PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY SERVING SAVANNAH, GA
If you are just gathering information and not ready to come into a law firm yet, we understand. Our YouTube channel has videos to help you learn more. We’ve also compiled the following answers to the most frequently asked questions we receive from personal injury victims in Savannah.
HOW MUCH DOES A SAVANNAH PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY COST?
Most Savannah personal injury attorneys charge a contingency fee. A contingency fee means that the attorneys are paid a percentage of what the client recovers in the case instead of an hourly fee.
Williams Elleby Howard & Easter takes personal injury cases on a contingency fee. There is no upfront cost to retain Williams Elleby Howard & Easter. We do not charge our personal injury clients down-payments, retainers, or the costs of the lawsuit upfront. Instead, we advance all the expenses and work on your case without billing you hourly for it.
If we obtain a monetary recovery for you, we are paid a percentage of the recovery as attorneys’ fees and the costs of the lawsuit are paid back. If you do not receive a monetary recovery, you do not owe us a penny.
MORE INFORMATION ON CONTINGENCY FEE
HOW DO I FIND THE BEST ATTORNEY IN SAVANNAH?
Attorney advertisements are everywhere. They regularly appear on billboards, radio advertisements, TV commercials, and just about anywhere else an advertisement can be placed. But how do you know which attorney is the best one for your Savannah personal injury case? Unfortunately, it’s not an answer you can find in an advertisement because the attorneys pay for those.
You need to do some research, and you’re already off to a great start since you’re here. Start by creating a list of possible law firms, then research each firm by checking their online reviews, looking at their attorneys’ profiles and social media pages, and asking around.
Once you’ve narrowed down the list, meet with the lawyers you are still considering. We never agree to take on a client until we meet with them in person, and we recommend that you never agree to retain an attorney until you’ve met with them in person. Why? An in-person meeting allows an attorney and client to get to know each other better, ensure there is mutual trust, and make sure the relationship is a good fit.
Not sure what to ask a lawyer? Start with these example questions, then ask whatever comes to mind during the conversation. Don’t be shy, this is an important decision and you deserve to be fully informed.
- Can you tell me about similar Savannah personal injury cases you’ve handled? You want to make sure your attorney has recent experience with cases similar to yours.
- What is your current case load? Attorneys with too many cases will be spread too thin to give your case the attention it deserves. Attorneys that limit their case load are a good thing.
- How many personal injury cases have you tried? The best personal injury attorneys are capable of going to trial in Savannah if it becomes necessary. Some attorneys have not tried cases or are known by insurance companies to always settle before trial. Those attorneys routinely receive lower settlement offers.
- Which attorney(s) will handle my case? Many law firms have multiple attorneys and often work together as a team on a case. Be wary, some firms accept a case then immediately refer it to a different firm that you have not had the chance to vet.
- Can I have your direct line or cell phone number? Lawyers that give you a direct way to contact them are usually serious about your case.
- What are my odds of success? If your lawyer says you have 100% chance of winning your case, do not hire them. Legal matters are complex and no attorney can guarantee success. The best attorneys are honest about this.
- What do you think the challenges of my case will be? Just like if an attorney tells you that success is guaranteed, if an attorney tells you that there will be no challenges, you should not hire them. Every case has strengths and weaknesses. If a Savannah personal injury attorney tells you there are no weaknesses in your case, they are either not knowledgeable enough in personal injury cases to competently handle your case or they are not being transparent with you. A good attorney will talk you through the problems and their strategy for overcoming them.
- What proportion of your cases comes from referrals from other attorneys? Look for about half of an attorneys’ cases to come from referrals from other attorneys. Other lawyers are good judges of which attorneys are the best because they understand the field.
WHAT IS MY SAVANNAH PERSONAL INJURY CASE WORTH?
You probably want to know about the bottom line to help decide if it is worth getting involved in a lawsuit. A common question we get is “What is my Savannah personal injury case worth?”
We’d love to be able to provide you with a specific number, but we can’t. Savannah personal injury cases can be worth hundreds, thousands, or even millions of dollars. Where your case falls in this range depends on the unique attributes of your case.
How much your case is worth will depend on many things, including the severity of your injuries, the length of your injuries, whether you had underlying medical conditions, how much harm the injury has caused to your life and career, whether you were partially at fault for your injuries, and your lawyer’s capabilities.
Our firm prioritizes getting you the best result possible, and we don’t just say that, we have the track record to prove it.
CAN I SETTLE MY SAVANNAH PERSONAL INJURY CASE WITHOUT FILING A LAWSUIT?
It is possible to settle a Savannah personal injury case without filing a lawsuit. We know that many people do not want to go to court for their personal injury case, so our firm works hard to try to settle cases without a lawsuit. For example, we often send pre-suit demand letters to the insurance company of the person who caused your injury. O.C.G.A. §9-11-67.1. These demands force the insurance company to respond and allow us to determine whether we can obtain a fair settlement without a lawsuit.
Many cases do settle before a lawsuit. Unfortunately in some cases, a fair settlement cannot be obtained without filing a lawsuit. In these cases, we have the experience necessary to file a lawsuit and, if needed, try your Savannah personal injury case in the appropriate Chatham County court.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I HAVE TO FILE A LAWSUIT IN MY SAVANNAH PERSONAL INJURY CASE?
If you need to file a lawsuit for your Savannah personal injury case and don’t already have an attorney, we highly recommend that you try to hire one to file the suit on your behalf. If you have been working with an attorney, they will file the suit for you.
A lawsuit starts with the filing of a Complaint, a formal legal document that states your claims against the defendant(s). After the defendant receives formal notice of the lawsuit, the defendant is allowed 30 days to respond and admit or deny each of your allegations. Their response is called an Answer.
After the Complaint and Answer are exchanged, discovery begins. Discovery is the process by which each party learns about the other party’s positions and the facts of the case. Depositions, requests for production of documents, interrogatories, and requests to admit are some of the key components of the discovery process. The discovery process lasts at least six months under Uniform Superior Court 5.1 but could last longer depending on the complexity of the case.
In most Savannah personal injury cases, the judge will order mediation at the end of discovery in hopes that a settlement can be reached without trial. Mediation is a method of alternative dispute resolution where a disinterested third party serves as a mediator and attempts to help the parties reach an agreement.
Before trial, the defendant(s) may file motions requesting that the case be dismissed in their favor without a trial. Or, less commonly, your attorney may file motions requesting that the court enter a judgment in your favor without the necessity of trail because no reasonable jury could find against you. If none of the pre-trial motions are granted, the case will proceed to trial. Your attorney will guide you through the process.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT ONE OF OUR PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS FOR YOUR SAVANNAH CASE TODAY
If you’ve been injured, contact one of our personal injury attorneys by calling 833-LEGALGA (833-534-2542) to set up a free consultation for your Savannah case. You can also contact us right now by utilizing our 24/7 chat line in the lower right-hand corner of your screen.
