Frequently Asked Questions


  1. How much does it cost to speak to you about my case?
  2. Who pays for my car repairs?
  3. Can I rent a car if mine is totaled or being repaired?
  4. What about my lost wages?
  5. How are you paid?
  6. What if I didn't have insurance at the time of the accident but it was not my fault?
  7. Do you help me receive treatment?
  8. Will I have to pay for the treatment?
  9. How much can I receive for pain and suffering?
  10. How is the amount received from pain and suffering determined?
  11. Do I have to go to court?
  12. What does Sullivan Law Group do to help me with my case?
  13. How do you investigate?
  14. Why should I hire you over people who advertise on TV?

1. How much does it cost to speak to you about my case?

Nothing. I offer a free consultation. What happens is, you call our office. One of our intake specialists will speak to you about your accident. They then provide me with information and ask that I speak to you. I then, PERSONALLY, contact you about your case and speak to you. I'll provide you with the best counsel I can provide whether I accept your case or whether I do not. Even if I can not accept your case, we will still provide you guidance. Our goal is to help you whether or not you are our client.

2. Who pays for my car repairs?

The fastest and easiest way to deal with your auto repair is through your own insurance company and your personal collision coverage. However, it is also possible to have your insurance company present the claim to the other party's carrier.

3. Can I rent a car if mine is totaled or being repaired?

Again, the easiest way to handle things is via your own insurance company. However, if the other driver accepts fault, their insurance company should cover a rental car.

4. What about my lost wages?

Verifiable lost wages are available through Personal Injury Protection (PIP). However, the fact is, the money you receive from PIP may not be enough to cover your expenses and/or your lost wages.

5. How are you paid?

We work on a contingency fee basis in regards to any auto or motorcycle accident claim. In other words, unless you have a successful recovery, we are not paid. And, at no time do I ever ask you to pay me. My pay comes from the money received from the insurance company. The only time we accept a fee is if you are at fault, did not have insurance and the other driver's insurance company is suing you.

6. What if I didn't have insurance at the time of the accident but it was not my fault?

That doesn't change anything. If you were not liable for the accident, then the other driver's insurance policy should pay for your medical bills, car repair, loss of employment, etc.

7. Do you help me receive treatment?

Absolutely! I'm not doctor or chiropractor, but I happen to know quite a few! We have a network of chiropractors and doctors that we can refer you to for treatment.

8. Will I have to pay for the treatment?

It would be unusual for you to have to pay for your treatment when the other driver is at fault. Most times what happens is we contact your insurance company regarding your PIP. We make sure all payments are directed to the proper parties whether that be an emergency room, ambulance service, doctor or chiropractor. There may be times that the treatment provider bills your personal insurance. Those situations are very rare.

9. How much can I receive for pain and suffering?

I hate to answer a question with “it depends” however, it really does depend! Every situation is different. Insurance companies utilize internal systems and calculations designed to ensure they do not lose money. They are not going to hand you a $50,000 check simply because you claim to be hurt. There must be evidence to support your pain and suffering from an independent medical provider.

10. How is the amount received from pain and suffering determined?

Most times the amount is determined by a calculation which includes the amount of your medical bills, lost wages and property loss versus the amount of the coverage. However, another factor in that determination is my ability to negotiate on your behalf. Most insurance companies will through out a low ball offer and hope the attorney is not willing to advocate on your behalf. Unless the first offer from the insurance company is for the maximum amount of the policy, I won't ever advise you to accept their first offer. The insurance company is making its' offer, not for your benefit, but for their own. Always remember that an offer of $25,000 may seem like a lot of money. But, if your medical bills are $22,000 then it really is not. My suggestion is that you utilize the calculator I have on my website. That will provide you an estimate of what I would attempt to settle your case for.

11. Do I have to go to court?

Not necessarily. In fact, almost every car accident case is settled before or just after litigation has begun. A settlement normally benefits everyone. The insurance company saves money by not having to pay attorneys to defend our litigation. Also, they don't have to take a chance that a jury sympathizes with an accident victim and awards a very large amount. We benefit by not having to pay the costs for litigation and not having to wait out stall tactics designed to force you to settle your claim for less than you should.

12. What does Sullivan Law Group do to help me with my case?

We investigate your claim, evaluate the severity of your injuries, and make sure you receive fair and reasonable compensation.

13. How do you investigate?

We obtain all 911 calls, police records, medical records and any statements made by the parties. We take recorded statements by witnesses and make the determination of whether you or the other party is at fault. Remember, just because a police officer says you are at fault, that doesn't end the investigation. So much of the initial weeks after an accident are about information collection, that determining who your attorney is going to be quickly plays a factor in the strength of your case. In some instances, we may need to hire a private investigator to obtain the information we need.

14. Why should I hire you over people who advertise on TV?

I'm not going to tell you that you should hire me over someone who advertises frequently on billboards and television. You should hire the attorney you trust. The fact of the matter is, you have many many options. However, I will say that we provide personal service. I speak and meet with every client. I also limit my practice so that I can provide the personal service everyone deserves. If being able to speak to a licensed attorney to answer your questions instead of a paralegal is important to you, then I hope you choose Sullivan Law Group to represent your interests.


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