Originally Posted by
kokomo61
Most PI lawyers work on a contingency basis - for automobile injuries, it's 33% of any recovery prior to trial, and 40% if it actually goes to a trial. You don't pay anything if you don't collect.
So, while I COULD hire a lawyer for the PD part of this, they'd take 1/3 of any settlement (including what I've already negotiated). I had very good documentation for everything that's damaged, so the property damage settlement is fair and reasonable.
I'd get a lawyer to look at it, not on contingency, but actually paying for it; many state bar associations have a referral system that will get you an initial consultation at a reasonable rate. The property damage part of the settlement isn't necessarily strictly limited to the actual property damages. It can extend to consequential damages. (For instance, how are you getting to work? Not on a bike, clearly, so expenses for that are a result of the property damage. How much work have you missed getting the replacement bike sorted? ) It's quite possible (almost certain, in fact) that the damage settlement precludes recovering those. That may not matter to you, but a lawyer can tell you for sure, and may suggest a course of action (It might make sense to wait to see the result of the hearing, for instance.)