Legal Question in Personal Injury in California
Auto Accident
I was rear ended about a month ago.
I was driving a friends truck at the
time and sustained substantial
injuries. The police report states that
the other party was at fault and that
she was going at least 35 MPH. (The
lady that hit me was taken to the
hospital complaining of chest pain). I
have been seeing a chiropractor 2-3
days a week since the accident and
have been unable to participate in
my extra cirricular activities. At this
point I have not heard anything from
the at fault party's insurance. My
question is 2-part: 1) Should I have
heard from her insurance by now? 2)
My father thinks I should be talking
to an attorney already. Is that
correct? At what point should I
began to talk to an attorney, and
what is a typical fee for an attorney?
3 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Auto Accident
1 - You should have, but do not be surprised if you do not hear from them. Most insurance companies have internal standards requiring contact in 15 days, but you don't know if the other person has reported this to their insurance company.
2 - You should get a consultation. The first consultation should be free.
You need to get an education now. You can read more at my blog, www.calpiblog.com. You may also want to get my free reports on insurance and hiring an attorney by emailing [email protected]
Re: Auto Accident
Yes, you should hire an attorney, because your full-time job should be getting better, not chasing an insurance company that has no interest in dealing with you. The longer you wait, the weaker your case will be when you eventually do approach someone.
My consultations are free, and can be submitted online through my website: www.stone-molloy.com. My fees are posted there as well, and they're very much the standard for this kind of law.
Re: Auto Accident
If the other driver reported the accident to her insurer, you should have heard from the carrier by now. If she hasn't reported it, that would explain the delay. Assuming that you have her policy information and/or agent name, you can report the accident and make a claim directly.
Talking to a lawyer is an option, not a requirement. If you have difficulty initiating the claim, counsel can help.
The standard "fee" is a % of your ultimate recovery which will vary from attorney to attorney. A 1st consultation should be free.
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