Best Consumer Protection Lawyers in Cupertino, CA

Negotiating a settlement for your own personal injury case directly with the insurance company is extremely difficult. Though some have done it, the results are seldom good. You will be pitting your negotiating skills against a professional insurance adjuster whose job it is to settle for the least amount of money the company can get away with. Adjusters do this every day, whereas most accident victims are only in this situation once in a lifetime. So although you do not have to hire a lawyer, it is highly recommended. You will probably end up with substantially more in your pocket if you do.

The United States Internal Revenue Service states that such settlements are NOT taxable. The portion of your settlement that was set aside for loss of earnings is taxable, though.

Personal Injury lawyers typically work on a contingency fee basis. This means that the lawyer works without cost to you until the case is resolved and there is a verdict or settlement. If the lawyer does not win money for you, you owe no attorneys fees.

It is hard to give an estimate of how long any case will take before it has started. Typically, the more severe the injuries and the longer the time you need to recover, the longer the case will take. Some minor cases take as little as three to six months. Other can go on for several years, depending on the length of time you remain under treatment, whether many motions are required, the availability of the court for trial, and the schedules of expert witnesses. Most injury cases are resolved within six to fifteen months.

You will generally be able to recover only for your medical bills and lost income. You will not be able to recover anything for pain, suffering, or emotional distress.