Frequent Questions

NEWS FLASH - 2006, 2007, and 2008 COLORADO SUPER LAWYER - Recognized as one of the top personal injury lawyers in Colorado as seen in 5280 Magazine March - April 2006 Edition

Do I Need A Lawyer?

Studies show using a lawyer results in higher recoveries.
The National Insurance Research Counsel conducted a study in 1994 of the average payments from insurance companies nationally for injuries resulting from auto accidents. The results of the study revealed the average payments as follows:

The study also examined the net amount to the claimant after payment of attorney fees and expenses which after averaging all of the figures above still revealed an average net payment to the client of +300% for those using an attorney versus those representing themselves. ($3,979 v. $13,053). For additional information, the complete study is available from the Insurance Research Council, 1200 Harger Road, Suite 310, Oak Brook, Illinois 60521.

Additional studies by the Rand Institute came up with different figures, but reached a similiar result: accident victims who hire attorneys receive about 25% more money, even after attorney fees and costs, than auto accident victims who represent themselves.

These two independent studies should leave no question in your mind that you should at least call today for a free, no obligation consultation.

When Should I Call?

IMMEDIATELY - Many cases are lost due to delay in contacting experienced legal professionals who can put together the right team of investigators, medical experts, and support staff to preserve the evidence in your case. Our team of trained professionals will work to prevent the loss of important evidence to your case. Loss of evidence is one of the leading causes of decreased recoveries in tort claims. DON'T WAIT. CALL TODAY!

What Is My Case Worth?

There is not a tried and proven formula to determine the value of your claim. Rather, professional analysis of your facts, legal liability, injuries, past financial losses, and future financial needs all combine with pain & suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and physical impairment will allow us to give you our opinion of a range within which your claim may fall. As your initial consultation is always free, we will be glad to personally answer any questions you have regarding your case with straightforward, honest answers.

What Is Your Fee?

We handle cases on a contingency fee basis. In other words, you do not pay a legal fee unless we collect money for you from the responsible party or their insurance company. The contingency varies with the type of case, but it generally ranges from 25%-40%. We will provide you with a wirtten fee agreement at the time we accept your case detailing the exact precentage and how that is calculated.

How About Litigation Expenses?

As a courtesy to our clients, and in recognition of the fact that some of our clients would find it burdensome to pay these expenses, we usually advance all costs on a case. These expenses are then reimbursed from your recovery at the end of the case. These expenses include those for filing fees, subpeonas, medical records, expert witnesses, travel, long distance, postage, investigators, and transcription costs. At the time of preparing the written fee agreement, we will give you an estimate of the costs you can expect to be advanced on your behalf.

How Long Will My Case Take?

We prosecute our client's cases in a vigorous and expeditious manner. Even so, two factors slow the process. The first is related to your period of recovery. In order to maximize the value of your claim, it is necessary that you recover to a point where we can determine your future medical needs and the permanency of your injuries. Failure to wait until this time, often called maximum medical improvement (MMI) can result in a lower settlement offer from the responsible party. Second, the court system is very backed up which means a long wait for your case to get to trial, if a trial is necessary. Settings vary by county, but currently they range from 10-12 months in Jefferson and Denver County to 2+ years in Arapahoe.

Nevertheless, there is much to do during this time period. We gather medical records, obtain medical reports, gather accident reports, interview witnesses, take photographs, hire experts, and develop theories of recovery on liability and damages. Much of this information is conveyed to the insurance company as we begin selling your case to the claims adjuster from day one. It is important for them to view you as an injured person and not just a number that suddenly appeared on their desk years after the accident.

Will My Case Settle Before Trial?

Settlement negotiations can be held at any phase of your case. However, we will not engage in them until we believe we have the proper information prepared and collected to present to the insurance company to receive the maximum offer from them. Therefore, we make every effort to negotiate whenever there is a reasonable chance of reaching a fair resolution of your claim and approximately 95% of our files do result in a settlement before trial.

What Will I Have To Do?

It is imperative that we work together in order to obtain the best possible result. It is our job to handle the legal aspects of your case including dealing with the insurance company. Your job is simple: follow your health care provider's advice regarding treatment, keep us informed of your progress, and provide us with information as we request it. We will work closely with you to insure you understand exactly what his happening during each stage of your case. We want you to feel comfortable with the process, so you are also free to call any time with questions, or set up an appoitment at any time to discuss your case further. If it becomes necessary for you to participate in a defense medical exam, a deposition, or a trial, we will meet with you in advance to tell you what to expect.

Civil Lawsuits Are NOT Clogging The Court System.

A ten year study of the Court systems showed that in Colorado, civil lawsuits have declined 37% from 1992-2001. So what is creating such a backlog in the system? Divorce and crime - not personal injury claims. Do not believe the insurance industry hype. If you have questions about this or any other matter, please feel free to contact us at your convenience.