Personal Injury Attorney in Rhode Island Answers FAQS
By: David Slepkow, Rhode Island Lawyer | Posted: 15th November 2010
Question: Is it a good idea to wait a period of time before I hire an attorney?
Answer: You should contact Rhode Island Personal Injury Lawyer David Slepkow 401-437-1100 immediately after the accident. You can resolve damages to your vehicle with the appropriate Insurance Adjuster. You should consult with a Personal Injury Lawyer prior to giving a statement to the insurance adjuster.
Question: Am I required to give a recorded statement to the insurance company upon their request?
Answer: There is no legal requirement for you to give a recorded statement to an insurance adjuster. However, if the insurance company is your own insurance company, you may be contractually obligated to give a recorded statement. You should not give any statement unless you have legal representation present and you should acquire a copy of the transcript.
Do you charge any legal fee for Rhode Island Car Accident Cases?
A: We do not charge any fee unless you collect as a result of your Rhode Island Personal Injury or RI Car Accident claim. In the event that we are successful in obtaining a Personal Injury settlement for you, we will be reimbursed out of pocket expenses.
We typically refer Rhode Island Medical Malpractice and Product Liability claims to top Rhode Island Medical Malpractice Attorneys. Some Rhode Island Medical Malpractice Lawyers charge up to 40 percent for Rhode Island Medical Malpractice cases.
Question: What is necessary to have a valid Rhode Island Personal Injury Claim?
Answer: If you were injured as a result of another person's or entity's negligence or intentional act, then you have a potential personal injury cause of action. It is not always required to have a physical injury to bring a personal injury lawsuit. A personal injury lawsuit can be pursued based on the diminution of your reputation or an intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Question: What exactly is a settlement in a personal injury case?
Answer: If you settle a Rhode Island personal injury car accident or slip and fall case, you are agreeing to accept a sum of money in exchange for either not pursuing a personal injury case against the person or entity or dismissing a personal injury case against a person or entity. If the case settles, you will need to sign a release releasing any parties of any potential future liability. In order to determine whether or not you should accept a personal injury settlement, your attorney needs to assess the amount of damages you have suffered, the likelihood of prevailing at trial, and any other factors that the attorney deems appropriate.
A settlement can be reached at any time prior to the filing of the lawsuit or after the lawsuit is filed and any time up until the jury's verdict. The case can even be settled after the trial if the case is on appeal.
At Slepkow, Slepkow & Associates, Inc. it is our firm philosophy that it is the client's decision on whether or not to accept a personal injury settlement. We will certainly help you in making that determination by providing all of the essential information and answering any relevant questions that you have. We often will give our recommendation as to whether or not a settlement is fair. We always let our clients make the final decision whether or not to accept a personal injury or auto accident settlement.
Q: Will you always pay out of pocket expenses up front in Rhode Island Personal Injury cases?
A: We almost always pay all out of pocket expenses and get reimbursed from the proceeds upon settlement or judgment.
Q: What are normal and usual out of pocket expenses in a RI Personal Injury or Auto Accident Case?
A: In Rhode Island, filing fees are usually less than 200. Deposition transcripts typically cost between $250 to $750. Personal Injury Lawyers also may pay certain Medical Providers to write comprehensive Medical reports.
The costliest personal Injury expense is the cost of Medical Doctors or experts testifying at trial. We do everything we can to limit case costs. For Rhode Island Personal Injury cases with lower values, we will discuss with you making reasonable choices regarding case costs.
Q: What is the Rhode Island Personal injury Claims process?
A: We do everything we can to negotiate with the insurance company to get the best settlement possible. We exchange information with the insurance adjuster including proof of medical expenses, lost wages and proof of negligence. If we cannot reach an agreement with the insurance company that you are satisfied with, then we file a lawsuit.
After a lawsuit is filed we may take depositions of important witnesses. Depositions usually take place in a lawyer's office. The insurance company may request that our client is examined by a doctor selected by the insurance company. (This is known as an IME, or independent medical examination). If the lawsuit cannot be resolved, the case will be scheduled for trial. At any point your personal injury, slip and fall or car accident lawsuit may be settled
Q: What is the value of my Rhode Island personal Injury claim?
A: We assess and consider many variables in determining the value of your RI Car accident or Personal Injury claim. If Liability is uncertain then the value of the case will be lowered.
In certain cases, it is unclear which party is at fault for the Car / auto Accident / Slip and Fall and the injuries are not serious. These types of cases may have low value and may not be worth pursuing because of the time and expenses involved.
In other cases, Liability is undisputed and a person has suffered serious personal injuries In these types of cases they key factor is the amount of insurance the at fault party / parties have.
Q: What if I reside out of state but the Accident was in Rhode Island.
A: We are very accommodating to out of State Clients. We have many clients who reside out of the State of RI. We make every effort to limit the amount of times that you will have to travel to Rhode Island. There is a decent chance that you will never have to come to come to Rhode Island. You may need to visit Rhode Island for a Deposition, IME or for the trial.
If your personal Injury case is settled prior to any depositions then it will not be necessary for you to travel to RI.
David Slepkow is a Rhode Island Personal Injury Lawyer helping clients with Automobile Accident, Slip and Fall and Premises liability claims, David Slepkow is a lawyer and partner at Slepkow Slepkow & Associates, Inc. in East Providence, Rhode Island. Slepkow Slepkow & Associates, Inc. was established in 1932 and is currently celebrating its 75th anniversary!
Attorney, David Slepkow is a member of the Rhode Island (RI) and Massachusetts (MA) Bar Association and the Bar for the Federal Court First Circuit, District of Rhode Island. If necessary, David can arrange weekend and evening consults. David never charges any fee for personal injury case, automobile / auto / car accidents and slip & fall cases unless successful.
You can contact David Slepkow at Rhode Island Lawyers/Attorneys or by calling him at 401-437-1100
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