QUESTIONS RELATED TO PERSONAL INJURY LAW IN CALIFORNIA

Q: How can I pay my medical bills while I’m waiting for my settlement? A: One option that many of our clients find helpful is to have our attorneys negotiate a lien letter with the doctor, which means that the doctor agrees to provide medical services free of charge until the settlement is received, and then takes payment from the settlement. Another option is to have your private medical insurance company pay the bills while the settlement is pending.

Q: How long do I have to file my lawsuit? A: You must file your lawsuit prior to the expiration of the statute of limitations for your claim. The statutes of limitation vary depending on what the case is about, the parties involved and where it happened. The deadlines can also be open to interpretation and are not always black and white. To ensure that you do not miss your chance to file a lawsuit, contact The Law Offices of O’Donnell & Smith at the earliest possible time to have them review your case and provide you with a sound legal opinion on your options.

Q: How does a contingency fee work? A: In many Bay Area injury law firms, personal injury cases are taken on a contingency basis. This means that the client is not responsible for advancing any payment to the attorney up front or during the course of the litigation. The attorney will only be paid if they win the case, and they take their fee, as well as reimbursement for the litigation costs that they advanced, from the award or settlement before transferring the rest of the funds back to the client.

Q: How much is my case worth? A: It is impossible to speculate as to the value of a claim before some details are known. Many factors can affect the value of a potential claim, such as the extent of damages, the defendant’s insurance coverage or other assets, the applicable law and any defenses the defendant may have. In order to get an accurate estimation of the value of your case, contact O’Donnell & Smith to have an attorney review your case.

Contact The Law Offices of O’Donnell & Smith For More Information

If you have additional questions that are not addressed here, please feel free to contact our attorneys for more information. We are happy to answer any questions you may have regarding your personal injury claim. We can accommodate your needs, and will even visit clients in the hospital or at home as necessary.