Question And Answer

1. How do I pay for my legal fees?
   Depending on the type of case, you will pay for consultation initially in which we meet with you in person or on the phone, look at your documents and discuss your case. If we determine that we may be able to represent you and you want to hire us, you will then pay a minimum fee or a retainer for your legal services (less your initial consultation fee). Personal Injury, Wrongful Death and Medical Malpractice cases are taken on a contingency fee basis. This means that if there is no recovery, you owe us nothing for our services, and there is no initial fee for your consultation with us.
2. How do I pay for my medical expenses?
   You are responsible for making arrangements with your medical care providers for payment of your medical expenses during the case. Occasionally providers will accept what is called an “Assignment of Proceeds”. This is a contract with you, your provider and our office. It gives us your authority to pay certain providers out of your settlement or recovery, if one is made. Nevertheless you are responsible for payment on your medical bills at all times. It is not the responsibility of our law office.
3. What are expenses that will be incurred in my case?
   There are several kinds of expenses that may be incurred depending on the type of case you have. There are filing fees which begin at $80 and go up from there depending on what needs to be filed and the Court we file your case with. There are out of pocket expenses such as travel, long distance phone calls, sending and receiving faxes, paralegal time, costs for medical records, and postage that may be incurred. Additionally, there are expenses associated with hiring investigators and/or other expert witnesses, and taking or having depositions taken. These costs are in addition to your legal fees. Legal fees are what we earn in the prosecution of your case.
4. How do I pay for the litigation expenses of the case?
   Depending on they type of case Michael D. Zwickl Law Office will advance the expenses and we will be paid back by you when there is a recovery. If it is not a contingency fee case, your expenses are included on your monthly bill.
5. How do you decide whether you will take my case?
   We look at each case individually as it comes in and evaluate it with regard to its merits, our present caseload, and the work that will be involved in the case. If we believe that we can be of service to you, we will take the case. Sometimes, if we are unable to help you, we know of other lawyers who can help and we will refer you to them.
6. How long does the process take?
   The time your case will take depends largely on what type of case it is as well as what court we file your case in and what the specifications of the Pretrial Order set down by that Court may be. Once we have all of this information, we are in a better position to estimate the time to trial.
7. How much is my case worth?
   The value of each case is different and must be evaluated separately. In a personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death or faulty products case, we generally won’t value your case initially, until we have had a chance to collect and review all of your medical records and assess the liability issues. Prior to making a demand on the insurance company, or the claim adjustor for the potential defendant, we will discuss the value of your case with you. However, you must also know that there is never a guarantee of any recovery.
8. I don’t live in Wyoming. How can you take my case?
   We are licensed to practice in Wyoming and Colorado. If, however, you live in a state where we are not licensed, we associate with competent local counsel and work closely with them on your case. Since we associate with local counsel we are able to appear and practice in states where we are not licensed, and in fact associate with attorneys in Colorado, Utah, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico on a regular basis.
9. Who from your law firm will work on my case?
   We have many people at any given time working on your case and often times it is the legal assistants that you will converse with on a regular basis. However, be assured that there are many people, including lawyers and legal assistants investigators, and expert witnesses working daily to bring your case to a successful conclusion.
10. What is a deposition?
    During the course of your case you will most likely have to give a deposition. A deposition is a sometimes lengthy statement that is given under oath before a certified court reporter. All parties and their lawyers are present and may ask questions. We will meet with you prior to your deposition to answer any specific questions and when your deposition is taken we will prepare for it with you and one of the lawyers in this office will be there to represent you.
11. If my case settles, how long will it take before I receive money?
    Typically, once a case is settled, documents must be exchanged between both parties of the lawsuit. This process usually takes 15-30 days, but can take longer if your case involves special circumstances.
12. Will you speak with me before settling my case?
    Yes, no case is ever settled without your expressed consent. Whenever settlement negotiations are initiated by either party you will be informed and it is only with your full participation, advice, and consent that your case will be settled.