COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS:

I Can’t Afford an Attorney

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, or because of another individual’s negligence, you deserve to be compensated for your harms.  Personal injury lawyers usually work on a “contingency fee” basis, meaning their fee is dependent on a favorable outcome for the client. Contingency fees make it affordable for injured victims to obtain experienced legal help. Contingency fees also create an incentive for lawyers to only take cases that have merit, otherwise, they will do all of their work for no compensation if they lose. The Law Office of Shawn Athari will ensure that you won’t pay anything out of pocket and that if you don’t win your case, you don’t owe anything at all.

The amount of your contingency fee will usually depend on whether your case gets settled before or after filing a lawsuit.  Generally, this fee will vary between 33.3% (1/3) or 40% dependent on whether your case needs to be litigated, or if a settlement can be reached without litigation.

Lawyers have an incentive to maximize your financial recovery because doing so will increase the amount of money they receive.  Studies show that you get 3 1/2 times more money in a settlement if you hire an attorney.

No Consultation Fees

Since we don’t charge any consultation fees, you won’t have to worry about legal fees piling up. Our skilled professionals will spend time talking with you, answer any of your questions, and walk you through the process step by step providing you with the knowledge you need before you even hire us.  This is all a part of our FREE, no obligation, consultation.

Proven Track Record

We vigorously fight for each and every client and are advocates for those who have been injured. Utilizing an intricate network of highly qualified medical, legal, and forensic experts, we bring the stories of our clients to light.

We Don’t Get Paid Unless You Win

Our team works diligently to ensure that personal attention is given to our clients. Because we work off a 100% contingency basis, we don’t accept every case that comes into our office.  Through our free consultation process we screen each and every case so that we can ensure a successful outcome.

We Advise You on Your Rights

As a premier law firm, we will advise you on what to do and more importantly, what not to do after you’ve been in an accident. Our team of legal professionals will spend the time assessing your unique situation and ask the relevant questions about your case so that we can properly advise you on the next steps.

Offer Legal Advice

Since our team is trained and experienced, we will examine your case, and provide you with the best legal advice. With the right lawyer, you can ensure that you have the evidence you need to prove the defendant is responsible for your injuries, and you can maximize your compensation by offering a compelling testimony of economic and non-economic losses.

Thoroughly Investigate Your Case

Our experienced team works together to exceed client expectations while providing uncompromising results. Going above and beyond to gather the necessary evidence to establish liability in your favor is common practice for us. Our goal is bringing the stories of our clients to light and advocating for justice until it’s been served.

Getting You Medical Treatment

Your health is our top priority. Our mission is to get you all the medical treatment you need in order to put your health back to where it was prior to your accident. We will work diligently with medical providers to provide you with top care when it comes to your treatment.

Calculating Your Damages

Once you are done with treatment, we will assess the extent of your injuries and calculate the total value of all the damages. We will fight on your behalf to make sure that you are not only compensated for your pain and suffering, but also for the inconvenience and strain it has caused to your life.

Filing A Lawsuit and Litigating Your Case

If negotiations fail, we will prepare a lawsuit with the required information, documentation, and evidence necessary. We will then represent you by appearing at each hearing and advocating for your self-interest until a settlement is reached.  We will not settle for low ball offers from insurance companies.  Our team is dedicated to getting you what you are owed, and prepared to fight on your behalf to get it!

Settling Your Case and Negotiating All Medical Liens

After obtaining a settlement, we will negotiate each and every medical lien down so we can get more money put back into your pockets. This means evaluating every bill and getting in touch with each provider to negotiate that bill down. Our goal is to reduce all costs and expenses so that we can maximize your compensation.

We Maximize Your Compensation for Your Damages

Compensation is money awarded to accident victims as restitution for injuries or any money lost due to the accident. Without a lawyer, it is up to you to convince an insurance company, or a jury, that you deserve the compensation you are demanding. Studies show that you get 3 1/2 times more money in a settlement if you hire an attorney. The money you can recover is generally divided into three groups:

• Economic damages
• Non-economic damages
• Punitive damages

Economic damages cover the costs that have a direct and easily identifiable monetary value. The purpose of compensation for economic damages is to directly replace the money that was lost or will be lost in the future.

Economic Damages:

Medical expenses

This can also apply to ongoing medical care for your injuries.

Lost income

This is money you lost because you were unable to work due to your injuries.

Lost earning potential

If you cannot return to work or can only return in a diminished capacity as a result of your injuries.

Property damage

This applies to your vehicle or other personal property that was damaged or destroyed in the incident.

Other expenses

Any other out-of-pocket expenses that you incurred because your injuries prevented you from regular activities, such as childcare or housekeeping.

Non-Economic Damages:

Generally, non-economic damages will make up the largest portion of your compensation.  This is your “pain and suffering” and is far more difficult to quantify. Appropriate compensation for these costs is tough to measure because the losses are priceless. Common non-economic damages may include:

Pain and suffering

Your injuries caused you physical and emotional distress.

Disfigurement or scarring

Your appearance has been permanently altered in some way because of your injuries.

Loss of consortium

Your injuries negatively impacted your ability to have an intimate relationship with your spouse.

Punitive Damages:

Unlike the above damages, punitive damages are not meant as compensation for the victim for any loss they have suffered. Instead, these damages are designed to punish the responsible party. Punitive damages are only awarded when the actions of the liable party are deemed to have been particularly malicious.

What a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Do for You

By hiring an experienced and reputable personal injury law firm with a history of getting positive results, you can take the pressure off yourself and focus on recovering from your accident in peace. Some additional tasks an attorney can help you with include:

Collecting evidence

An attorney can comb through all available evidence, including medical records, police reports, surveillance footage and even your vehicles EDR data to substantiate your claims.

Defining the damages for which you qualify

An attorney will verify that you ask for appropriate dollar amounts and that you do not forget to ask for money you are entitled to collect. We make sure to get you full value of your claim, and to not settle for the first offer that the insurance company gives. An experienced attorney will make sure that you’re not leaving any money on the table.

Filing your lawsuit

Your attorney can take care of the paperwork and communications associated with your case. Lawsuits are costly, these costs can include but are not limited to: Filing fees, police reports, expert witness fees, medical records, court reporters, trial exhibits, and postage and copying charges.

Meeting with the insurance company

Your attorney can advise you on how to approach a settlement offer from an insurance company. Our experience professionals do this on a daily basis, so we can walk you through what other legal measures may be necessary if an agreement cannot be reached.

Representing you in court

If you do not settle your case, our firm may take your case to mediation, arbitration, or court and schedule a trial.

Contact Us Today

If you’ve been injured because of another party’s reckless or negligent actions, a personal injury lawyer may be able to help. While not all injuries require the assistance of a lawyer, one call for a free consultation can be the difference between you getting what you are owed or having to settle for a low-ball offer.

At the Law Office of Shawn Athari, we believe that everyone needs justice after a serious accident. Essentially, we will help you seek compensation for injuries, pain, suffering, and other losses to avoid further hardships. Besides collecting millions for our clients, we strive to get their lives back to normal.

To find out more about what a personal injury attorney does for your case, it’s best to schedule an appointment with us and discuss the details of your specific situation. At our law firm, consultations are always free. We also don’t charge anything upfront. We stand by our no fee unless we win guarantee.