Frequently Asked Questions
Will your credibility as a witness be questioned if there were no witnesses? The answer to that is, quite simply, that the truth always comes out. Whether there’s a witness to the incident or not, we are confident that the person that harmed you and the injuries and/or damages that were caused to you will be made very clear and will eventually be exposed because getting to the truth is what our justice system is about. It’s what we at Cyclistlaw pride ourselves on being able to bring to light.
By bringing a claim, does that necessarily mean that you’re going to have to go to trial? Less than one percent of all cases actually go to the courthouse. Many cases settle on the courthouse steps.
Every case that walks through the doors of our office we treat as though it’s going to trial and you’ll hear us discuss your case in terms of what a jury would do. However that doesn’t mean that we expect your case to go to trial. We plan for that eventuality so that we’re not caught off guard by insurance company tactics. The best preparation is proper planning.
If a case doesn’t settle out of court and goes before a jury or a judge, it’s always imperative that a client be able to speak to the court for themselves about their own case. We spend hours preparing our clients so that they know that they’re ready to go beore not only a judge and a jury, but to take the questions that the defense counsel will want to ask them. If your case goes to trial, you will be prepared.
Some clients are concerned about prior records of past indiscretions or things that may be on their permanent record. They want to know whether or not that would harm their claim. The answer varies.If you were very young and you have a criminal record that might be protected and sealed then it may not be subject to the rules of evidence and may not come into a civil case.
Even if there’s something glaring on your record you have rights in the courthouse just like everybody else.That said, what happens in our jurisprudence is that a person with a past felony conviction may have their veracity put to question by opposing counsel. Having an attorney who knows how to deal with that information is key because our courthouse doors are open to everybody.
Just because you have past indiscretions or have had a problem with the law, it doesn’t mean that you deserved what happened to you. We’ll help you through those questions and the answers, and you will be a prepared for anything the opposing counsel decides to ask.
If you are the person whom the family of the injured has decided is the best to act as guardian or as executor of the estate then you may act on their behalf if it is agreed upon by the next of kin. This is a problem a lot of people face, and prior to being in this situation it’s always great to get the right documentation in place so that that problem can be pre-addressed. We understand that not everybody has that luxury, and we can help you work through that.
Regardless of the nature of your relationship to any individual that’s been harmed, you can always contact us by phone and get a free consultation. If you feel more comfortable coming into the office and speaking with an attorney person-to-person, we’ll make time for you, and we’ll make sure that your questions are answered.
The initial consultation typically happens over the phone. People call us for help following a serious injury incident.
The first phone consultation usually lasts anywhere from 5 to 15, to maybe even 30 minutes. In that consultation, we’ll want to know: Were you injured? Where were you injured? How were you injured? Who was with you at the time you were injured, and who may have witnessed these injuries? If you sought medical attention, where did you go? If you haven’t sought medical attention, why not?
A lot of people have reasons for which they can’t seek medical attention and that’s understandable, but we’ll need to know that.
When you come into the office for the first face-to-face consultation, we’ll go over that same information in greater depth and we’ll take a lot more time. At that point we’ll also explain to you the anatomy of a lawsuit, what you can expect, reasons to get involved in a lawsuit, and perhaps even reasons not to get involved in a lawsuit.
Prior to coming in for your initial interview, we’ll ask you to bring the police report if you have it.
If there’s no police report then you’ll just bring the information provided by the police office at the scene of the crash. If no police officers responded to the crash but you do have witness information, photographs or video, anything that will tell us something about the facts of the case, then bring that.
If it’s just you and what you remember, we can work with that as well. But remember… bring what you can. The more information the better.
Consultation Checklist:
- Any information about the crash
- Police report, if available
- Medical records
- Vehicle information
- Bicycle/motorcycle components, if applicable
- Information about pre-existing injuries
- Any witness information
So you’ve been injured on your bike, motorcycle, or while walking. Or maybe your friend or loved one has been injured in a bike or motorcycle crash, slipped and fell at a place of business, or was hurt in a swimming or boating accident.
If you or someone you love has suffered any of these or any other kind of personal injuries, how do you know whether you have the right to compensation?
How do you know if the party responsible for your injury has been negligent?
In short, how do you know if you have a need for legal representation?
If you’ve been injured then you need to consult with a personal injury attorney. Maybe your significant other saw you get hurt, or you lost some of your wages or vacation time because you had to miss work due to the injuries you sustained. All of these claims are compensable, and you should contact a personal injury attorney right away.
If you’ve suffered physical bodily injury caused by another’s negligence – whether you have sought medical attention as a result of your injuries or not – you are entitled to and in need of a personal injury consultation. No matter how significant your injuries are, you should speak with a personal injury attorney. Any reputable personal injury attorney should offer an initial consultation at no charge to you. Take advantage of this free service to determine whether or not you should pursue litigation.
Cyclist Law offers free consultations in person, by phone, or by Skype to anyone who has been injured in a bicycle or motorcycle crash, swimming or boating incident, as a pedestrian, or any other type of scenario resulting in personal injury. But the truth is we don’t take all cases. We do, however, speak with anyone who needs a free consultation and help personal injury victims evaluate their claims. We help victims of negligence decide whether or not they should involve themselves in personal injury litigation, and the first step in that process is contacting us for a free initial consultation.
Our goal is to make sure our clients are made whole from the harms caused by another’s negligent choices. Let us focus on fighting the parties who caused you harm so that you can focus on healing. So, if you or someone you love has suffered bodily injury, wage loss, or lost time from your vacation due to another’s carelessness, contact us for a free initial consultation. The sooner we evaluate your case, the sooner we can build a strategy to win it.
