Frequently Asked Questions

While every accident is different, following the steps below can help you prepare yourself for a successful car accident lawsuit:

• Check yourself and your passengers for injury. Call 911 immediately if anyone is hurt.
• Call the police and wait for them to arrive, even if you do not believe that you have been injured. A police report can corroborate your story and provide you with key evidence.
• Exchange information with the other driver(s), but do not admit fault.
• Take photos of the vehicles involved in the accident. If possible, take the photos from different angles and include debris, road conditions, and anything else that could be used as evidence in your case.
• If possible, move your vehicle out of traffic. If your vehicle is not drivable, wait in a safe place for police to arrive.
• Contact your insurance company. Again, do not admit fault. You can provide additional information at a later time.
• Seek medical attention, even if you do not feel injured after the accident. Adrenaline can mask pain and other symptoms, and in some cases, symptoms may take days or weeks to develop. Document and seek medical attention for any symptoms that do develop.

Contact a car accident attorney. The sooner you seek expert representation, the sooner you can begin your recovery.

Many car accident victims face high medical bills, lost wages, car repairs, and other economic damages following an accident. It is no surprise that many cannot afford the cost of crash scene reconstructions, visits to medical specialists, and other investigative services on top of the costs incurred by the accident.
The cost of pursuing justice and compensation should not deter you from speaking with an attorney at Metier Law Firm following an accident.
At Metier Law Firm, we understand that car accident victims face unique physical, emotional, and monetary challenges in the aftermath of a crash. You and your loved ones are going through a difficult time, and you should not have to worry about retainer fees or legal costs in addition to everything else you are experiencing. Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis and focus on winning your case before handling any of the financial aspects of your case. You, your family, and your recovery always come first.
 

The right representation can make the difference between a successful case and recovering only a fraction of what you need to recover.
Start by looking for an attorney who has experience with cases like yours. In many cases, car accidents have serious repercussions such as traumatic brain injuries, loss of limbs, spinal cord injuries, and other outcomes that require medical knowledge in addition to knowledge of the relevant laws and regulations. The best car accident attorneys will know how to determine the care required for short- and long-term recovery and fight tirelessly to secure the compensation you need to access it.
You should also choose an attorney who backs up their claims with results. Ask about outcomes in cases similar to yours, and look at the firm’s reputation as a whole. How much have they recovered for past clients? What do their clients have to say about working with the firm?
At Metier Law Firm, we have more than 30 years of experience handling car accident cases and will answer any questions you have about working with us.
 

If you are unable to work due to injuries you sustained in an accident, you may be eligible to pursue reimbursement for the costs of your medical care in addition to the economic losses you have suffered. However, it is unlikely that your costs will be reimbursed at the time the expenses are incurred, which is why it is important to contact a car accident attorney as soon as possible. The sooner you start your case, the sooner you can pursue a settlement.
At Metier Law Firm, ensuring that you can obtain the care you need is our top priority. Before your case is settled, we can help you determine whether your car insurance or health insurance can cover the initial costs as we work toward a settlement. Your attorney will discuss all of your options with you as the case progresses.
 

The damages for which you can pursue compensation can be broken into two main categories:
Economic damages: The cost of past and future medical care, the cost of rehabilitation, lost earning capacity, and other tangible damages that can be quantified.
Non-economic damages: Injuries sustained in the accident, pain and suffering, impairment, disfigurement, emotional distress, and other losses that cannot be as easily quantified.
Your attorney will help you determine which damages you can pursue following your accident.
 

Subrogation is the process by which your insurance company recovers the costs incurred by another insurance company’s insured (in most cases, the at-fault party). Your health insurance company may have covered the cost of the medical care required immediately after your accident. Once you have received your car accident settlement, the insurance company may make a claim on your settlement in order to reimburse their expenses. The attorneys at Metier Law Firm can help you determine whether your case will be affected by subrogation and what your options are.
 

In many cases, the other party’s insurance company will contact you immediately after the accident asking for a statement. They may come across as friendly or well-intentioned, but their ultimate goal is to obtain a statement that will ultimately hurt your case and allow them to give you the lowest settlement they can.
If the other party’s insurance company contacts you, tell them that you would like to speak with your attorney before providing them with a statement at a later date. Then, contact your attorney to discuss your next steps.
 

The first thing you should do is call 911. It doesn't matter if you feel like your injuries are big or small, your injuries need to be documented.  Second, get the name, phone number and insurance information of the vehicle's driver.  You aren't a medical expert and injuries can show up days or weeks after your crash.  Don't assume that you aren't injured because if you say "I'm fine," that can be used against you in your case.  
 

Bicycles are almost always required to follow traffic laws, but this can be confusing - even to police.  For example, cyclists have been ticketed for riding on the sidewalk in cities that allow riding on the sidewalks.  The best thing to do is seek advice and see if your riding contributed to the crash.  Even if you have been ticketed, it may not be appropriate or it may be different in criminal court than it is in civil court.  This can be complicated, so the best thing to do is seek advice and find out your options. 
 

As a motorcyclist, it is important to remember that you are entitled to the same rights and protections as any other driver on the road. However, many people — including bystanders, authorities, and insurance companies — view motorcycles as inherently dangerous and are inclined to blame the rider as soon as an accident occurs. At Metier Law Firm, we do not make assumptions and know that there is almost always more to the story. Distracted drivers, hazardous road conditions, faulty parts, and other factors can all injure even the most diligent riders.Following an accident, you may be facing high medical bills, lost wages, emotional trauma, and other economic and non-economic burdens that make it difficult to pursue the compensation you need to recover. Hiring a motorcycle accident attorney who can help you understand your rights and advocate on your behalf could be the difference between a settlement that relieves much of the financial burden caused by the accident, and receiving only a fraction of what you need. Our attorneys offer free, no-risk consultations to motorcycle accident victims and will help you understand your options so that you can make an informed decision for yourself and your loved ones.Learn more about why you should contact a motorcycle accident attorney.
 

We recommend contacting an attorney in your home state as soon as possible to discuss your options. In some cases, a motorcycle injury attorney in your home state may be licensed to practice in other states as well. Even if an attorney in your home state is not licensed to practice in the state in which you were injured, they may be able to refer you to skilled motorcycle accident attorneys in that state. In either case, contacting an attorney in your home state provides you with easy-to-access guidance as you pursue compensation for your injuries.
 

Many motorcycle accident claims are brought by riders who were injured in single-bike accidents. Some of these accidents are due to defective parts and hardware, and an experienced product liability attorney can help you understand why the crash occurred and how to attribute liability to the responsible party.In other cases, accidents are often caused by hazardous road conditions. These conditions include, but are not limited to:

• Improper signage
• Construction debris
• Potholes
• Grading highways
• Damaged or uneven pavement
• Gravel, sand, rocks, and loose dirt
• Trees and vegetation that block or obscure the road

Far too many injured riders receive little, or no compensation because they are unable to identify what caused their accident after it occurred. No matter what contributed to your accident, it is important to contact an experienced motorcycle injury attorney as soon as possible so that they can begin investigating the cause of the accident. At Metier Law Firm, we have access to premier investigative resources that have helped our clients recover hundreds of millions in settlements and verdicts.
 

The damages involved in a personal injury case typically include economic and non-economic damages. The former concerns easily calculable losses such as property damage, medical expenses, lost wages, lost economic opportunity, and future losses that can be reasonably expected as a result of the injury; the latter concerns losses or burdens incurred by the accident that are not as easily calculated. Non-economic damages often include pain and suffering, emotional trauma, disfigurement, and other serious repercussions a victim would not have otherwise experienced.Learn more about what you could receive from a personal injury settlement.
 

A report from Thomson Reuters Jury Verdict Research evaluating cases from 1994 to 2006 states that the average motorcycle accident claim is approximately $73,700. Keep in mind that this number has likely increased due to inflation and that some cases can be worth much more, depending on how severe the accident was and to which degree each party is held responsible. Although no two cases are exactly alike, the motorcycle accident attorneys at Metier Law Firm can help you understand how much you could receive from a claim.
 

Some of the most common mistakes riders often make following an accident include:

• Leaving the scene without calling the police and informing them that a crash occurred.
• Failing to collect insurance and contact information from any drivers involved in the accident.
• Assuming that no injuries occurred. In many cases, injuries manifest days or even weeks after an accident.
• Seeking medical care immediately after an accident will provide you with valuable evidence as you pursue your case.
• Assuming responsibility for the accident prematurely. Accidents happen quickly and it takes time to determine who is at fault. Even if you believe that your actions may have played a role in the accident, you should not assume responsibility until you and your attorney have all of the facts.
• Giving a statement to an insurance company. While you should report your crash so that you can claim the coverage to which you are entitled, speaking with a motorcycle accident attorney can help you avoid saying something that could negatively affect your case.

Learn more about what you should and should not do after a motorcycle accident, and always consult with your attorney if you have a question about something that could potentially compromise your case.
 

The answer to this question can quickly become complex and nuanced depending on the state in which the accident occurred and the circumstances that led to it. Generally speaking, failing to wear a helmet is more likely to negatively affect your case if the accident occurred in a state that requires riders to wear protective headgear. Violating the law by failing to wear a helmet while operating a motorcycle is likely to be considered negligence on your part, which could reduce the compensation you receive or bar you from recovering it altogether.In states like Wyoming, however, riders over the age of 18 are not required to wear helmets while operating a motorcycle. If you were to sustain an injury from an accident in Wyoming, you may be assigned a degree of blame for the damages you sustained if it can be shown that a helmet would have reduced the severity of the injuries or prevented them altogether.Even if you were injured in a state with mandatory helmet laws while riding without one, you should still discuss the circumstances of your accident with an experienced motorcycle accident attorney to become fully informed about your options.
 

Unfortunately, thousands of motorcycle accidents result in deaths that could have been avoided. In cases in which it can be shown that the negligent actions of another party caused the wrongful death of a motorcycle rider, the victim”s family members may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim to recover damages. Each state has different restrictions and timeframes in which a victim”s next of kin can take legal action.At Metier Law Firm, we provide families across the nation with Comfort, Safety and Strength™ as we fight to secure the justice and compensation they deserve. Learn more about wrongful death claims, and contact our office to speak with a motorcycle accident attorney who will put you and your family”s interests first.
 

Metier partners Tom Metier and Grant Lawson have spent their careers fighting for oil and gas workers hurt and killed on the job.  They know and understand the culture of the oilfield and have been fighting to make the oilfield a safer place for decades.  Tom and Grant know the different areas of drillings, completions and production operations and all the logistics involved with these areas.  And the Metier Firm knows and appreciates the hard work our oil and gas workers do and what their jobs and those paychecks mean to the workers and their families.  That is why we fight hard to get injured workers and their families the justice they deserve.
 

The majority of major accidents in the oilfield do not get the professional and thorough investigation they deserve.  The reason it is crucial to get an experienced and trained oilfield attorney as soon as possible, is to ensure that evidence is not lost or destroyed and to make sure that a full investigation with the right professionals takes place. 
 

If you have suffered injuries you may not be in the right state of mind to be answering questions. Pain, medications, stress, fatigue all may affect how you can recall events or how you feel about the accident.  Seek advice from a professional before giving statements or interviews. Especially with insurance companies whose only desire is to try to pay you less than you deserve and get statements that can later be used against you.

 

Every person and every situation is different.  You may face injuries and disabilities that prevent you from going back to the type of hard work you loved to do and made a good living from doing.  Taking care of yourself and getting the best medical care should be your top priority.  If you're limited in your ability to return to the oilfield for work, you should be compensated fully for this loss of income and the loss of identity and joy you had with your work.
 

No. Workers compensation coverage only aims to provide coverage for some medical expenses and a portion of lost wages.  Workers comp will not provide full payments and coverage for all future lost wages and potentially not all future medical needs. In addition, future care needs for serious injuries such as home care needs are not covered. Most importantly, workers compensation does not compensate for pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, disability, mental anguish including post-traumatic stress and other “invisible” psychological injuries and traumatic brain injuries. 
 

If you have been injured in a commercial trucking accident, hiring an experienced truck accident attorney is one of the best things you can do for yourself and anyone else affected by the crash.
Truck accidents often lead to serious injuries that require serious short-term treatment and years of intensive recovery. Your insurance may cover some of the costs of your immediate medical care, but it is unlikely that your benefits will cover lost wages, emotional distress, psychological injuries, and other consequences of the accident.
Insurance coverage will not pursue punitive damages, either. Unlike compensatory damages, which seek to award compensation for economic losses and non-economic consequences, punitive damages are brought against the liable party in order to punish them for their actions. Your attorney will advise you if you have the right to pursue punitive damages based on the circumstances of your accident.
It is also in your interests to contact a truck accident attorney right away to ensure that the causes of the accident are thoroughly investigated. Trucking companies have records of the hours their drivers were on the road, safety inspections, and other information that could be used as evidence in your case. Trucks also have onboard data systems that track important metrics, including those leading up to the accident. However, trucking companies often intentionally — and legally — erase the records that could be used against them. The longer you wait to contact a truck accident attorney to represent you, the stronger the opposition”s case against you could be.
 

Your case may require consultations with medical experts, crash scene reconstruction, and other investigative services. Few victims can afford these kinds of legal services immediately after an accident.
That should not stop you from contacting a truck accident attorney at Metier Law Firm if you have been injured.
At Metier Law Firm, we understand that you and your loved ones are going through an extraordinarily difficult time and have enough to think about. We do not charge retainer fees — we work on a contingency fee basis and focus on your case before anything else. We handle the financial part of your case only once we win or settle your case. You and your family are always our top priority.
 

No, you should not contact an auto accident attorney after a trucking accident. Although many people mistakenly — but understandably — contact auto accident law firms after sustaining serious injuries, trucking accidents are highly complex and need to be handled by someone with extensive experience.
Given that commercial trucks can weigh anywhere from 10,000 pounds to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded, accidents caused by commercial trucks are more likely to result in serious personal injuries. A highly skilled truck accident attorney will be able to work with medical specialists and other parties to determine what kind of care you will need as a result of your injuries.
Furthermore, truck accident cases often have more liable parties than the typical auto accident. The driver, corporation, truck manufacturer, and cargo loaders are just a few of the parties who could potentially be held liable for the accident. Each of these liable parties will also have their own attorneys, insurance companies and investigators that your law firm must be prepared to handle.
 

You should start by requesting a consultation to discuss your case. At Metier Law Firm, we offer free, no-risk consultations for our clients so that you can know what your options are. We will provide you with an honest, direct assessment of your case and do everything in our power to help you, even if you do not ultimately choose us to represent you.
During your consultation, you should ask about the firm”s attorneys and their experience with truck accidents, as well as their experience with cases similar to yours. Some injuries, like traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and amputations, require extensive knowledge that goes far beyond knowledge of trucking laws and regulations. At Metier Law Firm, we have more than 30 years of experience handling complex accidents and serious injuries resulting from them.
 

No, you should never talk to the trucking company”s attorneys or insurance company after an accident. Commercial trucking companies often have teams of attorneys and investigators standing by to respond to accidents, and unfortunately, getting you to say something inadvisable is one of the most common strategies they will employ to protect themselves and their bottom line.
If someone reaches out to you on behalf of the trucking company for a statement, to sign a document, or anything else relating to your accident, you should consult with your attorney before doing anything. Remember, it is in the trucking company”s interests to mount a case against you as soon as the accident occurs. Should you give them a statement or sign a document you have not discussed with your attorney, you risk damaging your case and receiving less compensation than you deserve.
 

The answer to this question will usually depend on your specific auto insurance policy. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, we recommend investing in as much collision coverage as you can secure through your policy.
See our Vehicle Insurance Coverage resource page for additional recommendations.

If you cannot return to your career due to the injuries sustained in an accident, you may be eligible to pursue compensation for your reduced economic opportunity. Further, you may be eligible to pursue compensation for the wages you lost as a result of the accident. An experienced truck accident attorney will help you develop a life care plan that takes into account how your injuries, the time it takes you to recover, and long-lasting injury repercussions all affect your economic opportunities.
When you choose to work with Metier Law Firm, you can rest assured that we will work tirelessly to secure maximum compensation for both lost wages and lost economic opportunities so that you and your family can continue living your lives.
 

If death results from a trucking accident or injuries caused by it, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the deceased person. Whether or not you can file a wrongful death suit following a truck accident will depend on the state in which the accident occurred. In some states, extended family such as cousins, grandparents, aunts, and uncles can file a wrongful death claim. In others, the scope is more limited and may be restricted to parents or children.
At Metier Law Firm, we understand that research is the last thing on your mind in the wake of a loved one”s wrongful death. We serve clients across the nation and will help you determine whether or not you can file a wrongful death claim after a commercial trucking accident.
See our Wrongful Death page for more information.
 

The three most common ways in which a product can be defective or faulty include the product’s overall design, the manufacturing process, and how the product was marketed.
Design: Many products have inherent design flaws that make them dangerous for consumer use. Design defects can exist even when a product’s manufacturing and marketing processes are sound. A children’s toy that poses a choking hazard is a common example of a defective design.
Manufacturing: A well-designed product is not enough to protect consumers from harm. Although many companies have quality control programs designed to identify flaws before a product is released to the public, flaws often slip through the cracks and the product is distributed to consumers. Common manufacturing defects include missing or broken parts, contaminants, and faulty wiring.
Marketing: Marketing defects occur when a product does not provide consumers with adequate warnings about potential hazards, side effects, or instructions pertaining to proper use and maintenance. A household electronic device catching fire due to a lack of information regarding proper care is a common marketing defect example.
 

There are a number of different parties that could be held liable for injuries caused by a defective product. The product’s manufacturer, manufacturers who produce components used to create a product, assembly and installation teams, wholesalers, retailers, and other parties involved in the product’s distribution can potentially be held liable. An experienced product liability attorney will be able to investigate and determine which parties can be held responsible for your injuries.
 

If you have been injured due to a defective product, hiring a product liability attorney is one of the best things you can do for yourself and anyone else who has been affected by the consequences of the injury.
In many cases, the injuries caused by defective products are severe and require intensive treatment and years of follow-up care. Although your insurance coverage may help with the cost of your medical bills following the injury, you will not receive compensation for ongoing pain and suffering, lost wages, mental anguish, and other life-altering consequences of the injury.
It is also in your interests to have a defective product attorney in your corner when the defendant mounts a case against you. Many product manufacturers have highly skilled legal teams to protect them from consumer lawsuits, and they will begin developing a defense against your claim the moment it is filed. A skilled product liability attorney will know how to demonstrate that the product had an unreasonable dangerous risk associated with its use, that you were using the product as intended, and that you had not tampered with or altered the product before you were injured.
At Metier Law Firm, we work to settle claims out of court but prepare every case for trial from the beginning. We are not afraid to challenge corporations and insurance companies as we work to secure the compensation our clients need to recover and move on.
 

There are numerous costs associated with product liability cases that most injured victims cannot afford following an accident. Court fees, expert witness testimony, retainer fees, and other costs can quickly add up and become a financial burden that’s too much to bear.
At Metier Law Firm, we know that you and your loved ones are experiencing immense hardship and do not need any more immediate expenses to cover. While some product liability attorneys will charge high retainer fees and payments throughout the case, we take a different approach. We start with a free, no-risk consultation in which we help you understand your options. If you choose us to represent you, we will put you and your family first and focus on winning your case before we handle the financial aspects of filing a claim. If we do not win or settle your case, you will not pay us anything.
 

Generally speaking, your attorney will work to recover compensation for any economic and non-economic damages incurred as a result of the injury. While this list is not exhaustive, you may be able to recover compensation and/or reimbursement for:

• Medical bills and out-of-pocket expenses, including past, present, and future bills
• Ongoing rehabilitation services such as physical therapy and psychological care
• Lost wages resulting from the injury
• Lost economic opportunities, including being unable to return to work
• At-home nursing and mobility assistance devices
• Life-altering consequences
• Physical and emotional pain and suffering
• Funeral and burial expenses if the injury resulted in death and a wrongful death case was filed

Each product liability case is different, and it is often difficult for a victim to identify how their life will be affected by the injury years into the future. As product liability attorneys with more than 30 years of experience, we understand how injuries affect victims and will work with medical professionals to determine the best possible course of care.
 

Yes, you may still pursue a product liability lawsuit if your medical bills were covered by your insurance provider.
We encourage you to meet with our team to discuss your case, even if your expenses were minimal. In more than 30 years of advocating for injured victims and their families, we have seen defective products cause long-term damage and non-economic harm that cannot be reimbursed or covered by standard insurance policies.
 

While it is ultimately up to you as to whether or not it is worthwhile to pursue a defective product claim, there are many reasons why it is worth it to discuss your options with a product liability attorney.
First and foremost, it is your right to expect that the products you purchase will be safe for use. Moreover, the product could cause a much more serious injury, or even death, to another consumer. Should you decide to file a claim, you could be helping others avoid serious, life-altering consequences of a preventable defect.
You should also consider that the effects of a mild injury could become more serious with time. Just as a car accident victim may find new issues coming up weeks or months after a crash, victims of defective products sometimes find themselves needing additional care well after an injury seems to have resolved itself. An experienced product liability attorney will be able to help you identify what, if any, care will be needed in the future and help you pursue the compensation required to access it.
 

No, a product recall will not necessarily hurt your chances of a favorable settlement or verdict. In fact, a recall at the federal level could potentially be used as evidence that the product was inherently dangerous not just to you, but to all potential consumers.
However, each case differs and will need to be evaluated by your attorney before we can determine the effect of a recall on your case.