The information on this website is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney–client relationship is created by your use of this site or by any communication with Betz & Port. You should not act or rely on any information contained herein without seeking the advice of a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. If you have specific questions about your legal situation, please contact an attorney.
Your case is handled by our team of paralegals, admin assistants, and attorneys. Our commitment and guarantee to you is that you will hear from our firm at least once a month, even if there aren’t any big updates on your case.
We pride ourselves on being accessible and available to our clients.
At the beginning of the case, you will be assigned a primary attorney and a paralegal. They will provide you with their information, and you can call or email them at any time. You may also text our firm texting number, 833-376-1647
We will contact you at least once a month to notify you of any updates on your case. Early in the treatment phase, there are often few updates, as we are waiting to see how your doctors will evaluate your injuries before heavy negotiations with the insurance adjusters.
Never! This is your case, your injury, and your story. We will advise you what we believe is a fair outcome, but we will never settle a case without your permission.
This is extremely typical in the initial stages of negotiation. Seldom is the first offer ever reasonable; it is only the first in a series of increases during the negotiations. Part of our job as your representatives is negotiating on your behalf using pinpointed tactics, looking to preserve your best interests and get you the highest result possible.
If you still do not get a fair offer, and we are in agreement with you based on our experience and expertise, we may recommend litigation as a method of moving your case forward for a better result.
Likely not if your case settles before trial. If your case does go before a jury, then both you and the defendant will be there as potential witnesses, but even then, you will not need or be expected to interact with the defendant.
While it’s hard to put an exact number on, less than 10% of civil cases go to trial. Your attorney will evaluate the offers made by the insurance company and talk with you about what a fair result would be, as well as the potential risk of going to trial. You can accept an offer (if it is still on the table) all the way through the end of the trial.
It is somewhat common to see an offer from the insurance company come on the eve of trial. Unfortunately, this is after your legal team has spent thousands of dollars and hours of time preparing your case, so it may make sense to go all the way through with the trial. But this is a conversation to be had with your attorney.
Your lawyer will be present while the opposing attorney asks you questions. Typically, there is a videographer who will be filming, and a court reporter who takes down a report of what everyone says.
The negligent party is not usually present, though they have a right to be.
It usually takes between 2-3 hours, depending on the number of questions the opposing attorney asks. Sometimes it may take up to 7 hours, but not very often.
Most cases only require a half-day of medication. This can take up to 4 hours. Larger cases require a full day of mediation. This can take up to 8 hours.
Mediation typically involves a smaller, more controlled group of participants compared to a trial. You and your attorney will be in a separate room, and you will never directly talk to the defendant.
Here are the key individuals who are usually present during the mediation of a personal injury case:
However, their involvement in the discussions themselves will be limited based on the rules established by the mediator.
Everyone present at mediation has a role in trying to resolve the dispute without the need for a trial. It’s a collaborative process aimed at finding a satisfactory resolution for both parties.
Yes, you are required to be there. You have the ultimate authority to accept or reject an offer.
If the parties come to a settlement amount, then the next phase of the case will move to Settlement and Disbursement, and your assigned legal team will walk you through those next steps.
If it does not settle, we will move your case to the trial phase. More information will be provided at that time.
Pre-Trial Preparation: Before the trial begins, we will have several meetings to review our strategy and prepare you for testimony. We’ll go over the questions we expect to be asked by both our legal team and the opposition.
It’s crucial that you understand every aspect of your case and feel confident and prepared to testify.
At the Actual Trial:
During the trial phase of your personal injury lawsuit, several types of witnesses may be called to testify, each playing a unique role in supporting your case:
The initiation of your lawsuit involves several key steps that establish the legal framework for your case:
At Betz & Port, we meticulously handle each of these steps to ensure your legal rights are protected and the lawsuit progresses smoothly. We keep you informed throughout the process, providing guidance and support from the initial preparation of the complaint to the final resolution of the case.
In a personal injury lawsuit, several outcomes are possible depending on how the case progresses through the legal system. Understanding these potential resolutions can help set realistic expectations. Here are the primary outcomes you might encounter:
At Betz & Port, we strive to guide you towards the best possible outcome based on the specifics of your case and your personal circumstances. We will discuss each of these potential outcomes with you, considering your preferences and the strengths and weaknesses of your case, to determine the best strategic approach.
Your active participation and cooperation are crucial in strengthening your case during the litigation process. Here are several ways you can assist your legal team at Betz & Port:
By actively engaging in these ways, you enhance your legal team’s ability to advocate effectively on your behalf, increasing the likelihood of a favorable outcome. At Betz & Port, we value and encourage our clients’ involvement as an integral part of the legal process.
Your role during the trial is crucial for the presentation of your case and can significantly influence its outcome. Here are key aspects of what is expected of you:
By understanding and fulfilling these roles, you contribute significantly to the collective effort to manage and present your case effectively in court.
The duration of a personal injury trial can vary significantly depending on several factors. Here is a detailed breakdown of what influences the length of a trial and what you can expect:
On average, a straightforward personal injury trial might last from a few days to a week. However, more complicated cases can take several weeks or even longer. It’s important to prepare for this variability and maintain flexibility in your schedule during the trial period.
Yes, it is important for you to be present throughout the entire trial. Your continuous attendance plays a vital role in the proceedings and can influence the outcome in several ways:
Once a verbal agreement has been met about the amount of money, the insurance company will send us a release for you to sign. After we review it, we will send it to you for e-signature. We have notaries in our office, so we can facilitate notarization via Zoom if necessary for the release.
We will also ask you to sign an internal document detailing the settlement amount and disbursement of funds, such as case costs, attorney fees, and subrogation interests (how much money your insurance providers, etc., want back). This will provide the information you need to see where every dollar has gone in your case. Copies of both the release and settlement sheet will be provided to you for your records.
The insurance company typically issues the check within a few days, but sometimes they drag their feet. We will be persistent in reminding them to send the check. It is then sent to our office, where we deposit it into our client trust account. The deposit must remain in the trust account for a sufficient length of time for the deposit to clear the issuing (insurance company’s) bank. This is usually two to three days, but in some cases it might take a week.
There are other options for arranging for payment of the settlement money, such as a structured settlement. Your attorney will advise you if they believe this would be a wise idea in your case.
Once the check has cleared, we will disburse the funds. Typically, this means we will mail you your check, but we are happy to meet in person to hand you the check if you prefer. At this point, you can cash your check!
If it does not settle, we will move your case to the trial phase. More information will be provided at that time.
Our standard arrangement is that you get everything minus one-third for attorney’s fees, as well as reimbursement for the case costs we spent to build up your case (such as investigation, copies of medical records, deposition expense, filing fees, doctors’ testimony, etc.). We recommend checking the original signed retainer if you have any questions.
We strive to get you as much as we can by keeping costs low where possible.