Personal Injury

Automobile Accident

An accident, especially when an injury has occurred, can be difficult and frightening. An attorney’s responsiveness, personal attention, and relationship with a client are fundamental. We at Christopher & Page, PA take pride in our ability to justly represent our clients and keep them informed of the progress of their case as it unfolds.

Many personal injury cases we handle result from motor vehicle collisions. These are not often simple and straightforward. Physical, emotional and financial injury may be suffered. Liability (who is at fault) may be disputed, as well as what injuries were actually suffered, and whether the wreck was the cause of the injuries claimed.

The Initial Investigation for Personal Injury Cases

When we take on a new case for a client, the first thing we do is a complete investigation into the circumstances of the crash that caused our client’s injury. This includes interviewing the investigating police officers and witnesses including our client to obtain all of the evidence involved in the liability aspect of the case. This investigation may include taking photographs of the accident scene and the vehicles. While doing this, our firm will also collect all of the available evidence of our client’s injuries and damages. Our paralegals work closely with our attorneys to make sure we obtain all available medical records, bills and employment information to establish lost income. Throughout this process, we communicate with our clients and their doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists and other healthcare providers to monitor their progress in rehabilitation and to obtain all available information and evidence to prove their injuries.

In Personal Injury Cases, Sometimes We Have to Wait

Until a client’s recovery has progressed to the point where the treating physicians can tell us the full nature, extent, severity and duration or our client’s injury, as well as the prognosis (future) of the injury, any thoughts of settling the case would, in most cases, be premature. Until we have this information, which must come from the doctors treating our clients, we cannot determine what fair compensation for our client’s injuries should be. If we cannot make this determination, neither can the insurance company. This sometimes means we have to wait until the doctors can give us the client’s long-term prognosis and tell us what the future holds for our client before attempting to settle a case.

The Personal Injury Settlement Brochure

Once we have compiled all the necessary information pertaining to our client’s damages and injuries, we prepare a settlement brochure. The settlement brochure will be sent to the insurance company that is responsible for paying our client’s claim. It tells them about our client, how the wreck occurred, why the defendant was negligent and why the insurance company is responsible for our client’s injuries. The settlement brochure also informs the insurance company of our client’s injuries, describes the medical treatment that our client received and includes a detailed breakdown of medical bill, wage loss, and any other elements of financial loss or human damages. It concludes with a description of how the injuries have effected and continue to affect our client and a demand for settlement of the case.

Before we send the settlement brochure to the insurance company we consult with our client to make sure we haven’t left anything out, and that everything we have said is accurate. Once the client has approved the settlement brochure it is sent to the insurance company along with copies of all of the supporting documents needed for the insurance company to evaluate the case.

Negotiations with the Insurance Company

Once the insurance company has reviewed the settlement brochure and supporting documents they usually make a settlement offer, which is almost invariably well below our demand. When we receive a settlement offer, a call is placed to the client. In this conversation we will explain the status of the case and the offer, and give the client all of the information and advice needed to decide how to respond. Usually there is a period of time where the attorney will negotiate with the adjustor, notifying the client each time a new offer is made, until a point is reached where the attorney has received the highest amount from the insurer that they will offer. The client and attorney can then examine all the details of the case and decide if a lawsuit is the best course of action. While we will provide all of the necessary information and advice, it is the client’s case and the final decision belongs to the client.

Most Personal Injury Cases Settle

We are able to settle most of our clients’ personal injury cases through negotiations. But while most cases settle, there is no way we can know which will settle and which go to trial. For that reason we prepare every single case we accept for a trial, for the day we begin our representation right up to the day it settles. The process of preparing for trial also prepares us to negotiate a fair settlement. Sometimes the insurance company will not make a fair offer and we have to file suit and begin the litigation process. If the insurance company is still not willing to make a fair offer, we are prepared to take their clients’ cases to trial.

At Christopher & Page, PA we strive to secure the best compensation possible for our clients. “We Make Your Case Our Cause.”