Do I need a lawyer?
How do I find the Right Lawyer for me?
How much do Bryce Johnson and Associates charge?
Can't any lawyer handle any type of case?
Should I go ahead and release my medical records do the insurance adjuster?
Don't Medical Malpractice lawsuits cause increases in health care costs?
How much money is my case worth?
How long do I have after my injury to file my claim?
How long will my case take?
When should I consult with an attorney?
What if I do not have the money to see a doctor?
What do I do if the person who hit me does not have insurance?
Do I need a lawyer?
It is more than likely that sometime during your lifetime, you will need a lawyer. Not all situations require a lawyer to be involved. However, it is more likely than not, if you are asking yourself if you need a lawyer, than you do. At Bryce Johnson and Associates we consider ourselves as your lawyers. If you have a question concerning any matter, we want you to call us first. If we do not practice in that particular area we will tell you and we will refer you to someone who does. Someone who we trust and know will do you a good job. If you do not need a lawyer we will tell you.
Abraham Lincoln once said that a man, who has himself as a lawyer, has a fool for a client. Ask yourself this simple question…Is the insurance company looking out for you and your family? No. The fact is that insurance companies are in the business to make money. Insurance Companies make money by collecting premiums and not paying or reducing benefits. This is why they are a multi-billion dollar industry. They have attorneys and investigators on their staff to do just that: protect the insurance company’s interests and financial status. You need equivalent power on your side – experienced, aggressive, and interested lawyers. At Bryce Johnson and Associates we pride ourselves in being aggressive for you and your family’s rights to get what you deserve.
How do I find the Right Lawyer for me?
The majority of cases Bryce Johnson and Associates handle are referrals from former clients as well as other attorneys. Do not rely on TV commercials, yellow page ads, or letters you receive in the mail following an accident. The best thing you can do is ask your family and friends who they would recommend. Ask as many people as possible. You will begin to see a pattern, the same names will be recommended by many different people. That is a good place to start.
Set up an appointment with the lawyers. Trust your feelings. When you hire a lawyer, you are typically starting a long term relationship. Make sure you are comfortable with them. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Put them on the spot. For example, ask them about other cases similar to yours. Make sure you discuss the costs. No one likes to discuss money, but you need to be sure that you understand how much you will be required to pay as well as when you will be expected to pay. Call the State Bar and ask about the lawyer.
There are many lawyers out there. Choosing one is a very difficult task. Bryce Johnson and Associates hope you will call them and set up an appointment. Bryce Johnson and Associates will visit with about your case and be honest with you.
How much do Bryce Johnson and Associates charge?
Abraham Lincoln once said, “a lawyer’s advice is his stock in trade.” Cost is always a consideration when choosing a lawyer. Bryce Johnson and Associates handle a wide array of cases. Some cases require Bryce Johnson and Associates to charge on an hourly basis. However, the majority of the cases Bryce Johnson and Associates handle are taken on a contingent fee basis. That means that we do not get paid unless we recover money on your behalf. If there is no recovery, then you pay Bryce Johnson and Associates nothing. Our fees vary depending on what type of case you have. Typically, our contingent fee will be thirty-three and 1/3 percent (33%). However, that amount may be higher or lower depending on the circumstances of your case. Bryce Johnson and Associates will not take a fee on your medical payment benefits nor your property damage recovery.
Can't any lawyer handle any type of case?
The best answer to this question is a question itself. Would you go to a podiatrist for the removal of a brain tumor? Today, the law, much like society in general, is becoming more and more specialized. When you need a personal injury lawyer go to a personal injury lawyer. When you need a corporation formed, go to a business lawyer. Bryce Johnson and Associates want you to consider them as your lawyers. If you have any questions whatsoever, call Bryce Johnson and Associates. If it is a matter that Bryce Johnson and Associates does not handle, we will see that you are referred to a lawyer who does that particular type of work.
Should I go ahead and release my medical records do the insurance adjuster?
No. Most insurance companies ask you to sign an unrestricted medical authorization. That means that they have access to all of your medical records. You do not want this. The only medical records adjusters are entitled to are medical records relevant to your wreck. Adjusters want as much of your medical records as they can get. They want these records because they are looking for ways to deny and/or reduce your claim. Simply stated, you do not want something in your records from fifteen years ago to decrease your recovery.
Bryce Johnson and Associates will review all relevant medical records and bills before they are sent to adjusters for review. This will ensure that the adjusters receive only those records and bills that they are entitled and that the records and bills are accurate.
Don't Medical Malpractice lawsuits cause increases in health care costs?
How much money is my case worth?
The value of your case is determined by the nature and extent of your injuries. There is no way to estimate the value of your case to any precise degree of accuracy during your initial meeting with an attorney. There are many factors that go into the evaluation of your case. There are never two cases alike. It may be many months before the nature and extent of your injuries fully manifest themselves.
Bryce Johnson and Associates can give you an estimate. However, until there has been considerable investigation, there is no way to determine the value of your case.
How long do I have after my injury to file my claim?
The amount of time you have to bring a claim depends on the type of case you have. In Oklahoma statute of limitations generally vary from one year to five years. A statute of limitations is the time period in which you must bring you claim or it will forever be barred. If you have a question concerning your statute of limitations call Bryce Johnson and Associates Immediately.
How long will my case take?
The time it takes to complete a case depends on many factors. Usually, Bryce Johnson and Associates will not settle your case until you have been released from all medical care. We will begin to gather medical records and bills immediately. However, some medical providers are considerably slower than others when it comes to copying and mailing the records. Patience is very important. We do not want to settle your case until we can get maximum recovery for you.
Most cases in Oklahoma are settled. However, if we agree that your case should be litigated, typically it adds a considerable amount of time to your case. It may take years to resolve your case if any appeals are necessary.
When should I consult with an attorney?
As soon as possible. At Bryce Johnson and Associates we will begin the preparation of your case immediately. This will decrease the chances that important evidence is lost or destroyed.
Remember, insurance companies are in the business to make money. The insurance company does not want you to hire a lawyer because it puts you on a level playing field with them. They have trained professionals to decrease or deny your claim.
Bryce Johnson and Associates will not undertake representation of you unless we feel that we can add value to your case.
What if I do not have the money to see a doctor?
Bryce Johnson and Associates work with many doctors throughout the State of Oklahoma who will treat you and wait to be paid out of the recovery we collect from your wreck. This does not mean we have any relationship with these doctors. However, through the years, many doctors have chosen to not see patients who have been injured at the hands of another. We know who will see you. Ultimately the decision on which doctor you see is yours and you are responsible for their bill.
What do I do if the person who hit me does not have insurance?
Call Bryce Johnson and Associates immediately. Just because the person says he does not have insurance does not necessarily mean there is no insurance to cover your injuries. We have discovered many insurance policies when other attorneys have given up. Furthermore, there is a possibility you have Uninsured and/or Underinsured Motorist Coverage. This coverage is a benefit you purchase that covers you if the person who injures you does not have any insurance or does not have enough insurance. If you make a claim for underinsured motorist coverage, your premiums will not increase.
Check your policy immediately. If you do not have Medical Payments Benefits or Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage, Bryce Johnson and Associates recommend you purchase as much as you can afford as soon as possible.
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