Q. Will I be charged to come in to your firm the first time to talk to an attorney about the possibility of representing me if I have been injured?

A. No. We offer a free, first-time consultation for all injury cases.

Q. How do I know if I have a case?

A. By consulting with an attorney who has handled your type of matter before.

Q. If I was injured in an accident, how do I legally prove how it happened?

A. Negotiations with an insurance company take place in letters and on the phone with an insurance adjuster, not in a courtroom with lawyers. So you do not need legally perfect "proof" of anything. You just need to make a reasonable argument - in plain language - that the other person (or company) was careless, even if there are also plausible arguments on the other side. If you make a good argument why the other person was at fault, the adjuster will realize that if the matter ever wound up in court, there is a good possibility that its insured person would be found legally responsible. Companies usually prefer to pay a reasonable claim settlement sooner, rather than risk having to later pay not only for your injuries, but also court costs and lawyer fees.

Q. Can I get compensation if an accident might have been partly my fault?

A. Even if you might have partly caused an accident yourself, you can still receive compensation from anyone else who has careless and partly caused the accident. The amount of another person's responsibility is determined by comparing his or her carelessness with your own. For example, if you were 25% at fault and the other person was 75% at fault, the other person must pay - through the insurance company - 75% of the fair compensation for your injuries. This rule is called "comparative negligence." A few states supposedly bar you from any compensation if your own carelessness substantially contributed to the accident ("contributory negligence"). But in practice, the question of whether your carelessness actually contributed to the accident is a point to negotiate with the adjuster. There is no formula for assigning a percentage to your and the other person's carelessness. During claim negotiations, you will come up with one number; the adjuster will come up with another, and explain why you bear greater responsibility for the accident. The different percentages you each arrive at then simply go into the negotiating hopper with all the other factors that determine how much a claim is worth.

Q. What if my physical limitations made the accident more likely or made my injuries worse?

A. What if you have a bad knee, which makes one leg a bit unsteady? Or if your eyesight, even with glasses, is not very strong? If you fall on a broken stair, are you still entitled to compensation even though someone with stronger legs or better eyesight might not have fallen? Absolutely. All people, regardless of physical ability, have a legal right to make their way through the world without unnecessary danger. Owners and occupants of property must permit no unnecessary danger to any person who might reasonably be expected to be on the property. The same goes for drivers and everyone else - they must not create unnecessary danger to anyone whose path they might cross.

Q. I have just been in an automobile accident. What is the first thing I should do?

A. If you are injured in an accident, it is important to seek treatment immediately. Sometimes serious injuries do not cause immediate pain. If you experience even minor pain after an accident, seek treatment immediately. Remember to obtain the name, address, license number and insurance information from the other drivers involved.

Q. Should I give a statement or tell my version of what happened to anyone?

A. No. You should always consult with an attorney first. Seemingly harmless statements made by you may have adverse legal consequences to your claim. Your lawyer can review the facts with you to ensure that your statement is clear and factually correct. If necessary, your lawyer can help you fill out any required accident reports and insurance claim forms. You will be asked at some point to provide your version of the accident, often by police if they are called to the scene. Most, if not all states, will require you to file an accident report with the Department of Motor Vehicles. Your insurance company and the other driver's insurance company will also want your version of the accident.

Q. Do you handle cases outside of the State of Idaho?

A. Yes, but the law requires that we associate, or work with, an attorney licensed to practice law in states outside of Idaho. We have numerous attorneys with whom we regularly associate.

Q. Should I sign a Release?

A. No. You should always consult with an attorney first. If you sign a Release without learning all of your rights from your own attorney, you will not likely be able to pursue your claim.

Q. Should I settle my claim?

A. No. You should always consult with an attorney first so that he/she can advise you of all of your legal rights and remedies and realistically evaluate your claim. If you agree to settle your claim without learning all of your rights from your own attorney, you will not likely be able to pursue your claim.

Q. What is a contingency fee?

A. In a case where the attorney has agreed to handle your matter for a contingency fee, the attorney collects a fee only if and when a monetary settlement or verdict has been achieved on behalf of the client. If no award is obtained, the attorney does not collect a fee for his services.

Q. What are costs?

A. Costs mean "out-of-pocket" expenses, or items other than attorney fees that must be paid during the course of a person's case. Costs include such items as copying charges and court filing fees.

Q. If the attorney takes my case on a contingency fee basis, will I be responsible to pay for the costs incurred in my case?

A. Yes.

Q. How do insurance companies decide how much they will pay to compensate someone for an injury?

A. Insurance companies and lawyers use a formula to calculate a range of compensation for an injury. The final payment figure, though, is the result of negotiations with the injured person. The formula is no secret. In general, an injured person will be reimbursed for:

Medical care

• Lost income, temporary, permanent pain and other physical discomfort
• Loss of family, social and educational experiences

A claims adjuster begins with the medical expenses. Then the intangibles - pain and other non-economic losses - are added in by multiplying the medical expenses by lower percentages if the injuries are relatively minor, and higher percentages if the injuries are more significant. The multiplier can go still higher if the injuries are particularly painful, serious or long-lasting. Finally, lost income is added to that amount. Several factors raise the damages formula from the lower multiplier to the higher multiplier: more painful, serious or long-lasting injuries, more invasive or long-lasting medical treatment, clearer medical evidence of extent of injuries, more obvious evidence of the other person's fault and less of your fault.

Q. Will my health insurance coverage or paid sick leave from work limit my compensation for an accident?

A. Whether you paid for medical care out of your own pocket or your health insurance covered it is none of a claims adjuster's business. The same goes for whether your lost time at work was covered by sick leave or vacation pay. In fact, it is improper for an adjuster even to ask about such payments. You paid for your health insurance and earned your sick leave or vacation pay; now the insurance for the person who caused the accident has to pay. Your own health insurance, however, may require that, out of your settlement, you reimburse it for some or all of the amounts it has paid to treat your injuries.

Q. If I have been injured, who will pay my medical bills?

A. Most, if not all states require drivers to carry automobile insurance. Most insurance policies have "no fault" coverage, meaning that your insurance company will pay your medical bills regardless of who is at fault. If you have health insurance, you may also get coverage under your health policy. Most health care providers will have different billing procedures depending on whether your treatment is being covered by your auto or health insurer.

Q. Who will pay for the damage to my car?

A. If you have purchased collision insurance, your insurance company will pay to have your car fixed or will pay you the value of the vehicle in a total loss. If you are not at fault in the accident, your insurance company will seek to be reimbursed by the insurer of the driver at fault. If you do not have collision and you are not at fault, the insurer of the driver at fault will pay for your property damage.

Q. Can I get money for my lost wages and pain and suffering?

A. Most insurers will pay lost wages upon proper proof of the loss. However, many states have imposed limits on the ability of injured person to recover for pain and suffering.

Q. If I decide to sue, will I have to go to court?

A. Most car accident cases settle out of court. In many cases, it is clear who was at fault in the accident. Upon proper proof of damages and medical documentation, insurance companies will settle the claim without the need for filing a lawsuit or having a trial. However, in some cases, the insurance company may deny liability on a claim and a lawsuit will be necessary.

Q. What happens in a lawsuit?

A. A lawsuit begins by filing a complaint. The person filing the complaint is called the plaintiff and the person against whom the complaint is filed is called the defendant. The defendant must file an answer addressing the allegations contained in the complaint and must raise any defenses the defendant may have. The defendant's insurance company will hire an attorney to represent the defendant and will pay any damages, up to the policy limits, that the plaintiff recovers in the lawsuit.

Q. What happens next?

A. The defendant may submit written questions to you to be answered under oath and may ask you to provide documents. Your attorney will assist you in the preparation of these materials. You may also be called for a deposition where the defendant's attorney will ask you a series of questions before a stenographer. Your attorney will help you prepare for the deposition and will attend the deposition with you. Your attorney will also object to any improper questions asked during the deposition. Your lawyer will also likely submit questions to the defendant, request documents from the defendant and conduct the deposition of the defendant. Witnesses to the accident may also be called in for depositions, but this is not usually done in small cases.

Q. What happens at trial?

A. If the case goes to trial, the plaintiff goes first and presents his or her witnesses, documents and any other evidence which helps prove the plaintiff's case. The defendant then puts on his or her witnesses, documents and any other evidence in defense. The case is then presented to the judge or jury, who decides who wins and, if the plaintiff wins, the judge or jury decides how much money the plaintiff gets.

Q. If I receive other benefits such as health insurance as a result of the accident, will I have to repay those benefits from my settlement?

A. Yes. Your health insurer can file a lien on your case, in which case you will be required to pay these liens from your settlement. Your attorney can help to negotiate these liens and most insurers will be reasonable in negotiating the liens.

Aherin, Rice & Anegon

1212 Idaho Street
P.O. Drawer 698
Lewiston, Idaho 83501
Telephone: (208) 746-3646
Fax: (208) 746-3650
Email: ara@aralawoffice.com