Expert: Bennie719 - 5/8/2008

Question
My Dad was hit by a car on March 27, 2008 and they are trying to give me 5,000 death 5,000 medical and that's it. Do I need to get a lawyer and go to court about the matter? They jsut called me and said that the driver was not liable for hitting my dad, that it was my dad's fault. Please help!

Answer
Hello Natasha,
I'm sorry to learn of the death of your father and send my deepest condolences.

I strongly recommend that you consult with an attorney who specializes in personal injury claims and has trial experience.  In most states, the first consultation is free, in others there is a minimal charge of about $20 for the first 30 minutes.

During this consultation, the attorney can review the full details of the accident and give you an idea of the fault and the value of the claim.  You are not in any way obligated to hire that attorney just because he spent time giving you information.

You may decide that due to the complexity of the situation that you do need to retain an attorney.  If you reach this decision, you should talk to several until you find the one that you are most comfortable with.

If you need help choosing an attorney, you can call your county attorney referral service (it's free) and tell them that you need to talk to a personal injury attorney with trial experience.  They will provide you the names of 4-6 qualified attorneys in your area.

I hope you find this information to be helpful.

Sincerely,
Bennie
San Francisco Bay Area