How do I know if I need an attorney?

One of the most common questions that people have is whether or not they should hire an attorney to assist them. The answer to this question depends on your answer to a second. How important is the fair and proper settlement of your claim to you and your family? If a fair and proper settlement is important to you, then you should hire me to represent you.

In spite of the "good neighbor" jingle that you hear on television, your interests and those of the insurance company are in opposition to each other. It is vital to remember that an insurance company's business is to settle claims for the lowest amount possible. Experienced claims adjustors do this by engaging you in conversation that is designed to obtain information that will work to your disadvantage at the time of settlement. An experienced claims adjustor will give you the impression that they are going to be cooperative and fair with you while the wheels of the insurance company machine are turning in the background to minimize the value of your claim.  Don’t jeopardize your legal rights by giving a statement (recorded or otherwise) or by signing any release of medical or work information.

Also, the actual negotiation process between an unrepresented person and a claims adjustor is a mismatch because the claims adjustor is trained in the art of negotiation and has negotiated thousands of claims. The unrepresented person has neither the training nor the experience. Unfortunately, if you are unrepresented, by the time your claim reaches this stage, much of what I could have done for you will no longer be possible because of everything that has happened before you retained me.

Our firm works with your doctors and is knowledgeable in the medical aspects of your claim. We are able to monitor your care and provide insight to you as you receive medical care. As a result, your claim will be more clearly documented and more accurately presented to the insurance company in the settlement process.

There is no obligation just to talk to us to see if I can help you.

How do I charge to assist you?

Initial consultations are free, and attorney fees are only charged if we are successful in recovering an award for you. Attorney fees are based on a percentage of any recovery we make for you. All expenses that are necessary to present your claim are advanced by the firm and deducted from any recovery at the conclusion of the case and paid for out of the settlement. This takes the financial burden off of our clients and enables us to effectively represent them.

Why should I hire William Graves?

At William S. Graves, P.C. you do not have to wonder who is working for you. Many firms regularly shuffle staff and attorneys and your claim is just another file number. We often hear that many clients do not even get to talk to, let alone meet, the attorney that is working on their claim. I am directly involved in each of my client’s cases. I and my staff are available when you need us and when you call my office, you will talk with a person, not a voice mailbox.

We provide many additional services at no additional cost. This is a list of some (but by no means all) of the services that we provide to our clients:

• Helping you with the repair of your car
• Coordinating a rental vehicle
• Helping you find a doctor to treat your injuries
• Coordinating insurance benefits, including workman’s compensation, health insurance and medical payments coverage
• Discussing your automobile insurance coverage

Our goal is to allow you to focus on getting better and back to your normal activities, rather than worrying about the stress of dealing with the insurance adjuster and all the issues involved with resolving your claim.