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FAQs

When Do I Need A Lawyer For My Personal Injury Claim?

You do not ALWAYS need a lawyer when you are injured in an accident. The determination of whether it’s necessary really depends on the facts of the accident, the extent of your injury, and your comfort in dealing with an insurance adjuster yourself. For instance, if you are not physically injured, but have sustained property damage, your insurance company will often make repairs to your vehicle very quickly. You may want to wait for the responsible driver’s insurance to repair it, but that is often not as quick. Either way, you may want to pay an attorney to get money which you likely will get for vehicle repairs without the assistance. Likewise, if you have very minimal injury it may not make “economic sense” to have and attorney charge you 33 1/3% - 40 % to get you a settlement which the insurance company will likely make on its own anyway.

I Just Had An Accident But I Don’t Feel Any Pain Now? Should I Go To The Doctor?

If you were involved in an automobile accident, chances are that you should consult with your doctor, at least once, as soon as possible. Our bodies were just not made to sustain a blow by a piece of metal weight thousands of pounds. Many injuries don’t manifest themselves immediately, and a thorough examination my save you years of pain. You may not need to go to the hospital however. Hospitals are generally designed for acute and life threatening injury which need immediate treatment such as bleeding or broken bones. You will not seriously jeopardize any case you may have by going to your primary physician as soon after the accident as possible if you feel a hospital is not necessary.

How Do I Choose My Attorney?

The 3 R’s. Recommendations, Referral & Research. The choice of a lawyer is a very private and personal matter, and therefore friends and family that have your best interests in mind can usually give you the best direction. If you do not know an attorney, there are bar associations and referral services which may help. The need for a lawyer is so prevalent in our society, though, that someone around you has had a, hopefully, positive experience with a member of the bar. That’s a good place to start. The Internet and television may also be places to start your search, but be sure to research carefully. Legal skill is not a criteria for advertising, so get to know the law firm that will represent you.

What is a Private Lawyer?

(Pri-vit) adjective: 1) Of or confined to the individual; personal; 2) Designed or intended for one’s exclusive use. A “private lawyer” is our term for how we describe our relationship with you. We strive to be your private lawyer. Though our attorneys are trained in some specific practice areas, we are here to discuss and identify your needs and goals, and get you the personal result that you want. The truth is that few of life’s issues arise in a vacuum, but rather are caused by or cause wide-ranging effects. Your S.J. Williams Private Lawyer will be your resource to all things legal even if that includes referring you in the right direction.

What is a Trial Lawyer?

There are lots of lawyers, and many even call themselves litigators. But not many of them go to court often and litigate cases. Even if you know or don’t want your case to go to Court, you want an attorney who knows how the system works. An attorney that will litigate a matter will often have a better chance of getting you the best result, or at least be best able to explain the risks and rewards of going to trial. Ask a prospective attorney how many times they have gone to trial in the past month or year. S.J. Williams Law Firm attorney's are TRUE trial attorney. We regularly litigate cases, and are willing to take it all the way for you if the situation justifies it.