Retaining an Attorney

1. You have suffered an injury for which you deserve to be compensated. Your medical bills should be paid and you should receive a reasonable compensation for your pain, suffering and inconvenience.
   
   
2. Our compensation system is an adversary system. The insurance company will use a skilled, trained insurance adjuster whose job is to minimize the company's payout and your job (or your attorney's) is to maximize the company's payout. When both sides do their best, justice wins and you are compensated adequately.
   
   
3. It is always advantageous to promptly contact a lawyer for you to be advised of the rules and procedures of injury cases. At some point early in your care, the insurance company in both auto accidents and on-the-job injury claims may request you to go to a physician of their choosing to be examined. After the evaluation by the insurance company's appointed physician the company may order you to discontinue care and eventually decline to pay your medical bills. The insurance adjuster may also contact you frequently to try to negotiate an early settlement. Adjusters are highly competent in negotiating settlements in behalf of the insurance company. It is usually very advantageous to consult with an attorney who is familiar with injury claims rather than one who rarely handles such cases.
   
   
4. The insurance adjuster is an employee of the insurance company and is working for the benefit of the insurance company and is not impartial. You should protect your own interests. Be particularly careful not to sign anything and do not give a tape recorded statement before you contact a competent attorney and are at least advised of your rights. We are not suggesting that you file suit against anyone, but we are concerned that you are advised of your rights in personal injury and negligence cases.
   
   
5. If you mishandle your own case due to lack of knowledge or lack of skill, it is likely that a competent lawyer will be unable to undo the mistake that you have made and not be able to accept your case at that time. The time to at least be informed of your status is in the very beginning. A competent attorney will not discourage you from seeing any doctor you determine is the best for your best recovery, and if an attorney suggests you discontinue care or change doctors, please inform us immediately. Your best care is our concern and should also be that of your attorney.
   
   Before you consult with or retain an attorney, be sure to ask him the following questions to help you select the best attorney:
   1. Does he have experience in personal injury claims? (You need an expert to overcome the well trained insurance company lawyers.)
   2. How many years in practice in this state?
   3. Is the attorney a Chiropractic patient or is he familiar with the principles of Chiropractic care in travel-related injuries?
   4. Has the attorney ever handled a case with a chiropractic physician? Approximately how many such cases?
   
   
6. If you decide to retain an attorney, most attorneys work on a contingent fee basis and will receive a percentage of the final settlement. Remember, fees and fee arrangements are negotiable. If the attorney collects nothing, you are not out of any expense. Some people are afraid that the attorney will consume the settlement. Our experience shows most attorneys use a 33 and 1/3 percent contingency arrangement and most patients on a national average receive 17 percent more (even after the attorney's fees) than the patient who fails to utilize the service of an attorney.