I WAS WALKING AND A DRUNK DRIVER CAME OFF THE ROAD AND HIT ME.I SUFFERED INJURIES TO MY LEFT LEG AND CRUSHED MY FOOT.I SETTLED WITH INSURANCE AND RECEIVED A LARGE SUM OF MONEY.WHEN I RECEIVED THE MONEY THE LAWYER TOOK $137,000 DOLLARS FOR LEGAL FEES.CAN I GO AFTER ANYONE FOR THE LEGAL FEES(THE INSURANCE OR THE IMPAIRED DRIVER WHO WRECKED MY LIFE)AND CAN I RE-SUE FOR MORE BECAUSE I FEEL I WAS NOT COMPENSATED ENOUGH FOR THE DAMAGE TO ME ,MY FAMILY AND MY LIFE.THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.
2007-10-13 02:55:11 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Check the wording of your settlement. Insurance companies usually require that you sign away any further claims as a condition of the settlement. The legal fees are your responsibility and they are normally taken as a percentage of the settlement.
2007-10-13 03:04:58 · answer #1 · answered by fangtaiyang 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nope.
When you settled for a large sum - you signed a final release that ended all claims against the driver and the insurer. Your claim is over - done with- never never never to return.
Not to mention - hiring a lawyer to sue for lawyers fees - just increases the fees the lawyer gets paid -so you end up back in the same boat anyway. Plaintiffs lawyers did not go to law school for 3 years to work for free.
It was your choice to hire an attorney. Therefore it is your responsibility to pay the lawyer. The retainer contract you signed outlined that you are responsible for the lawyers fees/expenses and that it would come out of the settlement proceeds.
The drunk driver who hit you is responsible for the injury he caused - he's not responsible for your decisions. It was your decision to hire the attorney and it is your responsibility to pay him.
Guess...what...if you make poor investment choices and lose all the money you got paid you don't get to sue the drunk driver again 'cause of your boneheaded investment decisions.
If you do not feel you were properly compensated - talk to your attorney and see if he is willing to reduce his fee. He does not have too - you signed a contract that outlined what he would get paid in exchange for the service he rendered.
It was your decision to hire an attorney and your responsibility to pay his bill. Gee... personal responsibility for the decisions we make sucks sometimes.
2007-10-13 03:09:58 · answer #2 · answered by Boots 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sorry about your injuries, I hope you can
Good luck.
2007-10-13 03:01:53 · answer #3 · answered by John 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋