| Frequently Asked Questions
What happens when I contact
The Law Office of Joyce A. Faraone about my case?
Each prospective case is immediately evaluated by Ms. Faraone. If you
have suffered a serious injury, our investigators go to the scene of
the incident the day the call is received, in order to take
photographs, gather
important evidence and preserve it for trial. Potential litigants
should consult our office as soon as possible after their injury,
before evidence is lost and witnesses' memories fade. 'The call to
our office and initial consultation are free.'
What are your fees?
Our firm handles all of its accident cases on a "contingency" basis. Under this
system, we earn attorneys' fees when your case is successfully
resolved. If your case fails to earn a settlement and loses at trial, there
still is no cost to you. Generally, fees are 33.3% of your
settlement amount ( in workers' compensation cases, the fees are limited to
approximately 20%)
What is my case worth?
This is one of the most difficult questions to answer, and you should
be wary of any attorney who claims to know what your case is worth
when you first talk to him or her. Normally, the value of a case
cannot be accurately determined until "discovery" is conducted, which
involves testimony under oath of yourself, witnesses to the incident,
and others. The reason this fact-finding must occur is that a case
value is based on two factors: "liability" and "damages." Liability is
the "fault" of the defendant, and damages are the total losses that
you have incurred, including pain and suffering, lost wages, and
medical bills. The stronger the liability in a case, the more likely
settlement will occur at close to full value of the damages. The more
difficult it is to prove liability, the more likely settlement will
occur at less than full value of damages. But remember, if settlement
does not occur and the case goes to trial, your case is worth whatever
the jury decides it is worth.
How much time do I have to file a lawsuit?
In Rhode Island, under the Statute of Limitations, you are
limited to Three years (with the exception of Workers Compensation
Claims which are limited to two years) following the date of your injury for most type
of cases. However, there are exceptions such as medical negligence and
uninsured motorist claims that must be filed within one year. Even if
the statute is two years, you should not wait that long before you
contact an attorney. Valuable evidence for your case may disappear if
you wait, so it's important to consult an attorney sooner rather than
later.
Please also refer to our Frequently Asked Questions About Workers'
Compensation.
....> read more
Please Note: The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it
intended to be, legal advice. This has been prepared by The Arns Law
Firm for informational purposes only. We do not intend to create an
attorney-client relationship between our firm and the recipient of the
information contained on the pages that follow. You should consult an
attorney for individual advice regarding your situation.
|
