Frequently Asked Questions
Additional Important Information
for Injury Victims
Who
is responsible for repairing my car
after a crash?
 Ultimately, it the person at fault
in a car crash who must pay. Many insurance
companies will repair or replace your
car before your injury case is resolved.
If they refuse and your insurance
policy has collision coverage, you
may choose to make a claim under your
own insurance policy instead of waiting
for the end of your lawsuit.
You will
have to pay your deductible amount
up front, and collect that amount from
the wrongdoer at the end of your claim.
Do I collect for the medical bills
that my health insurance pays? My time
off from work?
Your health
insurance is a benefit to you, not
someone who injures you! By law, you
are allowed to recover for the cost
of your medical care, even if your
health insurance has paid for it already.
This isn't cheating- you have a limited
amount of benefits under most health
insurance plans, and you should not
be forced to "spend" those
benefits because of another's fault.
Some health insurance plans will seek
reimbursement from you if you win your
case. Your attorney should help you
minimize this amount, if reimbursement
is allowed at all.
Do
I collect for missed work, even if
I am covered by a sick leave plan?
Like health insurance, sick leave
is a benefit to you, not someone who
injures you. If you are forced to use
your vacation or sick leave time due
to another's fault, you are allowed
to recover these losses.
Are pictures important?
YES! A picture is worth a thousand words,
and is priceless in an injury claim.
Photos of your smashed car tell the
story of the impact. Photos of the
place where you were injured give color
to the story of your injury.
When a
defective product can not be preserved,
photographs may keep your case from
being thrown out of court.
What happens if I am hurt at work?
 Work related injuries are typically
controlled by Workers' Compensation
law. Under Workers' Compensation law,
the case proceeds in front of a judge,
rather than a jury.
You are entitled
to medical treatment, a portion of
your wages while you are unable to
work, and a final amount for the disability
from your injury. Disability, under
Workers' Compensation law, does not
necessarily mean complete disability.
If you work for the railroad, on a
riverboat, or are hurt through the
fault of someone other than your employer,
including a fellow employee, Workers'
Compensation law may not be your only
remedy.
Contact
us for a free consultation if you are hurt at on the job. There
is no fee unless we collect for you.
Should I "disturb" my lawyer
with calls and letters?
The relationship between you and your
lawyer is a confidential and professional
one. Many clients are concerned that
an e-mail, letter or call to their
attorney is unwelcome. Nothing could
be farther from the truth.
The S.E.
Farris Law Firm is
committed to providing you with personal
service, which requires prompt communication.
Should we be in trial or away from
the office, the response might be delayed,
but we do attempt
to return all client calls and mail.
Will
I have to go to trial?
Probably not- most lawsuits settle
out of court. In order to recover all
of your damages, however, it is necessary
that we fully prepare your
case for trial. No insurance
company will pay the full value of
your claim if they think you are not
going to win at trial. Injury victims
who don’t hire experienced trial
attorneys learn this lesson too late!
It has been our experience that while
most cases are settled without trial, no
injury victim is fully compensated
unless they are prepared to go to trial.
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