Colorado Nursing Home Neglect Attorney | FAQs | Denver Elder Law Fort Collins Littleton Lakewood Broomfield Arapahoe CO

Frequently Asked Questions

HOW DOES A CONTINGENCY FEE WORK?

A contingent fee means that a certain percentage of any money that you may recover will be paid to the attorney to compensate him for the time and effort he has put into your case. Under this arrangement the attorney only gets paid if he provides you with a successful result that results in a recovery. Hiring an attorney on an hourly basis is not feasible for many people, so this provides a method for everyone to have access to the courts and our system of justice.

One-third (33.33%) is commonly the fee that an attorney will charge on a contingent basis. That percentage may be adjusted up or down depending upon the specifics of each case.

HOW SHOULD I CONTACT THE FIRM ABOUT MY CASE?

If you have never had to contact an attorney before, it might seem a little intimidating, but you needn't worry. You can either call our office or send an email, whichever way is more comfortable for you. Our first goal is simply to collect basic information about case to see if is the type we handle. If your case is within our area of practice, we'll set up a time for you to come in and meet with an attorney. The purpose of that face-to-face meeting will be to collect additional, detailed information.

WHAT IS A DEPOSITION?

A deposition is when a witness provides sworn testimony outside of the courtroom. Depositions usually take place at the attorney's office with a court reporter present, who takes down the testimony the party or the potential witness. It is an opportunity for each side to ask questions and determine how a witness will testify if the matter should proceed to a trial.

Before our clients go to a deposition we take the time to meet with them and prepare. We review the procedures of a deposition and the details of the case. Preparation by both the client and the attorney are essential to achieving success in every case.

WHO PAYS THE EXPENSES DURING THE LAW SUIT?

Expenses are different from attorney's fees and include investigative fees, the costs of transcripts from depositions, and independent expert or professional services. In certain cases these fees are fairly small, but in complex matters that require expert medical services, the costs can easily exceed $50,000.

Under Colorado law the client is always responsible for paying expenses in the lawsuit. However, the lawyer will often agree to pay those costs in advance for the client and recover those amounts when the case is resolved.

HOW MUCH IS MY PERSONAL INJURY CASE WORTH?

Every case is somewhat different. In personal injury cases, you are entitled to compensation for such things as medical expenses (past and future); lost wages and ability to earn income (past and future); pain and suffering (past and future); disfigurement; disability, and loss of enjoyment of life (past and future). To properly evaluate your personal injury claim, we will have to speak with you and ask you some questions. Some of the questions we will ask are the following (you can speed up the process by providing this information in your e-mail or telephone call):

•· Full name, address, telephone number, fax number, and e-mail.
•· Date of birth.
•· When did the accident or incident occur (date and time)?
•· Where did the accident happen?
•· Describe what happened and what caused the accident.
•· Describe your injuries.
•· When and how long were you treated in a hospital or by physicians?
•· Have you had surgery? How many? What kind?
•· What are your medical expenses, including those that have been paid for and those that have not (and what medical expenses do you anticipate having in the future)?
•· Have you lost time from work as a result of your accident? How much in lost wages have you incurred so far? How much in lost wages will you incur in the future?
•· Describe your disabilities and what you can't do now that you could do before the accident.
•· Were you ever treated for this type of injury or problem before this accident?

WILL MY CASE GO TO TRIAL OR WILL IT SETTLE OUT OF COURT?

Our office will work to achieve the best possible result for you based on the information we gather about your case. If your case will achieve a better result from a settlement, we will work toward a reasonable settlement. If your case would best be resolved in trial, we are fully prepared to and experienced in trying the most serious of cases.

WHAT ARE THE "MMI" AND PERMANENT IMPAIRMENT RATING?

At the conclusion of your treatment with a doctor, we will request a final narrative of your condition. Once a physician has decided you are at Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI), some doctor's assign, and insurance company's request, a permanent impairment rating. It does not mean that you are back to the physical or mental condition you were at prior to the accident. It simply means your condition has stabilized and you have a loss. This is generally done pursuant to American Medical Association (AMA) guidelines. A permanent impairment rating technically is not called for as a basis at trial in an automobile case, but many automobile insurance companies like to have the impairment rating so they can evaluate the case.