Click on any of the listed frequently asked questions below for more information.
Do I have to pay for costs or expenses?
Will my case settle out of court?
Do I have a case?
1. Liability
2. Damages
3. Source of payment
If all three of the above listed elements are present, you should contact an attorney to discuss pursuing the matter further.
Liability - Liability means fault. Whose careless or reckless actions caused the accident or injury? More than one person could be responsible for any particular injury. If so, the negligence of each person is compared to all others responsible and used in the determination of your recovery.
Damages - Damage is another word for injury. The injury could be physical or non-physical in nature. Damages asks the question, what have you lost as a result of the accident? Often, damages include past and future medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering and inconvenience due to your physical or mental condition.
Source of Payment - Source of payment means who or what entity will provide you with reimbursement for injuries you've sustained. Normally, payment is made by an insurance company for the negligent person or corporation. In the case of an automobile accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver, there may be some payments made by your own insurance company. If there is no insurance on a party that is responsible, it may be necessary to take recovery from the personal assets, if any, of the responsible party or corporation.
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How does my lawyer get paid?
Seidel, Cohen, Hof & Reid handles its personal injury cases on a contingent fee basis. The fee you pay would ordinarily be a percentage of the total amount of recovery that Seidel, Cohen, Hof & Reid obtains for you. In the event that there is no recovery, there is no fee owed to Seidel, Cohen, Hof & Reid.
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Do I have to pay for costs or expenses?
For most personal injury cases that Seidel, Cohen, Hof & Reid handles, there is no charge for costs or expenses if we do not obtain a recovery for you. Seidel, Cohen, Hof & Reid will waive all costs incurred by our firm if we do not settle or win your case. Upon successful resolution of your case, Seidel, Cohen, Hof & Reid is reimbursed for the actual costs and expenses out of your settlement or verdict.
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Will my case settle out of court?
Because approximately 95% of cases settle before trial, Seidel, Cohen, Hof & Reid & Reid will be prepared to negotiate settlement for the client. However, Seidel, Cohen, Hof & Reid does not focus on settling the claim unless it is in the client's best interest and the client consents to such settlement. The settlement that is in the client's best interest can only be generated by the strength of the client's case. Strength means preparation. It means gathering the evidence from the time you select Seidel, Cohen, Hof & Reid as your attorney. It means having available the experts, medical and otherwise, who can present the evidence in the light most favorable to your case. A case that is properly prepared with sufficient support to confront and counteract the insurance company's position is the best strategy for a pre-suit resolution.
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