Child and Gordon - expectations

What can I expect of Child & Gordon in a personal injury case?

California's Premier

Personal Injury Law Firm

(888) 932-2170

Frequently Asked Questions

Here is a list of the tasks that we may do for you in a personal injury case. Remember that each case is different, and that not all of these tasks will be required in every case: Initial interview with the client by and attorney (we make visits out of our office for the convenience of our clients); Educate client about personal injury claims and process; Gather documentary evidence including police accident reports, medical records and bills; Analyze the client’s insurance policy to see whether there is any coverage which the client has that may pay all or a portion of the medical bills while the claim is pending; Analyze the client’s insurance coverage and make suggestions as to what coverage should be purchased for future protection; Interview known witnesses; Collect other evidence, such as photographs of the accident scene; Talk to the client’s physicians or obtain written reports from them to fully understand the client’s condition; Find medical providers that will work on a lien for clients with no health insurance or other benefits; Gather all forensic medical information and analyze causation and injuries, and obtain additional independent medical expert witness opinion, biomechanical expert witness opinions, or accident reconstructionist expert witness opinions, and corresponding objective factual evidence and medical forensic diagnostic studies as per physicians recommendations; Analyze the client’s health insurance policy or welfare benefit plan to ascertain whether any money they spent to pay your bills must be repaid pursuant to statutory lien subrogation rights; Analyze the validity of any liens on the case such as doctors, insurance companies, welfare benefit plans and employers may assert that they are entitled to all or part of the client’s recovery; Contact the insurance company to put them on notice of the claim, if this has not already been done; Decide with the client whether an attempt will be made to negotiate the case with the insurance company or whether a lawsuit shall be filed, and render legal analysis of liability, causation, and damages to the extent possible at this stage; If suit is filed, serve defendant, prepare the client, witnesses and health care providers for depositions; Prepare written questions and answers and take the deposition of the defendant and other witnesses; Produce to the defendant all of the pertinent data for the claim, such as medical bills, medical records, and tax returns; Go to court/file court documents for pertinent court dates such as case management conferences and to set a trial date; Prepare for trial and/or settlement before trial & prepare expert witnesses & client; Organize the prepare highly qualified experts for trial for medical testimony, biomechanical testimony, accident reconstructionist testimony, vocational rehabilitationist testimony, and other expert testimony; Prepare highly effective cross-examination questions to be used on defendants’ experts based on the medical records, forensic diagnostic studies, and sound medical science supported by publications and journals personally researched by our firm attorneys; Organize the preparation of demonstrative exhibits for trial; Prepare for mediation and/or arbitration; File briefs and motions with the court to eliminate surprises at trial, and/or eliminate prejudicial or other faulty evidence relied upon by the Defendant; Take the case to trial with a jury or judge; Analyze the jury’s verdict to determine if either side has good grounds to appeal the case Make recommendations to the client as to whether or not to appeal the case. (However, our contract with you does not obligate us to participate in any appeal.); At any point in the above, settle the case with the insurance carrier, process all final release documentation, checks, pay medical provider’s liens and other providers liens out of client trust account, and pay the client.