To be successful in assisting clients in personal injury cases, a law firm has to have the legal knowledge and courtroom experience required to get the job done.
Attorneys Philip Kirk and Joseph Howell have over 50 years of combined legal experience in personal injury, wrongful death and insurance claims. They have successfully obtained numerous large jury verdicts and negotiated thousands of settlements for clients. We regularly work with physicians and other expert witnesses in the presentation of claims.
The experience of the attorneys at Kirk, Kirk, Howell, Cutler & Thomas, LLP have earned the firm a rating of “AV® Pre-eminent Peer Review Rating” through Martindale-Hubbell.
We know the physical, emotional and financial devastation the motor vehicle accident can be to you and your family. Do not hesitate to call us. We provide a free initial consultation. Let our extensive experience work for you and your family. Legal representation can be important if you are injured due to negligence or while performing your job. You may have the right to recover medical expenses, lost of employment income and seek damages due to pain and suffering and mental anguish. Our attorneys can help you with:
- Car
- Bicycle
- Boat
- Motorcycle
- Pedestrian and Truck Accidents
- Brain & Spinal Injuries
- Wrongful Death
- Construction Accidents
- Dangerous and Defective Products
- Nursing Home Negligence
- Accidents caused by Drunk Drivers
To receive a free case review, please contact us or fill out our free case review online form.
1. What should I do after an automobile accident?
There are some steps that you should take as soon as possible after an automobile accident in order to protect your rights. These steps are particularly important if you or a passenger in your car have been injured.
- Obtain the names, addresses and phone numbers of any witnesses.
- Report the accident immediately to the police and your insurance company.
- Cooperate with the police in preparing an accident report.
- Photograph the exterior and interior of the autos involved in the accident.
- See a physician if you are having any pain without delay.
- Get legal advice before filling out insurance documents or giving recorded statements to any insurance company or meeting with any insurance company representative.
- Photograph your injuries.
- Gather all automobile insurance policies in your household for evaluation by an attorney.
- Get legal advice before signing any check or document from any insurance company.
Call our law firm for a free consultation if you do not have an experienced personal injury attorney.
2. Why should I talk to an attorney after an automobile accident that injures me or members of my family?
You should talk to a lawyer and a law firm that has the experience, dedication and ability to maximize your compensation and minimize the frustration, delay and confusion that you will experience in making a claim for an injury.
3. What are the typical issues that I will face in making a claim for my injuries?
A claim made against another driver or vehicle owner is called a tort claim. It is usually based upon the concept of carelessness or negligence although it can also be based upon an intentional or reckless act. Lawyers know that the three categories of issues that typically arise in a tort claim after an automobile accident are the following:
- Liability
- Damages
- Insurance Coverage
Liability refers to the question of who is at fault and to what degree. This is a very important question or, more commonly, a series of questions. Did the other driver exceed the speed limit? Did you fail to stop at a stop sign? Were the brakes on the truck properly maintained? These are the kinds of questions that must be answered by solid proof. The insurance company defending your claim obviously wants to minimize or eliminate the fault of its driver and to maximize your fault.
Damages refer to the injuries or losses that were caused by the accident. You are only entitled to be compensated for those injuries and losses that were the result of the accident. This is where the detailed records and, if necessary, the testimony of your treating doctors become important. It is also the responsibility of your attorney to document the ways in which you and your family have been impacted, in the past and in the future, by your injuries.
Insurance coverage is frequently not as simple a determination as might be expected. Often there are disputes over which of several coverages is first in line. There are also efforts by the insurance company to deny or defeat coverage. And, where uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage (UM) is involved there are multiple issues that must be resolved to assure maximum financial recovery. The entire area of insurance coverage is virtually a minefield that is best no entered without a competent attorney.
