When the terminology “trial lawyer” is used, it can apply to an Injury Lawyer in Rapid City SD. This attorney is ready to litigate cases if insurance companies are unwilling to pay a reasonable settlement to injured clients. Fortunately, however, a vast majority of personal injury cases never proceed to court. The reason this is fortunate is because the client then receives compensation relatively quickly, whereas preparing for trial tends to be a long, drawn-out process that can last many months.
Although personal injury cases usually are never heard by a judge or jury, having skilled legal representation often is still advisable. Insurance companies are more likely to offer reasonable compensation when an attorney is involved. Lawyers know the usual amounts insurers pay for certain types of injury and specific situations, whereas citizens without legal training do not. An injured person may suspect that a settlement offer is too low but not have any data to base that suspicion on. An Injury Lawyer in Rapid City SD uses statistical analysis to make the determination and then has a solid basis to make a counter-offer.
Another advantage of having an attorney handle the case is that it reduces stress and gives the injured person time to deal with other issues. This individual no longer has to worry about obtaining a settlement or wonder how to convince the insurer to pay a more reasonable amount. The lawyer manages all aspects of the case while the client can focus on recovering.
The client can call the lawyer with questions at any time. Because injury cases are usually handled on a contingency basis, lawyers don’t charge hourly fees for the discussion. Instead, the client eventually pays the law firm a certain percentage of the settlement received. That percentage that has been agreed on ahead of time.
An attorney with a firm such as Gunderson Palmer begins by meeting with the potential client in person or having a discussion by phone. Once this individual signs a contract with the law firm, the attorney gets to work providing aggressive legal representation. The goal typically is to obtain the money the plaintiff deserves while avoiding the time-consuming hassle of going to trial.
