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What Can I Expect When I Call Lewis & Daggett?
When you first call our office, a lawyer, legal assistant, paralegal, or intake specialist will ask you for basic contact information as well as what happened, what your injuries are, who was at fault, was there a police report, did you contact the insurance company and other such questions. Based on your answers, he or she will make an initial assessment of your case and suggest the next step. If that step includes a face to face meeting, one will be scheduled in our office, at your home, or if you are still hospitalized, in your hospital room. We do our best to accommodate the injury victim in whatever way works best for him or her.
The Initial Meeting
During the initial meeting we will ask you questions to better understand the accident and your injuries. We understand that meeting with a lawyer can be a scary thing and we make every effort to minimize the anxiety that may be associated with such a meeting.
Once the details of the accident and your injuries are discussed, the lawyer will probably discuss the fee agreement with you. Like most personal injury lawyers, Lewis & Daggett works on what is called a contingency fee basis. This means that we don’t get paid unless you do. The Fee Agreement will stipulate that the lawyer will receive a percentage of the total fees. That percentage may vary based on a variety of factors such as the severity of the case, whether or not the matter goes to court and what state the accident occurred in. The agreement will state a percentage of recovery that the law firm will receive, assuming a recovery is achieved. The usual range of the fee percentage on a car accident case is anywhere from 33% to 40%.
At this meeting you may also be given a Release of Medical Records to sign. This Release will authorize your lawyer to obtain your medical records and medical test results.
What is the Next Step?
Once we enter into an agreement we will mobilize our staff to obtain copies of your medical records, doctor’s notes and medical test results, along with a copy of the accident report and any insurance information and statements they have recorded.
All of this takes time. At our firm we assign someone to communicate with you regularly during this time and you will hear from us often. We believe you deserve to know what is happening in your case.
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“It seemed as if you really cared that this thing happened to me and realized I was completely innocent. They were so nice and sympathetic on the first call unlike any one else I called.”
Allison T., Winston-Salem, NC
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What Else Do I Need to Know?
People With Lawyers Get More Money
Based upon insurance company research, people who have lawyers receive larger settlements. Of course, we cannot guarantee any results in your case; nor can past results predict whether there will be any recovery, or the amount of any recovery in your case.
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“When I was at my mediation, we got to a point where the insurance company ran out of money. My lawyer advised me to hold out, but I was ready to get this over with and said I would take what they had offered. When my lawyer came back in, he had gotten another $1,000 on top of the amount I was ready to take.”
Joshua G., Jamestown, NC
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What if the Defendant is a Friend or Relative
We do not take money away from friends or relatives. We collect settlements for our clients from insurance companies. If the defendant in your case is your best friend or someone you know, give us a call. We have handled many similar cases. If you are concerned about this kind of problem, call and talk with us about it.
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“They made me feel like I was doing the right thing. You have a great reputation and I was treated so nicely during this whole process. I never thought I would have to sue anyone and was very anxious. Both my attorneys encouraged me to take care of myself; get second opinions from doctors; and get regular checkups. These are things I had not thought about.”
Cynthia P., Greensboro, NC
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Will I Have to Go to Court?
Most likely, NO! Most cases are settled without the client setting foot in the courtroom. Hard work combined with knowledge, skill and perseverance often results in favorable resolution of cases without actually having to go to court. But, we are ready, willing, and able if we need to go!
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“Because you got the job done and we didn’t even have to have a hearing. Thank you!”
Brenda T., Lexington, NC
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A Word on Contributory Negligence
North Carolina is one of only a handful of states which still follow a rule of law called contributory negligence. Under this law, if the defendant can prove that the injured party was negligent in any way in causing the accident, the injured party recovers zero. This defense is frequently used in North Carolina to defeat or reduce the value of a claim. If you have a question about how this law may affect your claim, give our office a call.
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