FAQ's


1. WHY SHOULD I HIRE The Law Offices of David Laurence Altman?

There are two major reasons:

When a client makes a personal injury claim, that individual is justly seeking compensation for the pain, suffering, economic losses and inconvenience that resulted from the negligence of another person or entity. At the conclusion of a personal injury case, the most important concern for the client is how much of the settlement will the client receive and how much will be paid to others who were not injured, such as the doctors and lawyers.

Most if not all personal injury attorneys negotiate discounted doctor bills for their clients. But what most attorneys do not do is reduce their own fees if there is any possible way to avoid doing so.

The Law Offices of David Laurence Altman offer the client a discounted attorney fee from the beginning of the case, thereby allowing the client keep a greater percentage of the settlement funds that were intended to compensate the client. There is no three way split where the attorney and doctor, who were not injured, each collects the same one third of the settlement that the client receives. As a result, in the majority of personal injury settlements negotiated or litigated by Attorney Altman, the client's percentage of recovery will be greater, often substantially greater, than the percentage paid to either doctors or lawyer.

2. IF I CHOOSE THE SPECIAL DISCOUNT PROGRAM, HOW CAN I BE CERTAIN THAT I CAN I TRUST AN ATTORNEY I'VE NEVER MET?

Attorney David Laurence Altman has been in practice for over thirty years; he has an A+ record with the Better Business Bureau.

Remember, many attorneys use investigators, paralegals or other employees for both home and office interviews and client meetings. It is not uncommon for clients to believe that they are dealing directly with their attorney when in fact their office contact person is only an employee of the law office.

While clients participating in our Special Contingeny Fee Discount Program may not meet their attorney personally, the client is  always dealing directly with the attorney who is actually working the file. With a knowledgeable and personable attorney to talk to, the client will have complete confidence that his or her case is being handled competently and with the highest ethical standards.

3. CAN I HIRE THE LAW OFFICES OF DAVID LAURENCE ALTMAN IF I AM CURRENTLY REPRESENTED?

Under Utah and California law clients have an absolute right to change attorneys whenever or however often they choose, but there is a catch.

A personal injury attorney who loses a client has a right to claim the reasonable value of his services. This is usually calculated by taking the number of hours the attorney worked on the file multiplied times the attorney's hourly rate. Since most attorneys will claim an hourly rate of $250.00-$350.00 or more, those fees add up in a hurry.

The first attorney is entitled to his or her fee when the case is resolved and that attorney's name will be added to the settlement check by the insurance company. In most cases the first attorney's fee is paid out of the current attorney's fee, so the settling attorney must share his attorney fee with any prior attorneys.

Since The Law Offices of David Laurence Altman  offer discounted fees from the outset, there is usually little margin to pay a prior attorney a share of the reduced attorney fee. However, if the prior attorney was only recently retained or if the case has the potential for a significant monetary recovery, The Law Offices of David Laurence Altman may still be able to accept your case at a reduced contingency fee. Each claim involving substitution of a prior attorney will be carefully reviewed on a case by case basis to determine the feasibility of offering representation to the potential client.

4. CAN I SEE A DOCTOR IF I CANNOT AFFORD MEDICAL TREATMENT?

As long as you can afford the time to attend the doctor, Yes. Attorney Altman works with doctors throughout Utah who will accept patients that do not have medical insurance or the funds to pay for treatment in advance.

Our doctors will provide all necessary medical or chiropractic treatment based upon a written agreement for payment when the case is settled. That agreement is signed by both the lawyer and client. The client will never be asked to pay for medical services before the case is settled. The medical provider will receive payment after settlement and in many cases the medical/chiropractic bills will be discounted as a courtesy to both the attorney and client.

5. DO YOU HAVE A DOCTOR IN MY AREA?

Yes. Locating a general practitioner or chiropractor close to the client's home or work is almost never a problem. If the client's medical condition requires a specialist, such as a neurosurgeon, oncologist or orthopedic surgeon, the client may be required to travel somewhat further to see the specialist, but treatment will still be available.

6. HOW WILL I RECEIVE MY SETTLEMENT?

The insurance company will first mail or fax a release of claims to the attorney. The release will then be faxed, emailed or mailed to the client for signature along with an exact breakdown of the settlement distribution. The client then returns the signed release to the attorney's office by mail, fax or email and upon receipt the release is immediately forwarded to the insurance carrier.

When The Law Offices of David Laurence Altman receives the settlement draft (check) from the insurance company, the client will be offered the opportunity to meet at the attorney's office to receive his or her settlement check or will be faxed or emailed a limited power of attorney authorizing the attorney to deposit the insurance settlement draft into the attorney's client trust account. As soon as the insurance settlement draft is deposited, Attorney Altman will issue a check from its client trust account to the client for the agreed amount of the net settlement; that check will be sent to the client by Federal Express or next day priority mail.

7. DOES IT TAKE LONGER TO GET MY SETTLEMENT BY MAIL?

Not really. It may take one day longer because priority mail is next day rather than same day delivery.

However, the client is saved the inconvenience of driving to the attorney's office; for clients who cannot immediately change their home or work schedule and drive to their lawyer's office, priority mail delivery will actually put the settlement check in the client's hands sooner rather than later.

8. WHAT HAPPENS IF MY CASE CANNOT BE SETTLED?

Litigation is the exception rather than the rule in personal injury cases. Ninety to ninety-five (90%-95%)percent of personal injury cases are successfully resolved without filing a lawsuit or spending a day in trial or arbitration. However, even though these statistics are high, there are some cases that should or must be litigated.

If The Law Offices of David Laurence Altman does not receive a satisfactory and acceptable settlement offer, Attorney David Altman will personally litigate the client's case.

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Law Offices of
David Laurence Altman

Utah Office:

(435) 688-9999
(800) Law-4-Law

640 East 700 South
Suite 304
St George, UT 84770
info@1UtahLaw.com

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California Office:

(323) 951-9999
(818) 999-LAWS

9107 Wilshire Blvd
Suite 450
Beverly Hills, CA 90210 info@911Law.org

  

Better Business Bureau