How long will my case take?

Answer: That will depend on the nature of your injuries and how long it takes you to recover from them. We make every effort to resolve your case as quickly as possible and you should keep in mind that no legal fee is charged until your case is wrapped up.

What is my case worth?

Answer:No lawyer can really give you that answer until he is fully informed as to the injuries you sustained, the amount of your medical bills and other damages like lost wages, the nature of the accident, and the jurisdiction in which your case would have to go to court. There are a number of such factors in each case and they are too long to list but I would be happy to discuss them with you.

I am scared of going to court. Will we have to?

Answer: Most cases are resolved without going to court but it is important that the insurance company believe that you are at all times willing to go to court in order to maximize any settlement value.

Can I talk to the insurance company?

Answer: No. Insurance companies only talk to you to get information that they will try to use for their benefit. We will not hide anything from the insurance company and we will certainly let them know what your medical bills and damages are, but should you speak to the insurance company, they may find out information that can be used against you.

How much treatment should I get?

Answer: That will be decided by your treating medical professional and we will not interfere in that except to tell you that if they prescribe treatment you should follow the guidance of the medical professional. Failure to follow the doctor’s instructions may lead people to believe that you are not truly injured.

Will you send me to your doctor?

Answer: No. If we sent you to a particular doctor, the insurance company would try to say that the lawyer and the doctor had “cooked up” something to make it appear that you were injured when you really were not.

Can I talk to anyone else about my case?

Answer: Except for medical professionals and my office, it is a good idea not to speak to anyone else about your accident. Close family members may be asked questions under oath about various conversations you have had with them.

Should I use my health insurance toward any doctor’s or hospital bills or depend on getting money from the settlement to pay my bills?

Answer: You should use any health insurance you have toward the payment of any bills. That includes employee health insurance, military based health insurance like Tricare, Medicaid or Medicare. There are a number of reasons why you should use your health insurance but in the end it will save you money and make your recovery better.

What do I do with any photographs I have showing damage to my car or my injuries?

Answer: Carefully maintain those because they will be difficult to duplicate later. Frequently, the damage done to a vehicle is a very important factor in determining the value of the claim. Also any marks on your body, such as bruises, cuts or scrapes may disappear over a period of time and we will want those photos to be preserved.

Should I be in touch with any witnesses to the accident?

Answer: It is important that you keep the names, addresses and phone numbers of any witnesses that you have. Particularly, witnesses who have no interest in the case but came forward to identify themselves either to you or the police officer.

How important is it for me to keep medical appointments?

Answer: It is vital that you keep all medical appointments, although there may be occasions when you can reschedule them, but simply failing to show up will do serious harm to your case. It may indicate that you are not really injured since someone who is injured would reschedule rather than simply fail to show up for an appointment.

How often should I call your office?

Answer: You may call as often as you like but we certainly suggest good times to call are should you have any difficulty with any of your medical appointments or should you be finished as far as medical treatment is concerned.

How should I obtain verification of lost wages?

Answer: We will give you a form where that material can be provided. It is important that you give that form to your employer and have them return it to you. Do not rely upon them mailing it to us but have them return it to you so that we can be sure we will receive it back.

What if my doctor gives me excuses taking me out of my current employment?

Answer: It is extremely important that you keep those absence notes or partial disability notes because they will justify the time you missed from work. Missing time from work does not count as damages unless it was done under a doctor’s advice. If you must turn those in to your employer, simply have them make a copy when you turn it in or ask the doctor’s office ask for an original and a copy. We will want a copy of that material.

Why choosing our office is your best option?

Answer: As a small personal injury firm, not a TV advertised firm, we are sure to give your case the personal attention it deserves. Your case will not be handed off to a new, young, inexperienced lawyer. It will be handled by the senior partner of the office, Jon P. Eichler, whose years of experience guarantee he is the best choice.

Any distinguishing facts that make us stand out?

Answer: Many of our clients are referred by former clients who were satisfied with their experience in our representation. That is probably the best way to choose a lawyer, rather than TV or radio ads, that are simply marketing ploys. It may surprise you to know that some of the lawyers shown on those ads would need a map and a guide-dog to find their way to the courthouse.