Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to some common inquires and frequently asked questions of our firm by potential clients are provided below. Still have questions? Free to call toll free by calling Adkins Law Firm at 1(855)801-8770, or by e-mail by filling out our on-line Contact Us form.
1. As a new or potential client, what documents should I send to you prior to first interview or meeting?
- A written summary in the form of correspondence to the attorney with whom you are meeting setting forth your concerns as well as outlining your problem or legal matter in chronological order, and include the names, addresses and phone numbers of all persons or companies involved;
- A completed copy of the New Client Information Sheet (NCIS) for your type of case;
- All clients must provide a valid social security number or employer identification number;
- All documents which are part of your case, including those you may have received from a lawyer or a court, receipts, contracts, medical bills, repair estimates, checks, lost wages/profits, etc.;
- All media, including photographs, video, or recordings that are part of your case;
- All relevant correspondence that relates to you case;
- All office reports, including fire reports, police reports, etc.;
- Any Insurance documents that relate to your case.
These materials should be provided in advance of your first interview in order to have adequate time to review them. You may prefer to provide copies at the initial interview.
2. What do you generally expect from your clients?
- To be completely honest – even if it is embarrassing. It is important to tell the truth about your problem. Remember, what you tell a lawyer in private will be kept confidential. Even confessions to past crimes or criminal activity are going to be treated as confidential by your lawyer. The only exception to this rule of strict confidentiality are plans for future crimes and continuing criminal activity.
- To be prompt for court dates and appointments.
- To let us know how to keep in touch with you.
- If you have a change of address or phone number or place of employment, let your lawyer know
- To pay all bills promptly and in full (for Hourly Clients) and, as applicable, keep the agreed minimum balance in your retainer account at all times.
- To meet with us in person, when necessary, to discuss the
3. What is a New Case Information Sheet (NCIS)?
Not all clients need to fill out an NCIS. Typically, these sheets are required for only personal injury, death and property damage cases where we represent individuals. An information sheet will typically be made available following your initial interview with an attorney. Our most used NCISs are as follows:
- Automobile Accident Cases
- Products Cases (nonspecific)
- Property Damage (nonspecific)
4. What are our fees?
In personal injury and property damage cases, including wrongful death and products liability matters, our fees are typically on a contingency basis. That is, if you do not receive compensation for your personal injury, we do not charge a fee. In commercial litigation or construction cases, our fees, are typically on an hourly basis. On occasion, we will charge a flat rate for services based upon the amount of work, urgency of need, amount of time, and complexity involved on certain small matters. If you have any questions, please let us know and we would gladly discuss them with you. All initial consultations are free and can be over the phone, in person, or on the web conference.
5. How much is my personal injury case worth?
Every case is different. In personal injury cases, you are entitled to compensation for certain harms and losses such as pain and suffering (past and future); lost wages and ability to earn income (past and future); medical expenses (past and future); disfigurement; disability and loss of enjoyment of life (past and future). To evaluate your personal injury claim, we may need to ask you the following:
- Full name, address, telephone number, fax number and e-mail
- Date of birth
- When did the accident or incident occur (date and time)?
- Where did the accident happen?
- Describe what happened and what caused the accident
- Describe your injuries
- When and how long were you treated in a hospital or by physicians?
- Have you had surgery? How many? What kind?
- What are your medical expenses, including those that have been paid for and those that have not (and what medical expenses do you anticipate having in the future)?
- Have you lost time from work as a result of your accident? How much in lost wages have you incurred so far? How much in lost wages will you incur in the future?
- Describe your disabilities and what you can’t do now that you could do before the accident
- Were you ever treated for this type of injury or problem before this accident?
6. Do I have a good case?
We can provide a case evaluation based off the information provided by you. However, some information is not always available at the time of your initial interview and our evaluation may be subject to change based on the circumstances surrounding your case. We do not charge for initial consultations; however, we reserve the right to charge after the first 20 minutes for business/commercial related consolations.
7. Do you handle income tax, criminal or family cases?
No, this is beyond the scope of our practice and we will not advise you or consult with you regarding these types of cases.
8. Do you handle defense cases?
We are a plaintiff's litigation law firm. Typically, we do not take defense cases, but on occasion under rare circumstances we might take on the defense in a case. Nevertheless, this usually only happens if the subject matter of the case spawns an attorney's interest, the potential client has a legitimate counter-claim, or if we are asked to take a business related case for a long time client of the firm with a legitimate counter-claim. That being said, we never represent defendants in personal injury, product defect, or construction related matters.
9. Initially what do I need to send you for a Commercial Collection Case?
Prior to you interview, we may ask that you provide us with certain requested documentation. After our initial telephone conference or initial office consultation, we will provide you with a commercial collection worksheet. We will follow up with you should we require anything additional. Please note that submitting an online form without a written agreement by us to represent you does not constitute an acceptance by us of your potential case. Should we decide to take your case, we will require that you return a copy of an executed engagement letter setting forth the terms of our services.
Still have questions? If so, you may contact us today toll free by calling Adkins Law Firm at 1(855)801-8770, or by filling out the online form.