Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I pay my lawyers?
A:
At Tom Craig's law office there is no fee for the initial consultation. From there, if you decide to hire the office and the office decides to take your case, there is absolutely no fee unless we recover money for you by way of settlement or collect a judgement (unless however, you choose to hire the firm on an hourly basis). In almost all cases, the fee is 1/3 of the gross recovery plus the reasonable and necessary litigation expenses.

Q: What kinds of cases are handled at the Thomas Craig law office?
A:
Only serious personal injury and wrongful death. We do require that the injury be significant and that you be willing, available and cooperative as may be necessary.

Q: How long do I have to sue?
A:
In New Hampshire, generally the Statute of Limitations is three years. You must remember, however, that certain investigation and document gathering is necessary before a case can be put in suit. Also, witnesses disappear and their memories fade. At our law office we strongly recommend that you get an attorney involved and the investigation instituted promptly after you have taken care of your immediate medical needs.

Q: How can I help my lawyer?
A:
If you have any accident reports, medical records and bills, and lost earnings information, bring these with you to the initial interview.

Q: How long will the process take?
A:
There is no certain answer to this question. We move as quickly as possible but a wide range of factors can affect the resolution of your case. No case should be settled or brought to trial until you have completed your medical treatment and your treating physicians can reasonably predict the future effects of the injury upon you. Sometimes this medical treatment process can go on for 12-18 months before your physicians can accurately predict your future. Only then should a case be settled or tried.

Q: How often can a I expect to hear from you?
A:
It varies with each case. The client is instructed to send us medical bills as they are incurred and copies are available to them. If 30-45 days go by and we receive no bills the client should expect a call questioning the whereabouts of the bills. Generally a case is not ready for settlement until after treatment is completed. Before that point in time, we stand available to assist with respect to issues such as property damage, rental, health coverage concerns and medical payments coverage. We don’t initiate contact with the client for that purpose but if we hear from them we help out.

Q: What is the estimated time line for cases?
A:
Generally 18-24 months. Clients have to complete treatment before their case can be fully evaluated. Only then should their physicians estimate their prognosis or future problems from this injury. Physicians do everything they can to bring a patient back to full recovery before estimating future problems from the injury.

Q: What should I know about getting medical treatment for my injury?
A:
It is difficult to convince anyone that an injury is serious unless client obtains medical treatment for it. If it hurts get treatment. If your doctor tells you to get further treatment such as therapy, pain clinic, MRI, then do so.

Q: Are there some Do’s and Don’ts?
A:
Yes:

  1. Do get the medical treatment necessary for the injury.
  2. Do get copies of bills from medical providers.
  3. Do get copies of medical bills to your attorney.
  4. Don’t talk to insurance adjusters. If an insurance adjuster calls, tell him or her you have an attorney and politely hang up.
  5. Don’t mix medical treatment with your legal claim. Keep them separate.
  6. Do presume defendant’s carrier will get copies of all your records.
  7. Do presume that what you tell your provider gets written down. If you talk to your provider about your legal claim, the insurance company will learn of this conversation.

Q: How are cases evaluated?
A:
New Hampshire courts permit compensation for the following aspects of injury, both past and future:

  • Medical bills.
  • Lost wages.
  • Loss or interference with enjoyment of life.
  • Pain and suffering.
  • Loss of consortium.
  • On some rare occasions, enhanced compensatory damages.
Your case will be evaluated based upon how your injury meets each of the above categories. For example: If you are a champion ski jumper and suffer a leg injury, your case would be worth more than the same injury for someone who does not engage in athletics.

Q: What are the negotiation and settlement procedures?
A:
Once we have all the medical bills and lost wages and have received a report from your physician as to how this injury will affect you in the future, we then discuss the case with you. During discussion we determine how the injury has affected your life. We then get on the same wave length with you as to the case value. After that point we contact the insurance carrier in an attempt to obtain the appropriate settlement amount.

Q: Under what circumstances may a law suit be necessary?
A:
We find that cases valued in the area of $20,000.00 or more generally require a law suit. Serious cases don’t settle until after insurance carrier’s lawyers have examined every medical record ever generated by the claimant and after the claimant has been deposed by the carrier’s attorney. Cases with less than $20,000.00 in value may settle prior to law suit.

Q: If I have more questions, how can I get them answered?
A:
Use the email link to send an email question or call. Our toll free number is 1-800-564-1902. We will answer any question about your injury, your accident, or your possible case.