1. Do you charge a fee for a consultation?
2. How will I pay attorney fees?
3. If you are unable to recover any money for my claim, will I owe you a fee?
4. When should I contact an attorney?
5. When should I settle my case?
6. Do most cases need to go to trial to recover damages?
7. In regards to personal injuries, how does a previous injury affect the value of my claim?
8. What are the factors affecting whether monetary damages can be recovered?
9. What is a normal settlement amount for personal injuries?
10. If I'm accused of a crime, am I guaranteed a trial by a jury?
11. What is bail and how is it set?
12. Must fault be found against a spouse for a divorce to be granted in Texas?

Do you charge a fee for a consultation?

Sometimes.  Business dipsutes and civil litigation cases require amodest consultation fee.  However, for most personal injury cases and collection cases, there is no charge for an initial attorney consultation and case evaluation. In either situation, you are under no obligation to use our firm to represent you.

How will I pay attorney fees?

Our attorneys represent personal injury accident clients on a contingency fee basis, which means a percentage of the recovery is used to cover the fee for your personal injury or other similar claim.

All other cases are based on an hourly fee which is to be paid each month.

If you are unable to recover any money for my claim, will I owe you a fee?

If the matter is for personal injury or collection of a debt, then No. If the matter is for a business dispute, then Yes.

When should I contact an attorney?

Time is often important in legal claims, so we suggest you contact us immediately. For many cases, taking action on a legal issue as soon as possible is essential. Crucial evidence is often lost, and witnesses are either forgotten or unavailable as time passes. Evidence and witnesses can be critical to a successful claim. Contact us immediately for an individual case evaluation of your potential claim.

When should I settle my case?

It would be premature to discuss a settlement until the nature and extent of your injuries, or conflict, are fully known. A settlement typically resolves quicker than going to trial. Your case would need to be thoroughly reviewed to determine if a settlement is in your best interests.

Do most cases need to go to trial to recover damages?

Most cases we handle never go to trial. Statistically, the majority of legal cases are settled through mediation without going to trial. At Griffin W. Collie, Attorney at Law we pride ourselves on our results whether by settlement or trial.

In regards to personal injuries, how does a previous injury affect the value of my claim?

A careless or negligent party may only be responsible for the injury they caused. The third party may not be responsible to compensate you for a condition that already existed prior the incident. However, if it is proven that the negligence made the injury worse, you can be awarded damages for an aggravation of your pre-existing condition.

What are the factors affecting whether monetary damages can be recovered?

Personal Injury cases address four main issues:

• Liability - was a third party negligent in any way?
• Causation - did the negligent conduct cause an injury?
• Damages - what is the amount that will fairly and adequately compensate you for your injuries
• Source of collection - is there insurance or other assets from which monetary damages can be recovered?
  
  

What is a normal settlement amount for personal injuries?

Every legal case is different. There is no standard measure of compensation. However, there are various factors which will be considered when negotiating a fair settlement. The monetary value of a legal claim is determined when we review and interpret the case information, such as:

• The strength of liability and causation from evidence and witnesses
• The total amount of medical bills incurred from the personal injury
• The amount of medical bills that may be incurred in the future
• Loss of past income or loss of employment
• Loss of future earning capacity and working ability
• Extent of the injuries sustained, and how they have affected you and your family in the past
• How your injuries will likely affect you and your family in the future
• Precedents set by other similar cases
  
  

If I'm accused of a crime, am I guaranteed a trial by a jury?

The U.S. Constitution gives any person accused of a crime the right to be tried by a jury. However, this right does not extend to petty offenses. These are defined as offenses that do not carry a sentence of more than six months.

This right to a trial by jury commonly means a 12-person jury that must arrive at a unanimous decision to convict or acquit. However, a jury can constitutionally consist of as few as six people. The size of juries tends to vary depending on the seriousness of the charge. In many states, a lack of unanimity is generally called a "hung jury" and the defendant will go free unless the prosecutor decides to retry the case.

What is bail and how is it set?

Bail is allowed in virtually all cases, including felonies. The amount of the bail is set by the judge. Its sole purpose is to guarantee the defendant will appear in court for later proceedings. If you fail to appear, your bail will be forfeited and a new warrant will be issued for your arrest. If you cannot post or put up the bail, you will be kept in police custody.

The presiding judge when setting the bail amount is required to consider not only the seriousness of the offense charged against the defendant, but also the defendant's ability to raise money to make bail.

Must fault be found against a spouse for a divorce to be granted in Texas?

No. In Texas, a divorce may be granted without either party being at fault. A divorce may also be granted when one party is found to be at fault in the break-up of the marriage.