Frequently Asked Questions about Personal Injury
Denver, Colorado Personal Injury Lawyers
When I've been injured, what should I do first?
The first thing if you're injured is to get medical care. Depending on the type of personal injury, this may be emergency care that relegates information gathering to a second priority. But as soon as possible, you need to collect information that will be crucial in any insurance claim or possible lawsuit.
Road accidents
If you're able to do it, obtain contact information from the other people involved, including any witnesses. Also make a few notes for yourself as to what happened, the location, day and time, weather conditions, which direction you were traveling and how fast, etc. Draw a diagram of what happened if you can.
If your personal injury is severe and an ambulance is first priority, you can trust that the police officers will collect all the important information and will talk to you when you're recovered enough.
Injuries related to someone else's property
Such injuries might be slip and fall accidents, dog bites, or exposure to something toxic such as lead.
In these scenarios, as with road accidents, the first thing is to get medical care. But as soon as possible, it's important to collect contact information for everyone involved, and document how the injury happened.
Injuries related to products
Products that cause you personal injury could be drugs, (prescription or over-the-counter), tools or machinery, medical devices, household products, children's toys, and many other commonly used items.
The first thing to do (always after obtaining any needed medical care), is to consult an attorney. The legal ramifications can be a maze that's impossible for a lay person to pilot through.
The Denver, Colorado personal injury lawyers at Hull & Zimmerman we have long and detailed experience in the complex world of personal injury litigation and we offer you a free consultation to look at the basics of the situation and what sort of claim you may have.
How do I know whether I need a personal injury lawyer?
You can't necessarily know that without consulting an attorney. If you don't need one, a good personal injury lawyer will tell you that. The chances are that you will need one because of the complexities of insurance claims and the legal ramifications of every action or lack of action.
You may have unexpected medical expenses, unplanned-for income loss, and emotional distress. And sometimes the medical problems caused by an injury aren't evident for months afterwards.
A competent and experienced personal injury lawyer can lift much the load from your back, decrease your worry, and maximize the compensation you ultimately receive.
If an insurance adjuster offers me a settlement, isn't the matter finished then?
If you accept the offer, then yes, it will be finished. But is that offer fair? Is it all that you're entitled to? The job of an insurance adjuster is to minimize his employer's costs, not to maximize your settlement. But an attorney working for you can analyze the case and obtain a full and fair compensation for you.
How much would a lawyer cost?
At Hull & Zimmerman our fee is based on the amount of compensation you ultimately receive. There is no up-front fee. We'll take whatever time is necessary to gather the facts, analyze them, and help you obtain all the restitution you're entitled to.
Usually we are paid about one-third of the compensation amount plus any expenses we incur. We do not charge clients for expenses as the case progresses. Neither do we charge any attorney's fees if the case is unsuccessful.
If I make a claim, would I have to go to court?
A claim doesn't necessarily involve a lawsuit. You're a claimant when the matter is negotiations between you and the insurance company. You become a plaintiff when a lawsuit is filed. But no lawsuit is necessary if negotiations go smoothly, and an experienced law firm will do much to make things smooth for you.
What things would affect the value of my claim?
The value of your claim is determined by the injury you sustained and the damages associated with it (e.g., lost wages). But actually recovering the right compensation for you requires three kinds of skills, used in the three phases of a claim:
Research
Gathering information is the starting point. This involves interviewing people, studying the injured person's medical records and medical history, getting the full incident report from the police involved, and other things depending on the particular case.
Analysis
Every detail needs to be examined and considered in relation to every other detail. There may be new laws, new approaches, new medical research, and a careful assessment of everything relevant will maximize your eventual compensation and minimize any facts which might detract from your compensation.
Presentation
All the arguments and facts must be presented persuasively, whether to the insurance adjuster, an attorney representing the insurance company, an arbitrator, or if necessary, to a jury in a trial.
Keep in mind too, that an experienced personal injury lawyer will have pre-existing relationships with many other lawyers and with insurance adjusters, which in turn will help facilitate negotiations and speed the resolutions of a claim.
At what point should I consult a lawyer?
As soon as you possibly can. There could be a statute of limitations. You would not want to let that time limit run out and find yourself unable to make a claim. And besides that, the sooner information-gathering is started, the easier it is to do, and the quicker it can be done. People move, they forget, they die or become incapacitated, life happens. So the sooner you consult an attorney, the better your chances are of obtaining the full compensation owing to you.
How should I choose a lawyer?
- Look for one who has long experience in the area of your concern. There should be a proven record of successfully prosecuted cases that are similar to yours and also a record of successful negotiations.
- When talking to possible attorneys, notice whether that person has time for you. Do they listen, consider what you say, take time to explain the relevant legal terms and concepts, explain what they think you're entitled to, and why?
- Choose a person with whom you feel comfortable, and whom you feel you can trust. You'll be interacting quite a bit with this person and entrusting a significant aspect of your life to their care.
At Hull & Zimmerman we'll give you a free personal injury consultation and will answer all your questions to help you understand your situation from a legal perspective. We'll look at the facts, assess your situation, and explain legal terms. If you choose to retain us, we'll assign whatever resources are needed to bring your case to a successful conclusion. At all stages of the process, we'll be available to explain and answer your further questions.
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Greater Denver metro area and Colorado Personal Injury Lawyers.
Hull and Zimmerman, P.C.
2921 W. 120th Ave., Ste 220
Westminster, Colorado 80234
Phone: 303-423-1770
Fax: 303-423-2102
Toll Free: 1-866-385-3505
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