I was injured in an accident and I want to hire David S. Kottler, how much will it cost me?
You won't pay any legal fees until I recover for you. In many cases, I
will pay the costs of pursuing your case until it is resolved and then
get reimbursed. I also offer my clients a satisfaction guarantee - if you're not 100% satisfied with any recovery I negotiate on your behalf, you won't pay any legal fees whatsoever.
Do I need to hire an injury lawyer?
No, you can always try to represent yourself. However, personal injury
and insurance law is complex and injuries frequently end up being more
severe than they appear at first. If you want me to evaluate your case
for free, I'll also give you a few free pointers if you decide to try
handling your case yourself.
What is my case worth?
It depends. Generally, the more serious your injury, the more an
insurance company will pay to compensate you. Other factors that will
affect the value of your case include the extent to which the injury
impacts your life style and whether or not the injury is likely to be
chronic or permanent. My job is to make sure that you are compensated
fully for all expenses, lost income, and your pain and suffering caused
by someone else's negligence.
Is there a time limit for pursuing a personal injury claim?
Yes. The statute of limitations for most types of personal injury
actions in the State of Utah is four years from the date of the injury.
However, in some cases (such as wrongful death), the statute of
limitations is only two years. There are exceptions, and the time
limit might be shorter in certain circumstances. Additionally, many
cases become more
difficult to pursue as time goes by, even if the limitations period has
not expired. To avoid these problems, we recommend contacting an
attorney as soon as you can after an accident.
If I make a claim for my injuries, will I have to go to court?
I can usually obtain a full and fair settlement for my clients without
the necessity of a full-blown trial. However, from the moment you walk
through my door, my mindset is to get ready for trial. This means that
my investigators and I will begin gathering evidence right away and I
will talk to you about how to prepare for trial as well. This type of
preparation is the only way to assure that the insurance company will
be willing to settle your claim for all you are entitled to receive.
What happens if I have a severe injury and the person at fault does not have sufficient insurance coverage?
In many cases, there is more than one avenue for recovery. If the
person at fault was working at the time of the accident, his or her
employer (or the employer's insurance company) might also be
responsible to pay. Sometimes, the responsible party has additional
insurance coverage such as an umbrella policy. There may also be more
than one person at fault or other theories of recovery.
Can I still recover against someone else if I was partly responsible for the accident?
Yes. Under Utah's Comparative Negligence Statute (Utah Code Ann. ยง
78B-5-818), an injured party can recover against someone else who was
"more" at fault in the accident. For example, if you were 25% at fault
and the other person was 75% at fault, you can still recover 75% of
your medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
I was injured in an accident and filed a claim with other
person's insurance company. Now the insurance adjuster wants to record
my statement and have me examined by their doctor. Should I do it?
NO! The insurance adjuster's job is to settle claims for as little as
possible. They want to record your statement and have you examined by
their doctor because they think it will help them, not you. They are
professionals and you deserve to have a professional on your side too.
Call me at 888.875-4529 or
click here for a free consultation.