[onlymedid]

Not sure where else to put this, so if it belongs elsewhere, feel free to move it.

How would you approach this situation? I went to talk to a lawyer about my car accident from April. The other guys insurance co. was really nice, no biggie, but I wanted to cover my own behind just in case they tried to take advantage of my stupidity.

Anyways, I talked to the guy I was going to hire as a lawyer and he quoted me a starting percentage of 28% and then it would go up if we talked about going to court and then up again if it was within 2 weeks of court and then up again 1 week til court, etc. Well, he sent me a contract in the mail to sign and send back to him...it starts at 33%!!! What the heck?

I want to tell him that I will not sign because he quoted me a start of 28%, but I still need a lawyer, too....I don't know what I should say to him. Confronting people is not an easy thing for me to do...especially since he is an "authority" figure. He already told me that I would be lucky if I got the bills covered!! Then I would have to pay HIM on top of that!

Do I call and just say, "um...you quoted me 28% in person and now the contract says 33%"?
Maybe I should just take my chances with the other guys insurance? I will still have to pay to get all of my medical records....



BJ

[bebop]

you need to find an attorney that will take it contingency. settle on percentage before you walk out of the office. I think it may top out at 33%

[onlymedid]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
bebop said:
you need to find an attorney that will take it contingency. settle on percentage before you walk out of the office. I think it may top out at 33%

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

It is contingency based. We didn't settle before I walked out because he didn't have any paperwork for me to sign or anything.
On the paperwork it goes from:
-"33% of any settlement or recovery obtained in said action before a Complaint is filed"

and goes to

-"40% of any settlement in said action within 4 weeks of trial or of any verdict or recovery obtained if the matter goes to trial, plus any fees which may be rewarded by the Court, or if the matter is appealed, plus any fees awarded by the Appellate Court"

Maybe I just need to get up the guts to call him and figure out what he was talking about in the office. I feel like I got lied to and I don't like it.

Maybe I just need to find another lawyer to talk to!

[Doh2007]

I think 33% is pretty standard. I've never heard of the other increases.

You could call and say, "I just wanted to check something with you. I thought we agreed to start at 28%. Wasn't that what you said? I just wondered because on the contract I received, it says 33%."