F.A.Q.

How do I know if I need a lawyer?

The insurance companies have thousands of employees working against you claim from the moment its made, including inspectors, appraisers, adjusters, consultants and lawyers. Frequently, they contact victims to get authorizations for them to obtain private documents, such as medical records or employment records that are protected by privacy rights. They also insist on taking a “recorded statement” about the accident but then ask many questions about things other than the accident. Potential clients who hire us after this barrage by the insurance companies are often surprised to learn that frequently none of these items were necessary. Since we do not charge an initial consultation fee, why not contact us to protect you from the start?

What is a contingency fee?

A contingency fee means the lawyers’ fees are paid out of the clients’ final recovery based on a percentage agreed to in writing by the attorney and the client at the time the representation starts. The client is only obligated to pay attorney fees if there is a recovery or judgment. In contingency fee cases, we do not charge you any initial consultation fee or any upfront cost to hire us, like a retainer. In many cases, there is no out-of-pocket charge to the client to have us start to represent you. While clients are responsible for their case costs, if there is no recovery or judgment, then the client does not pay us a fee for our time and professional services.

When should I hire a lawyer?

Even if a person is not injured in an accident, he or she may have claims relating to an accident, such as repair costs or rental car charges. Therefore, we recommend everyone involved in an accident consult with an attorney. Initial consultations with our office for casualty claims are free. If a person is injured, the best time to hire a lawyer is immediately after the incident. Many insurance companies know that if claimants are not represented by a lawyer, then the insurance company could take advantage of them. This is frequently done by taking a recorded statement when it’s not necessary for the claim, obtaining authorizations for records which are not properly tailored to the claim, and in egregious situations obtaining signed releases barring further recovery when the victim is still injured or in the hospital! Lastly, claims against certain defendants must be perfected in as little as 6 months following the incident. In those cases, waiting to hire a lawyer could really hurt you if your claim is barred.

How much is my case worth?

At the early stages of an injury claim, it very difficult to accurately evaluate what the claim will be worth at its conclusion. This is because several factors are considered when evaluating cases which at the early stages are unknown, such as how long it takes the victim to get better, is the victim permanently disabled, ho w much treatment was needed and how much that treatment costs, how did the injuries and treatments effect the victims life and work. Our experience enables us to inform clients how insurance companies frequently evaluate injury claims and how juror view these types of cases.

Are consultations really free or is that only if you sign up with the attorney?

At the Gnau & Tamez Law Group LLP, we provide an initial personal injury case consultation with an attorney at no charge whether you hire us or not.

Why should I hire the Gnau & Tamez Law Group, LLP?

We get results. Our years of experience, client dedication and willingness to fully litigate our cases through trial when necessary show why we are award winning leaders in this area of the law. Please see our client testimonial page to hear what our former clients say about our work; then look at our Case Results page to see how we’ve helped others from all walks of life.

If you or someone you care about is considering hiring an attorney for an injury case, then give us a call so that we can answer all of your questions.

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