Frequently Asked Questions
Slama Legal Group works on a contingency fee agreement. This means you pay no attorneys fees unless we recover money for you. Once we accept a case, we advance all the litigation expenses. These are expenses such as court costs, expert witnesses, deposition costs and all necessary records. Case expenses are repaid out of the recovery (settlement or verdict).
The length of time your case will take depends on its complexity. Some cases can be resolved without litigation, but others must be filed and even tried or appealed. Typically, a case can take many months or even years from the time it is filed to the time it is resolved.
It depends on the type of case you have and the party you intend to sue. Typically, the statute of limitations in a negligence case is two years. In other words, you have two years from the date of the negligence, or the date you discovered the negligence, within which to file your claim. Wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the date of death. Cases that involve injuries to minor children may be filed up to the age of majority (19th birthday), however most are filed much sooner than that.
There are different rules for political subdivisions. A political subdivision is an entity created by or run by a state governmental entity, such as a city or county hospital. These entities must be put on notice of your claim within one year.
Keep in mind, a lot of research and investigation must be done before a lawsuit can be filed. In certain types of cases, such as medical malpractice cases, there are additional requirements that must be complied with before any lawsuit can be filed, such as hiring expert witnesses. If you are considering a lawsuit, do not wait to contact an attorney. Delaying may jeopardize your ability to file your case.
No. All consultations are FREE and we pay all costs of investigation. If we accept your case, we work on a contingency fee, meaning you owe us no fee unless we recover money for you.
In order for us to evaluate your case, we will need your medical records. Generally, you are entitled to a copy of your own medical records. There are exceptions for certain types of mental health records. To get your records, contact your doctor’s office, or the hospital or clinic’s medical records department. You will have to sign a form and pay for the copies.
Paper copies cost fifty-cents ($0.50) per page, and the records could be hundreds, if not thousands of pages, adding up to a big charge. You can ask for the records to be transmitted electronically, in which case the cost will be limited to no more than $200.00. You can also access key records from your patient portal and download needed information without incurring a charge. If you need help obtaining your medical records, call us at Slama Legal Group.