Let Us Help

There are several things you should do if you are involved in a traffic accident. The most important thing to remember is to be safe and use caution so you do not make the situation worse. After an accident you should seek immediate medical attention, even if you think you may not be badly hurt. Secondly, get quality legal advice as waiting can decrease the value of your case.

You have a number of rights as a client. It is your attorney’s job to represent you to the best of their ability and you have the right to fair, honest and competent legal representation. You have the right to make decisions concerning your case, including whether to accept or reject any offer of settlement. Your attorney must keep you informed of any significant developments in your case, keep the information you share confidential, and avoid any conflicts of interest.

You have the right to a written fee agreement and to an accounting of all expenses and fees incurred in your case if you are awarded damages or receive a settlement. Your attorney must comply with all ethical and professional rules of conduct governing the practice of law in California and can be disciplined if they fail to do so. You have the right to change lawyers at any time. Hiring the right attorney to represent you will help protect your legal rights and the value of your claim.

All accidents are different and as a result the value of your claim is not a simple question to answer. In general, personal injury claims involve two major elements: the actual damages and damages for pain and suffering. Actual damages include items like past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and damage to property.

Actual damages are determined by reviewing documentation such as receipts or bills, and calculating the time you missed from work or potentially the reduction in your future earning capacity. Pain and suffering is much more difficult to determine and will largely depend on the severity of your injuries. Insurance companies use a variety of methods to calculate pain and suffering including using formulas which multiply your actual damages by a pre-determined amount.

It often takes substantial money to prove liability and damages in a personal injury case. If you choose the wrong lawyer, a lawsuit could cost you plenty – both in terms of collecting less and incurring more expenses. At The Scranton Law Firm, we work on a Contingency Fee basis.

In other words, our fees and costs are contingent on the outcome of the case. You pay us nothing up front and we advance all the costs required to prepare the case. If we successfully resolve the case we receive a percentage of the recovery and reimbursement of the costs we advanced. If the case results in no recovery, we get paid nothing and you owe us nothing.