Personal Injury Oregon Archives - Warren Allen LLP Attorneys at Law

Does Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney Mean That I Have to File a Lawsuit?

Written by George McCoy on February 10, 2023. Posted in Personal Injury. Leave a Comment

Filing a lawsuit can be a long, arduous process. It can sometimes take years before the matter is even heard before a judge. The good news is that hiring a personal injury attorney doesn’t mean you have to file a lawsuit. In fact, filing a lawsuit with a personal injury attorney is often the last resort.

Instead, think of a personal injury attorney as your advocate. They’re your champion, fighting to get you a fair resolution to your personal injury claim so that you are adequately compensated and can devote your full attention and energy toward your recovery efforts. Warren Allen LLP has a team of experienced Portland personal injury attorneys who will fight for your rights, both inside and outside the courtroom.

Here’s an overview of what you can expect when you retain the services of a personal injury attorney:

What Does a Personal Injury Attorney Do?

Personal injury attorneys work on your behalf to secure appropriate compensation following a physical injury to you or a loved one, or following the death of a loved one. Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, meaning they only take a portion of the final compensation amount awarded as opposed to an upfront fee. Since your attorney doesn’t get paid until a settlement amount is agreed upon or you are awarded damages, it is in your attorney’s best interest to fight for you to get the maximum amount possible.

If there’s a dispute as to who is responsible for the injury, a personal injury attorney will collect the necessary records and documentation to establish who is at fault. Even if the other party admits liability, many insurance companies will attempt to pay the bare minimum possible. Having a skilled personal injury attorney by your side will increase your chances of securing an equitable outcome.

What Happens Once I Hire a Personal Injury Attorney?

The first thing a personal injury attorney will do is collect supporting documentation for your case. If you have photos of the scene where the injury occurred, notes about what happened, eyewitness account information, medical records, or anything else that pertains to your case, you should give them to your attorney.

As you recover from your injury, keep a detailed account of any symptoms you experience as well as all of your medical visits. Write down any treatments you are prescribed or recommendations you receive from a medical provider. The more records and details you can provide your attorney, the better.

Your attorney will then get to work on your case. Typically, that begins with serving notice of your intent to file a personal injury claim with the responsible party. Your personal injury attorney will then begin settlement talks and work to secure a settlement that is fair and acceptable to you.

In some instances, settlement talks may be a fairly lengthy process. On average, negotiating a settlement takes about two years. But the length of time can vary considerably based on a number of factors, such as the extent of your injuries. A personal injury attorney often waits until the scope of your injuries, and the necessary medical treatment, are fully understood so that the most favorable settlement can be reached. Of course, this can increase the duration of your personal injury claim.

You may find it difficult to pay for your medical treatment while your personal injury claim is pending. If, for instance, you’re uninsured or your personal injury protection insurance doesn’t cover all your necessary expenses, your personal injury attorney can advise you on your available options. When you retain us, we are by your side throughout the claim process so that you don’t have to navigate these situations on your own.

What Happens If I’m Unable to Settle?

While most cases settle out of court, occasionally a personal injury attorney will need to take legal action. If we are unable to reach a settlement that is agreeable to you, the next step would be to proceed with filing a lawsuit. Once a complaint is filed with the court, there is typically a pretrial discovery process during which both sides collect information and evidence from the other.

While the case is working its way through the courts, there may still be an opportunity to reach an agreement. Both parties may agree to mediation, for instance. If so, a third party would attempt to work out an equitable arrangement for both sides.

However, if the mediation is unsuccessful, the case would proceed to trial. In the event your case does go to trial, Warren Allen’s experienced team of litigators will devote significant time, energy, and effort to ensure the best possible outcome.

That being said, the vast majority of personal injury cases settle out of court. If you’ve been injured and believe someone else is at fault, you should consult a personal injury attorney regarding your available options.

If you’re looking for a Portland personal injury attorney, Warren Allen may be able to help. We provide top-quality legal services in the Portland and Southwest Washington areas, as well as across both Washington State and Oregon. Give us a call to schedule a consultation, and we will answer your questions to the best of our ability to give you an honest assessment of your case.

Since this can be a difficult situation to navigate alone, the best decision you can make is to partner with an experienced attorney who knows the ins and outs of personal injury legalities. Getting the compensation you deserve can be a long, arduous process but we’ll be by your side the entire way and see your case through to the very end.

Leave it to the expert team at Warren Allen LLP to ensure you get the medical treatments you require, as well as adequate compensation to cover them!

Is Hiring a Personal Injury Law Firm Worth It?

Written by George McCoy on January 10, 2023. Posted in Personal Injury. Leave a Comment

Nobody expects to be injured, but when it happens, it changes everything. Your focus turns to healing and protecting yourself and your family.

If someone else’s carelessness causes your injury, it can bring on many questions, including:

Will insurance cover this?
My injury wasn’t that bad; should I hire a law firm?
Can I afford to hire a lawyer?

In the middle of handling all of the things you’re facing as a result of your accident, choosing to work with a law firm and finding the right one to represent you may seem overwhelming. Where should you begin? Read on to learn the benefits of hiring personal injury law firms in Portland, Oregon

Is It Worth Hiring a Personal Injury Law Firm?

Facing a personal injury from an accident or workplace can be life-changing. The more serious the injury, the more beneficial working with a personal injury law firm in Portland, Oregon, will be. No matter what you’re facing, your situation deserves to be handled with care.

If you’re skeptical about how much you can gain, your best action step is to speak with a lawyer, as the one you hire will have a vested interest in your outcome.

Hiring a personal injury lawyer doesn’t cost you a thing unless you win, and they work hard to ensure a case has merit before moving forward. You’ll get an honest assessment of your situation, and understand what to expect before you move forward.

6 Reasons You Should Hire a Personal Injury Law Firm

If you’re wondering if talking with a lawyer is in your best interest, ask yourself these questions.

1. Did I Suffer Injuries in the Accident?

Today’s automobiles are safer than ever before. Still, thousands of people die each year in car accidents, and those numbers are climbing.

If you’ve been injured in an accident, a personal injury law firm can help you get the compensation you deserve. You should seek legal representation if you:

Have a severe injury
Have pain and suffering
Are temporary or permanently disabled

If you’re suffering from an injury that resulted from someone else’s negligence, it’s time to put the concern back on your needs. A personal injury law firm fights for your rights for fair compensation.

2. Do I Need Help Dealing With the Insurance Company?

Insurance adjusters have one goal: To save the insurance company as much money as possible. They review cases and handle claims daily. They know the law, and how to settle a case with as little payout as possible.

That’s rarely in your best interest. Instead of dealing with never-ending phone calls and paperwork, you should focus on your injuries and getting help to receive the maximum compensation. An experienced personal injury lawyer knows how to handle the insurance company, even out the playing field, and negotiate your case to ensure you get a fair offer.

3. Is There a Question of Who Is Liable?

Not all accidents have clear outcomes. Sometimes it’s unclear who the negligent party is. If there is any question of who is liable, it’s in your best interest to seek legal representation.

By hiring a personal injury law firm, they will work to prove your innocence. If you believe the other party was at fault, it’s up to you to confirm the responsible party’s negligence. A lawyer will look at the evidence, including:

Official accident reports
Medical records
Photos from the scene
Police records
Eyewitness testimony

They will build up enough evidence to prove you have a legitimate case. If you were partially or fully at fault, you should definitely seek out legal guidance.

4. Will My Future Be Impacted By a Settlement?

If you’re facing temporary or permanent disability, your future may seem uncertain. Now more than ever, a settlement will help you and your family retain some sense of hope as you move forward. According to studies by the Insurance Research Council, those who filed claims with attorney representation received significantly higher settlements than those without.

It’s easy to see why. When a law firm specializes in personal injury cases, they work with cases similar to yours daily. They understand the strategy, what to do, and how to approach it to reach an ideal resolution.

It’s about letting an experienced firm handle what they are in business for. They won’t be overwhelmed because they’ve been through it before.

5. Can I Manage My Own Case?

At first, it can seem straightforward. File paperwork, communicate clearly, and justice will prevail. However, there are a lot of little nuances that go into a case. Things you might not be aware of. Things that can be detrimental to your case.

Sometimes people do well in handling their own cases. It might be easy to take on your own if it’s a minor fender-bender in a parking lot without much damage. If you’re a confident negotiator, you might be able to handle all communications with the insurance adjuster and receive a maximum settlement offer.

When you add in injury and are dealing with the added stress that goes with extensive trauma, that’s where a personal injury lawyer can help. Their effective negotiation skills are the key to maximizing your settlement payout.

6. What Should I Do Next?

Personal injury isn’t something most of us expect to face. It happens suddenly and changes everything in the blink of an eye. Suddenly, you’re left with endless questions.

Working with a personal injury law firm in Portland, Oregon, gives you the answers to the endless questions. They’re there to guide you through every step of the process and be your negotiator as well as your advocate. They answer questions and provide guidance every step of the way.

When your world feels like it’s upside down, that can be a comforting feeling.

Should You Hire a Personal Injury Law Firm?

A personal injury lawyer can put your mind at ease, and they’ll work hard to get you the compensation you deserve. Because of their vast knowledge and experience working with the law, they are invaluable when you’re faced with the outcome of an accident. Hire one today, and let them go to work for you.

5 Tips for Hiring Personal Injury Lawyers in Portland Oregon

Written by George McCoy on December 9, 2022. Posted in Family Law, Personal Injury. Leave a Comment

Having to deal with a personal injury is stressful at the very least. If you have a personal injury case, such as a slip and fall accident, medical malpractice, or a car accident, you’ll have much better peace of mind hiring a professional to handle it for you.

You might balk at hiring a personal injury lawyer if your car was totaled but you appeared to have suffered no injuries, and you might think that the insurance company will help you through the claims process. However, liability might be unclear in the accident or incident, in which case the task falls to you to prove your innocence. You’ll need to have evidence to support your claim, and you may have no idea how to do this.

A personal injury lawyer will handle that evidence, but also handle a myriad of other tasks, such as negotiating with the insurance company to perhaps get you a bigger compensation package and handling your court case if it goes to trial.

So hiring an attorney to handle your case is the most beneficial path to take. There are a lot of personal lawyers in Portland, Oregon, so how do you decide who to go with?

Here are five tips to keep in mind when hiring a personal injury lawyer:

1. Experience

The first thing you want to know about any lawyer you’re hiring is what kind of experience they have. Many lawyers will handle many different kinds of personal injury cases, but none of them will have handled every single kind. The umbrella of personal injury can be very wide. For example, medical malpractice cases can subdivide into traumatic brain injuries, misdiagnosis, and surgical errors. Make sure to ask whether they’ve handled cases like yours before, how many, and whether they won those cases.

When asking about experience in personal injury cases, also ask what kind of experience they have in a courtroom setting. Most civil cases don’t go to trial, so if your case is one that does, you want to be sure you have someone who knows their way around a courtroom.

2. Expectations

When asking about the procedure for personal injury cases, make sure you understand what is expected of you as well. Your lawyer may not want you to speak with other witnesses, and if you do, you could end up jeopardizing the work your lawyer and their team will be doing on your behalf. If your lawyer gives you homework, such as filling out forms, taking pictures, or otherwise documenting your injury, make sure you do it!

Some questions you can ask your lawyer include: what do you need from me in order to be sure my case is as strong as possible? Is there anything I should do or avoid in order to win my claim?

Asking about how long the process should take will also help manage your expectations. It’s probably known that your personal injury case won’t be solved overnight. In fact, the average personal injury claim can take from six months to two years. There are many variables that factor into the timeline, including how long your treatment takes.

3. Money

Be certain of any fees your lawyer is going to charge you and what you can expect as far as the outcome. You may not receive a precise answer here. Lawyers may hesitate to give you a specific number because they may not want to create unrealistic expectations. Even if they won’t know the outcome at the start of the process, they should still be able to tell you whether you have a chance of winning your case and maybe a rough prediction of your compensation.

When you’re interviewing lawyers, keep track of their answers to this question and see if they’re all in the same general ballpark. If one of them promises you a significantly higher amount, take it with a grain of salt, unless they have a particularly persuasive piece of evidence that pertains to your case.

4. Team Effort

Oftentimes, you may meet with one lawyer, but they may have a team they work with to handle their personal injury claims. This might include a junior partner, another attorney, or a paralegal (or some combination of these three). While you may prefer having one lawyer handle all aspects of your case, a setup like this is fairly common.

The other team members will help gather the basic information and then your lawyer will handle the parts that require their specialist training. The team will let you know who your point of contact will be if you have any other questions or if you need to turn in paperwork. Make sure you understand who is going to handle the settlement, compensation negotiations, or the court case, so you know who to ask which questions.

One other question you can ask here is how often you can expect updates, and how you will receive those updates (whether it’s an email, a phone call, or an in-person meeting).

5. Priorities

No matter where you live, the legal system is definitely overburdened, so you can expect any lawyer to handle more than one case at a time. You might worry that if your lawyer is handling more than one case, your case won’t get the attention to detail it deserves. There is something of a deadline for you – once you’ve suffered the accident, you have two years to file the suit.

As mentioned above, a personal injury lawyer will probably tell you that it’s best to take some time to heal or recover from the event. This is partially so that you know how much compensation to ask for when settling with the insurance company. So since you have a deadline, make sure to get someone who has the ability to work on more than one case at a time. Ask how many cases the lawyer is handling at a time, and ask how big their team is if that number is larger than you expected.

Finding representation with a personal injury lawyer shouldn’t be a convoluted process! The team at Warren Allen will help you find compensation for your personal injury with grace and the highest degree of professionalism. Contact us today.

Tips for Vetting Law Firms in Portland Oregon

Written by George McCoy on October 20, 2022. Posted in General Law. Leave a Comment

Finding a lawyer during an already stressful time in your life can feel like an insurmountable task. Typically, people don’t have a relationship with a lawyer already in place when something happens to them that requires legal assistance. Usually, when someone requires legal guidance, it’s due to an unpleasant and stressful situation that has happened unexpectedly, such as a car accident, a bad fall or personal injury, or a family law issue like divorce or a child custody disagreement. No attorney will completely eliminate the stress of the situation, but the right attorney can help allay some of your concerns.

When you need legal advice, it’s best not to just accept the very first law firm you find in a random online search for help. You want to make sure you are finding quality legal representation that will represent you and your needs with care and expertise. If you are looking for law firms in Portland, Oregon, or wherever you may live, the litigation experts at Warren Allen LLP list below how to find a law firm that best suits your specific legal needs.

Make Sure You Find a Law Firm That Specializes in the Area of Law You Require Help With

It’s always important to find a law firm that has extensive experience in litigating within the specialty you need. For example, if you are looking for a divorce lawyer, it is not enough to find a lawyer with a website that says they practice family law. You want to ensure your law firm specializes in family law and has a history of representing clients within this field.

Look for blog posts or social media posts from the law firm. Do they talk about the area of law that you need? Are there signs of innovation in the field where you need representation? If the law firm demonstrates authority in that area of law, this is a great sign that they are current and active in that field of law and can be a potentially good fit for your legal needs.

Ensure You Can Afford the Law Firm’s Fee

When choosing the law firm that best fits your needs, one factor that is very important to consider is the cost of legal representation. It is important to ask up front what the costs of representation will be to ensure it is an affordable option for you before deciding on which law firm will be the best fit for you. While your instinct might be to opt for the best attorney money can buy, it’s not actually realistic. You also don’t want to just blindly choose the cheapest service either. The truth is that you need to look at law firms in Portland, Oregon, that meet both your needs and your budget.

Typically, law firms that specialize will cost more than a generalist firm that tends to deal more in volume of clients rather than focusing on each client in depth. Most law firms charge hourly, ranging in price from $300 to $1,000 per hour.

Ask About the Attorney’s and the Law Firm’s Experience

It’s crucial to ask prospective lawyers how many years they have practiced and, in particular, how many years in the field of law you need before deciding on which law firm is right for you. Training and specialization are important, but years of experience in practicing law means they have been through trials and have lost some, won some, and learned from each experience. Go ahead and ask if they’ve handled cases similar to yours and how those turned out.

Choosing local law firms, like Warren Allen in Portland, Oregon, can also be important to the outcome of your case. They’ll be familiar with how the court systems work in the area and have experience working with different judges and attorneys. They’ll also be up to date on all county and state laws, procedures, and policies, better ensuring you get the highest level of representation.

Check Online Reviews and Get Personal References

If you are unsure where to begin your search for a trusted lawyer in your area, start by asking around. If you know a friend, family member, neighbor, or professional who has been through your situation before, it could be helpful to ask if they have a referral to a lawyer who they trust. If you happen to have an existing relationship with a lawyer in another field of law, consider asking them for a recommendation to a lawyer in your area of need. You can even ask your doctor or other professional if they have a trusted lawyer they would recommend.

You should also read reviews online to see what people are saying about their experiences with various law firms in your area. It’s always a good idea to read reviews and ask around before signing a contract with a new law firm.

Consider Your Attorney’s Availability and Ease of Communication

When you first meet with your new attorney, this is your time to interview them as if you were hiring them for a new position at your company. This is a great time to ask about their availability when you have follow-up questions, as they will most definitely arise, and not all lawyers are available at the same rate. Some law firms have paralegals who can answer your questions more readily than the lawyers, who may frequently be in court and unavailable to field your various questions. It is always a good idea to make sure you can communicate with your lawyer or their staff when needed.

If you are looking for law firms in Portland, Oregon, consider hiring the legal experts at Warren Allen LLP. Our team specializes in personal injury, family law, and more. Reach out today.

Young African American woman holding neck with personal injury after car accident.

How Does the Personal Injury Claim Process Work?

Written by George McCoy on July 21, 2021. Posted in Personal Injury. Leave a Comment

If you have experienced a personal injury due to an accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Recovering from an injury takes time and can be costly. These hardships can range from monetary loss to physical and emotional pain and suffering. Medical bills, lost wages from missing work, repairs to damaged property—the costs can be overwhelming. However, you may have a right to recouping these losses.

Filing a personal injury claim gives you the opportunity to receive compensation for injuries sustained in an accident. This can be the help you need to recover physically, mentally, and emotionally as well as recover any financial loss. But how does the claim process work? If you live in Oregon and are filing a Portland personal injury claim but are uncertain of how it works, below is a simple breakdown of the process. Understanding how it works can alleviate added stress so you can have peace of mind knowing you are on the road to full recovery.

Seek Medical Treatment

The first step in the claims process is getting necessary medical treatment. If you don’t receive treatment immediately for any injuries sustained, it suggests these injuries were not that serious, and it will be difficult to prove otherwise to an insurance adjuster or jury. It is also the most important step in regard to your own health and recovery. Do not delay treatment because you are worried about how much it will cost or if you can afford it.

Keep careful documentation of treatment received as well as copies of all bills. These records are important to building your case and receiving fair compensation.

Consult With a Personal Injury Attorney

Though it’s possible to file a claim without legal representation, it isn’t advisable for more significant injuries or if you’re receiving opposition from the other party involved. An attorney will fairly represent you and your interests while advocating for the compensation you are entitled to. This is especially true if you have lost more than a couple of days of work or have costly medical bills. Insurance companies often attempt to minimize how much you receive, so an attorney can be a powerful ally in making sure you receive the full compensation you qualify for.

If you’re in the Portland area and looking for an experienced attorney for your Portland personal injury, Warren Allen LLP offers legal advice and representation for those who have been affected by these accidents. Whether you have experienced a car crash or other type of accident that has resulted in an injury, we are here to help you every step of the way. Contact our firm today and learn what your best options are. We’ll work to the best resolution possible and help you receive compensation.

Open Claim and Submit Demand Package

A personal injury attorney will then investigate your claim and gather all details pertaining to the accident, injury, and treatment. This includes all medical records and bills related to the accident. Once you have been interviewed and obtained all necessary documentation, a claim is filed with both parties’ respective insurance companies.

Most personal injury cases settle without filing a lawsuit in court. A demand package is a comprehensive collection of all medical bills and documents detailing the accident, injury, treatment, wage loss, and any other financial damage. This package is prepared during the pre-litigation stage and begins negotiations with the insurance company. At this stage, a favorable settlement may be reached.

If the insurance company agrees to fair financial compensation and you accept, a lawsuit will not have to be filed. However, if the insurance company offers a low settlement in hopes you will want to quickly settle, it may require more arbitration. If they are unwilling to offer a fair settlement, the next step is litigation.

File a Personal Injury Lawsuit

If a settlement is not reached, litigation begins when your attorney files a personal injury lawsuit in court. This step should only take place after you have reached “maximum medical improvement.” Your medical treatment should be completed before submitting a demand package or filing a lawsuit because it helps an attorney determine what your case is worth.

After the complaint (the court action that begins the lawsuit) is filed, both you and the defendant will complete an “interrogatory” (a written document comprised of questions that have been answered to gather information regarding the accident) and a “deposition” (verbal questions).

Trial

As mentioned previously, most personal injury cases don’t make it to trial and can be settled out of court. And a very few instances require mandatory arbitration instead of court. This is usually limited to situations involving medical malpractice.

Once both parties of the claim have as much information regarding the claim as possible, an objective arbitrator reviews the evidence and will suggest a resolution, though, it is non-binding. If mediation and negations cannot result in a settlement, then your attorney will represent you and your interests in court and help you receive the compensation you deserve. If at no point in time you or the other parties involved are able to come to a voluntary agreement and reach a settlement, your case will be decided by a jury verdict and judgment.

Another reason your case may have to go to trial is if the statute of limitations on your claim is about to run out. If this is true with your claim, your attorney will have to file a lawsuit in court so they are able to continue your claim. This will, in turn, maintain your right to seek compensation for your injuries and not lose out on such claims because you missed the deadline by which your claim was to be filed within the proper court.

If you have suffered an injury and are seeking compensation, knowing the process of your personal injury claim and having the right team in your corner can help mitigate uncertainty and undue stress so you can focus on what matters most: recovery.

Woman with neck brace right arm in sling in attorney's office..

What Is a Contingency Fee in a Personal Injury Suit?

Written by George McCoy on May 18, 2021. Posted in Personal Injury. Leave a Comment

A personal injury lawsuit is the last thing anyone wants to face. It means you or someone you love has been injured or even died. Now you could be navigating a new reality with medical bills and work loss. A personal injury lawsuit could be a way to recover a settlement that will help relieve some pressure and stress. One phrase you might see connected to personal injury cases is “contingency fee.” This is a way of saying that the attorney will be paid based on the outcome of the case.

In this article, we discuss the contingency fee arrangement in-depth to help you understand what it means and how it might affect you. If you’re considering a personal injury lawsuit in Oregon, consider the experienced attorneys at Warren Allen.

What Is a Contingency Fee?

A contingency fee in Oregon is a payment arrangement based on the results of the case. An attorney does not collect payment for work unless the case is successfully resolved in the client’s favor. In a personal injury case, this means that if a client reaches a settlement or wins in court, the attorney gets paid. If the client loses the case and there’s no settlement, the attorney isn’t paid. The contingency fee arrangement is not allowed in cases where ethical issues are present, such as family law, where a contingency fee could be seen as incentivizing work for something where vulnerable people are at risk.

How Does a Contingency Fee Work?

A contingency fee is a written agreement between a client and an attorney. The written agreement should include expectations for the recovery fee and expenses. According to ORS 20.3040, the agreement must be explained to the client by the attorney, written in a reasonable way so the client can understand, and signed by both parties. The client has the right to in writing to void the arrangement within 24 hours of signing. Here are a few things that you should see in your contingency fee agreement:

Fee Structure: The agreement should state that it’s a contingency fee agreement and include the rate charged. Fees are often a percentage of the lawsuit settlement awarded to the plaintiff. Most recovery fees are between 30 and 40 percent of the settlement, but this can vary. A larger, more complex case may have a higher fee. Some attorneys may charge a higher fee if the case cannot be settled outside court and needs to go to trial.
Costs and Expenses: Every case will have fees and expenses that come up. The agreement should detail what to expect and how the fees will be handled. Below, you will find some of the possible fees in greater detail.
Fee Disputes and Termination: A client has every right to end their representation by an attorney, but this may lead to disputes about fees for the work done. Coming to an agreement on this possibility is an important part of the arrangement.

What Additional Fees Might Come Up?

Additional fees or costs are the expenses an attorney incurs while building a case for their client. Some of the additional fees might include court costs, filing fees, deposition and transcription, expert witnesses, travel, medical filing, and other administrative fees to cover necessary paperwork. In a contingency fee arrangement, these costs could be added to the recovery fee charged by your attorney so they can recover what they spend on building the case.

Talk with your attorney about the fees that might come up. An experienced attorney should be able to walk you through the expected fees for building a case like yours.

What Are the Advantages of a Contingency Fee Attorney Contract?

One of the key advantages is no fees up-front. You may have medical bills, loss of income from missed work, insurance deductibles, or other issues to manage. The contingency fee arrangement allows a client who may not have the financial resources to pay for quality legal representation up-front to still have their case prosecuted.

There’s a low risk for the client, but a high risk for the attorney. The attorney will need to weigh whether the strength of the case is sufficient to justify the time and effort necessary to win. If the case lacks merit, an attorney may turn it down. Remember, when an attorney takes on a case, they may need to turn down other work.

Another advantage is that your attorney is motivated to do their best work for you, as they won’t get paid if there is no settlement.

What Should You Expect When Considering a Contingency Fee?

Navigating a personal injury suit can be stressful and confusing. An experienced personal injury attorney should help you understand your case in a way that relieves some of that stress. A high-quality attorney will consider all areas of the case before advising you how to proceed. You may have a lot of questions as you decide on an attorney and whether you want to build a case. Here are a few things to expect from a personal injury attorney when considering a contingency fee arrangement:

An attorney will explain your rights. A personal injury attorney should help you understand your rights, give an honest assessment of how they understand the case including if you might have been doing something that might limit your ability to recover a settlement.
They will assess and investigate the accident. Your attorney will need a full understanding of the incident and how it happened. This might include hiring an investigator, taking photos of the scene, interviewing witnesses, and other activities to document what happened.
Your attorney will advise you on how to move forward. Once a full understanding of the event is gained, an attorney can advise you on how to proceed. This may include helping you understand what could make it more or less likely you will win a settlement.
If necessary, your attorney will represent you in court. Most personal injury cases are settled long before a hearing in court is necessary, but if your case requires a hearing, then you will benefit from an experienced attorney who both understands the law and can navigate the hearing process competently.

For experienced personal injury attorneys, contact the professionals at Warren Allen.

Tag: Personal Injury Oregon