Personal Injury Attorney Mobile - An Interview with Sidney Jackson
Q. Tell us about yourself and your practice.
A.I have been practicing in Mobile Al. for over 25 years. I am board certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocates. I take seriously the fact that most people do not have or need a lawyer, until something bad happens, such as a serious injury or death to a loved one caused by another’ s negligence. We try very hard to professionally obtain through the courts maximum compensation for our clients. My practice covers injuries caused by car wrecks, defective products, unsafe premises and accidents. I also represent individuals and business, who have been wronged by insurance companies or other businesses. I can be contacted at sid@jacksonfosterlaw.com
Q. Do you offer initial free consultations?
A.Yes. If I do not take your case there is no charge, even if I incur investigative or other expenses such as retaining an expert. If I take the cas, I am paid a percentage of the recovery. This is called contingency fee. If there is no recovery there is no attorney fee.
Q. If a mom asked you to tell us what does personal injury mean what would you say?
A.Personal injury is an injury to your body, including mental injuries and emotional distress. It also covers derivative claims, such as a wife having to care of her injured child or husband.
Q. Do you always pay the expenses up front?
A.Yes.
Q. What is the process to file a personal injury lawsuit?
A.It’ s pretty simple. A document setting out the facts, legal theory and what you are asking for called a “ Complaint” is filed electronically with the Court and away you go.
Q. How long after an incident does one have to hire an Attorney?
A.In Alabama, you have two years from the date of the accident or incident to file a complaint. It is a mistake to wait any length of time, because the culprit can build a defense while no one is watching. Turning the case over to a lawyer gets someone working for you and can give you such simple advice as “ do not talk to anyone about your case and do not give a statement” .
Q. Can a person recover damages for injuries sustained on someone else's property?
A.Yes. The classic case is a person slipping on a wet floor at a store or restaurant. You have to show that the business had knowledge of the dangerous condition and did not repair or warn. This holds true for injuries at a residence but the burden of proof is higher. For example if your neighbor’ s dog mauls your child you have to prove the dog had previously bitten someone or has vicious propensities.
Q. How does one know if he/she has a case?
A.Most cases I handle have three ingredients, liability (someone is at fault), damages (medical bills, lost wages, permanent injury) and a means to collect (insurance money). Even if you are not sure, if you have a case consult a lawyer and do it promptly.
Q. Who is responsible when a person is injured?
A.The person or business at fault. Often, there is more than one player at fault and it may be someone you don’ t even know about. An example could be the bar that served alcohol to a drunken person, who later caused a wreck.
