Personal Injury Attorney San Antonio - An interview with Sandra D. Laurel
Q. Tell us about yourself and your practice
A. I am a mother of 2 boys, ages 16 and 12. They keep me on my toes and play a lot of sports I am married and have practiced law since 1989. I have owned my own business since 1992 and have offices in San Antonio and Laredo. I am Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law but also practice Family Law and some business litigation.
Q.Do you offer free initial consultations?
A. We do offer free initial consultation either by phone or in person. I also speak Spanish if necessary.
Q. People have accidents every day, what separates a simple accident from one where a person should seek your firm’s assistance?
A. If a person is injured, then it is best to obtain legal representation so that your rights can be protected. The insurance company is interested in saving their company money, where as the injured individuals need someone protecting their rights and making sure that they receive what they are entitled to under the law.
Q. If a mom asked you to tell what does personal injury mean, what would you say?
A. Personal Injury means different types of injuries suffered by an individual. These include mental anguish, pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages and loss of earning capacity, disfigurement, impairment and loss of consortium and loss of household services.
Q. What is the process to file a personal injury lawsuit?
A. Initially, the case starts out as a claim and if not settled for numerous reasons, then a lawsuit is filed in the Court with proper venue.
Q. What type of personal injury claims are there?
A.There are numerous types of personal injury cases. The most common are auto accidents, trucking accidents, slip and falls and medical negligence. There are also sexual harassment lawsuits.
Q. How do legal fees work for most cases?
A. In most Personal Injury cases the fees are on a contingent basis. The more complicated the type of case the higher the fee. In other words the fee is contingent on the recovery. Therefore, if no recovery no fee. Most contingent contracts are at 33% pre-litigation and 40% after but they do vary. Typically medical malpractice cases are a higher contingency due to the complexity and expense of these types of cases.
Q. From a legal standpoint what is the meaning of pain and suffering?
A. Term used to describe the physical discomfort and distress, which are recoverable as elements of damage in personal injury cases, also known as Tort cases.
Q. What are the legal steps and costs involved with accident cases, or any other type of personal injury case such as car accidents, slips and falls, assaults, work injuries and defective products, medical or dental malpractice claims?
A. If you suspect that you have a case where you need representation, my advice is to choose a lawyer with experience in this area. Preferably, one who is Board Certified. This means they have more expertise in these types of cases. You can make an appointment with the lawyer who will evaluate the case and tell you what they recommend. There are no upfront costs with these types of cases initially, but generally any costs expended by the attorney are recouped at the time of settlement or judgment.
