Legal Question in Personal Injury in California

Re: determing worth of case

To add to the discussion and humor: there is no formula for you to look up and use on your own. You wouldn't have any credibility doing so even if there was. However, there are computer evaluation programs used by the insurance industry internally. They factor in medical bills, the reasonableness of the bills [for instance, large chiropractic bills get little credibility], wage loss, the assessment by the claims rep of you or your attorney's capabilities, etc. I agree that you will get a poorer outcome without counsel, sorry friend, that's just the way the system works, in civil as well as criminal. Thinking you are saving money by not hiring counsel is a delusion, promoted by the insurance industry BTW. Your problem is that unless you have substantial injuries and financial damages, the case has limited value beyond your out-of-pocket losses, so an attorney needs to settle it without spending a great deal of time. SO, hire someone that tells you the truth, and is willing to force a full value settlement, quickly. He probably will still get you more net than you would have yourself. If attorneys didn't acheive results for their clients, they would never have gotten where they are in the system. Feel free to contact me if interested.

Re: determing worth of case

It's worth 0 unless you get a lawyer.

Re: determing worth of case

There is no guideline. However, unlike Mr. Stone, I do not believe that cases are worth zero without an attorney. When I was an adjuster, I settled hundreds, if not thousands, of cases with people who do not have attorneys. However, cases are worth more, generally, if you get an attorney. I would suggest you look at a couple of resources:

First, my blog at www.calpiblog.com

Second, my podcast at www.thepersonalinjurypodcast.com

Third, you may want to email me and ask for my free report on 10 Fatal Mistakes People Make with Personal Injury Cases.

Re: determing worth of case

I'm somewhere between Mr. Stone and Mr. Stein. Without an attorney, your case value might exceed what it cost to purchase a dinner at Dennys, which is of course, more than $0.

I handle slip and falls. Should you have anymore questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office at 818.385.0520.