Personal Injury Lawyers in Houston TX | O'Hara Law Firm

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FAQ's

Contents

Q:

When should I contact a lawyer?

A:

If you have been injured and the injury might have been caused by negligence, you should speak to an attorney that specializes in personal injury. When only physical property is damaged and there is no injury, most people are able to resolve the claim on their own. When a person is injured, a personal injury attorney can help recover compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, disfigurement, impairment and lost wages. An experience personal injury attorney at times may also help an injured person without health insurance locate a doctor that will treat a patient that does not carry health insurance. You should speak to an attorney before giving a statement to an insurance adjustor.

Q:

What does an attorney charge for services?

A:

A personal injury attorney will not charge an hourly rate for his services because most people cannot afford to pay upfront. Personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, so the attorney is only paid if he is able to procure payment for the claim. The attorney receives a percentage of the settlement as payment for services. Under this scenario, the client does not have to pay the attorney anything if they are unable to recover compensation for the injury. In other words, if the case is lost, the client does not owe the attorney anything for his services.

Q:

How much is my case worth?

A:

The value of a case is dependent upon multiple factors:

  • The severity of the injuries;
  • The amount of medical bills;
  • The amount of lost wages;
  • The length of time it takes to recover from the injuries;
  • The degree of fault of the person who caused the injuries;
  • The amount of pain and suffering; and
  • The jurisdiction where the claim may be filed.

An attorney cannot give an exact estimate for the value of case. Many of the components of the claim will not be known until after the client finishes treatment and the attorney has finished building the case.

Q:

How long will it take to settle my case?

A:

Insurance companies typically will not settle a claim until after the injured person has finished treatment. If we are able to resolve the claim without filing a lawsuit, the claim can usually be settled within a few months after medical treatment has concluded. If the insurance adjustor refuses to offer a reasonable amount to settle, we must file a lawsuit on behalf of the client. Most lawsuits settle out of court, but it may take several years to resolve the lawsuit.

Q:

When is the deadline to make a claim or file a lawsuit?

A:

The deadline to file a lawsuit in Texas is two years from the date of the accident for most types of cases. In some instances, notices of claims must be given to the responsible party prior to filing the lawsuit. If you have a claim against a government entity, you may have only a few months to provide a notice of a claim to the government in order to keep your right to pursue a claim for compensation.

Q:

What types of cases does the O’Hara Law Firm handle?

A:

We specialize in representing clients who have been catastrophically injured as the result of someone else’s negligence. Attorney Patrick O’Hara has experience representing clients in a variety of cases including:

Car Accident Attorney Houston, TX