Personal Injury FAQ (pg 1 of 2)

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about personal injury cases:

What do you mean by "personal injury"? What sorts of cases does this include?

"Personal injury" is a broad term that means any kind of accident or occurrence that leads to bodily injury. Here are some examples:

        -car and truck accidents

        -medical malpractice

        -mesothelioma/asbestos cases

        -products liability (injury from a defective product),

        -injury from defective medicines (e.g., Vioxx)

        -wrongful death cases

        -Jones Act cases for barge workers

        -FELA cases for railroad workers

How much do you charge for a personal injury case?

We charge on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you will not pay us anything unless there is a settlement or a winning verdict at trial. Typically, when we win your case, our fee is one-third or 33.3% of the total recovery, in addition to "case costs." For some complex types of cases, we charge 40%.

What are case costs?

Case costs are money that we pay out to others in order to get your case ready for trial. Examples would be the filing fee required by the court and expenses for depositions and experts. Case costs vary depending on the complexity of the case, but we always have an up-to-date balance available if you want it.

Remember that if we do not recover anything for you, you do not have to pay back the case costs to us. This is not true of all law firms, so make sure you understand what other firms might propose to you. Of course, we will be happy to answer any of your questions about fees or costs before you decide to hire us.

How much is my case worth, and will you guarantee success?

The "value" of your case depends on many factors, such as the extent of your injury, the amount of your medical bills, and your condition after you have finished treating. The calculation also involves the ability of the other party to pay a judgment, and whether you played any role in causing the accident.

We will not take your case unless we think it has a good chance of success. Even so, there are no guarantees. All we can do is give you a fair assessment of the outcome of your case based on our experience, the injury itself, and what jury verdicts have been achieved in cases similar to yours.

Go to Page 2 of the Personal Injury FAQ.

Free Consultations

Call us about serious injury cases, class actions, and workers' compensation.

Injury case? No fee if no recovery.

Call us at (618) 467-8200. Or email us at eschaeffer -at- riverbendlaw.com.