Maine Accident Lawyers

Serving The Entire State of Maine Including: Bangor, Biddeford, Lewiston, and Portland

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How do I know if I have a good case?

You probably need expert legal help in determining the merits of your case. That's why Lowry & Associates, Maine's premier accident lawyers, offer a free, no-obligation initial consultation. And we will “tell it like it is” giving you the straight story about whether we think you have a good case and have a chance of recovering money for your injury or situation.

Q. What if I can't afford legal fees?

You needn't worry. We take accident cases, injury cases and nursing home cases on a contingency basis, which means you don't pay a fee unless and until we recover money for you.

Q. The insurance company representative says I don't need an accident lawyer. Is this true?

Insurance Companies have very experienced representatives, who are highly trained and skilled at handling claims. They would obviously prefer to deal with claimants who have no training or experience. It is always advisable to discuss your claim with an accident lawyer before dealing with an insurance company.

Q. I don't have health insurance. Who will pay for my medical bills?

In some situations, the insurer for the at-fault party will advance payment for initial accident-related medical bills, however, very often after the payment for a few visits, they will shut you off in hopes that you will settle cheaply to make sure that your bills get paid.

You should know that Maine law requires that every auto policy has at least $1,000 of medical coverage to pay for accident-related medical bills. You should check your policy to see if you have more than the minimum and submit medical bills to your own auto insurance company. You should be aware that your insurance company has a right to be paid back if you eventually settle with the person who caused the accident.

Additionally, many hospitals are required to provide free hospital care for individuals below a certain income. Check with your local hospital to see if you meet these guidelines.

Q. What can I do if the person who caused the accident doesn't have insurance?

Even though Maine law requires all registered vehicles to be insured, unfortunately, there are still many uninsured drivers on the roads. The best way to protect yourself from losses caused by an uninsured driver is to have adequate collision coverage to pay for damage to your vehicle, medical payments coverage to pay for medical bills, and uninsured motorist coverage which will pay for additional medical bills, wage loss and pain and suffering in the event that the at-fault driver is uninsured or doesn't have enough insurance to pay for your claim. Uninsured motorist coverage is often difficult to understand and in the event you are injured by an uninsured driver, you should immediately contact an experienced accident lawyer.

Q. The person who injured me only has minimum coverage and my medical bills and wage loss are more than his policy limits. He has no other money. Doesn't it make sense for me to settle for the minimum now?

Absolutely not. In the event that the at-fault driver's insurance coverage is far less than the value of your claim, if you have adequate underinsured motorist coverage, you may be able to recover additional monies from your own insurance company. However, once you settle with the at-fault driver's insurance, you may lose your right to pursue this additional coverage. In this situation, it is very important to always consult an experienced accident lawyer.

Q. How much is my claim worth?

The answer to this question varies greatly depending on the nature of the injury and the circumstances of the case. The value of the claim is usually determined by many factors, including the following:

• the severity and impact of the injury
• the likelihood of prevailing (winning) at trial
• the amount of medical bills and lost earnings incurred
• the length of treatment
• the degree of severity of the pain or discomfort experienced
• whether the problem is permanent in nature and results in a permanent disability

and other important factors. Only after these factors are evaluated can an estimate be made of the value of a claim. Sometimes people listen to rumors of settlement amounts that create unrealistic expectations. Having handled thousands of cases for Maine citizens, your Lowry & Associates accident lawyers are exceptionally well equipped to determine a reasonable value of your case, taking into consideration all of the many variables. And we will tell you the straight truth, without any hype or inflated promises.

Q. Will I have to go to trial to collect what is due to me or can we settle out of court?

The vast majority of injury claims that we handle are settled without having to go to court. Certain situations are more likely to be tried, especially when there is a disagreement as to responsibility for the accident or as to the extent or permanency of the injuries. However, the litigation process is expensive and often involves long delays, sometimes years. We generally recommend that suit not be initiated until it is clear that settlement is unlikely.

Q. How long will it be until settlement negotiations start?

This depends on many factors. Generally, we do not recommend settlement negotiations until your recovery is complete or your condition has stabilized and there won't be any unanticipated medical expenses, income loss, or additional pain or discomfort we don't know about. This is important because a settlement is the final disposition of your claim without future recourse.

Unfortunately, many injuries result in permanent or chronic conditions, which sometimes mean lifelong discomfort or even disability. In order to maximize recovery in these cases, persuasive medical documentation must be obtained. In these situations, doctors often like to wait and see what happens before they give an opinion as to the permanency, degree of disability or likelihood that the condition will not improve or worsen. However, our experienced staff will do everything possible to ensure that your case is prepared for settlement negotiations at the earliest possible point.

If you or a loved one has been injured anywhere in Maine including Portland and Bangor, because of another person's negligence, please e-mail or call us today at 1-800-999-LEGAL.

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Lowry & Associates Attorneys

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