or are they conservative in their awards. Jury behavior is a science into itself, and only an experienced auto accident attorney can give you advice on how they are likely to behave.
All of these factors need to be considered when determining how much your pain and suffering is worth in your auto accident case. As you can see, the value of your case is very case specific and the best way to get an idea of what your individual case is worth is to consult with an auto accident attorney in your area. If you would like to have attorney Emery Ledger evaluate your auto accident case, please contact his office at Ledger & Associates, 1-800-300-0001 or contact him online at www.ledgerlaw.com
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