Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a personal injury attorney?
You are not legally required to have a lawyer handle your personal injury claim. You could file all the necessary paperwork yourself and represent yourself in court. However, your chances for winning your case and getting the compensation you deserve are much higher if you hire an experienced personal injury lawyer. Working with an attorney is invaluable for seeking the compensation you deserve, as well as giving you a better understanding of the claims process and how much compensation you might expect.
How much will an attorney cost me?
Personal injury attorneys make money by winning personal injury cases in court or by settling personal injury case out of court. If no money is recovered from a judgment or settlement, the client does not owe any attorney’s fees. The contingency-fee arrangement balances the interests of both the client and the attorney. If we don’t win, you don’t pay.
Won’t I keep more money if I handle the claim myself?
It is a proven fact that personal injury claims managed by an experienced personal injury attorney yield significantly higher judgement and settlement payouts than those claims handled by the injured party. Without the experience of handling injury cases on a regular basis, the injured party is often at the mercy of what the insurance company feels the claim is worth. More often than not, the insurance company will undervalue the claim and the injured party will not receive just compensation.
How much money can I expect from my personal injury claim?
The amount of compensation one will receive is dependent on many factors. Not all injuries are the same, nor are the circumstances in which they occur. These factors can alter the amount of compensation for an injury claim by a wide margin. The best course of action is to consult a personal injury attorney to better understand what your specific claim is worth. The attorneys at The Schley Firm will evaluate your claim at no charge to you.
How much tax do I pay on my compensation?
If you receive a settlement for personal physical injuries and did not take an itemized deduction for medical expenses related to the injury in prior years, the full amount is non-taxable. Do not include the settlement proceeds in your income.