FAQ - Wetherall Group, LTD.

Personal Injury

What is considered a “personal injury”?

A “personal injury” is any physical or mental injury that results from another’s carelessness or mistake.

Personal injury cases typically arise from motor vehicle accidents, slip/trip and falls, malfunctioning elevators/escalators, and improper care at nursing homes, just to name a few.

Personal injury cases typically involve a claim of “negligence”, which is simply a fancy way of saying someone has failed to act with reasonable or due care.

How do I know if I have a personal injury case?

If you have been injured by someone else’s carelessness or mistake, you may be able to make a claim for money damages.

If you aren’t sure whether the circumstances surrounding your injury justify pursuing a claim for money damages, you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney.

We’ll assess the facts and circumstances of the incident to give you an informed assessment of your potential case.

What money can I recover in a personal injury case?

A personal injury claim or lawsuit is pursued in order to obtain money damages from the party at fault for your injuries.

The money you may be entitled to pursue would include “special damages” such as past and future loss of wages/income or past and future medical expenses incurred as a result of the injury,.

Even under circumstances where someone is clearly at fault for causing you harm, disputes typically arise regarding the amount of money damages to be paid.

Experts everywhere

We’ve worked with attorneys across the country to deliver exceptional case results regardless of our client’s location.

Time & Case Value

How much is my case worth?

No two injury cases are the same, so there is no magic formula for determining a particular case’s value. Some factors that play a role in a case’s value include: 1) the severity of the injury; 2) the amount of medical bills resulting from the injury; and 3) whether the injury sustained was temporary, permanent or resulted in death.

No matter what your injury, we take every aspect of your case into consideration to obtain the highest possible recovery for you. We also explain the good and bad of your case to you so you’ll always know why we’re valuing your case the way we are.

Because the fee we earn is a percentage of your overall recovery, we are highly motivated and strive to get you the most compensation possible.

Will my medical bills be paid for?

You (and any insurance coverage you might have) are typically responsible for paying your medical bills after an accident. If you don’t have insurance or the means to pay for accident-related medical treatment, we can often arrange for treatment on a “lien”, which means the treatment you receive is paid out of your eventual settlement. If you have insurance which pays your medical bills, it’s likely you will have to reimburse your insurance company for accident/injury-related bills it paid at the time your case settles.

Arranging liens and negotiating a reduction in liens at the end of your case is an important part of what we do. Unlike other law firms, we don’t forget about you as soon as we settle your case. We will stick by you and help you negotiate reductions to your medical bills and liens. We work hard to reduce your liens and outstanding medical bills to put more money in your pocket.

How long will it take to settle my claim?

Good question. The time it takes to settle a personal injury claim depends on many circumstances, including the type of case you have, and the extent and type of injuries you sustained. We have settled cases in weeks or months, and have also (successfully) resolved cases that took 10 years to resolve. We can and will discuss time-lines with you once we understand the facts of your case.

Understand, if a lawyer tries to settle your case too quickly, you may discover medical problems later that won’t have been captured in your settlement. In that situation, you cannot go back and ask for more money. For this reason, we make sure your injuries have been sufficiently treated and are understood before trying to settle your case. Quicker is not always better.

Did you know?

We attained the largest single personal injury verdict ever to be affirmed by the Nevada Supreme Court (and thereafter by the U.S. Supreme Court). See, Wyeth v. Rowatt, et al., 244 P.3d 765 (Nev. 2010), cert. denied, 564 U.S. __, (June 20, 2011).

General

What if I don’t live in Nevada?

We utilize many methods of communication to make it easier for our out-of-state clients to work with us, including telephone, e-mail, fax and mail.

In the event you are required to come to Nevada for your case, we work around your schedule and limit the amount of time you travel.

We have been successful in recovering large settlements for our out-of-state clients with limited in-person contact.

When is the best time to contact an attorney?

Your first priority after an accident or injury is to take care of yourself and your medical needs.

Your second priority should be to contact an attorney to make sure your rights are protected.

When you hire an attorney, a team of legal experts is tending to your case, gives you peace of mind and allows you to concentrate on healing and feeling better rather than worrying about legal hassles.

How much does it cost to hire an attorney?

We offer free consultations to potential clients.

Additionally, if you decide to pursue your personal injury claim with our firm, your case will be handled on a “contingent fee” basis.

This means you won’t pay a dime in attorney’s fees or litigation costs unless or until you receive money from your case.

Peter Wetherall has almost 30 years of federal and state court litigation experience, and has tried over 50 cases to a jury. He has also argued numerous appeals before the Nevada Supreme Court, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court.

More questions?