First off, i'd like to say that it takes quite a bit to make a guy like me steamed. And this guy hit the "WMD" button plenty of times. It all started in early 2009 when I was searching for an attorney to take my case. Given the sheer convenience of the situation; chiropractor and his office, I figured what the heck, i'll hire this guy. Boy did that turn out to be the biggest mistake of my life.
Red Flag 1:
His contract is ridiculous when compared to another attorney's. First off, David Olan charges a fee of 1/3 to 45% but he charges that fee against the entire settlement, including the cost of treatment. This has got to be ethically wrong according to the bar association.
Imagine your case settles for $10000. Your medical costs are $5000. David Olan will make $3333.33 and you'll walk away with $1666.67. Add in his "investigator" and "litigation" costs, you'll get just over $1000 for months of pain and suffering.
An attorney down the street charges 1/3 of the total settlement minus the medical costs. Bears the burden of finding insurance on his own. And says, "i'll take care of all that for you." Whereas David Olan charges you for everything from checking your ID to sneezing in his office. David Olan takes advantage of young kids like me on a day to day basis.
Alternate scenario using information from above.
$10000 - $5000 = $5,000 * 2/3 = $3,333.33 would be your settlement. Almost 3 times as much.
Red Flag 2:
After completing 2 months of treatment this guy says to me, "We cannot locate the insurance information of the driver. You can complete treatment without cost." I have been in an incident before where I had incorrect insurance information and my own insurance company was able to track it down. After consulting with other attorneys, I find that it is only 3 forms and a $40 to get the information.
Ask yourself this, what attorney in his right mind would bear the burden of $3000 in medical bills? How can it be possible for someone to operate like this? It's not. He probably wanted to settle the case himself and pocket the cash!
Red Flag 3:
After 4 months of treatment, this guy stops responding to my e-mails for a period of 2 months. Then I tell him, "If you don't want this case, say so and i'll go." He finally responds to my e-mail. Acting as if this case was too small for him.
Red Flag 4:
A seasoned 20 year attorney still cannot find insurance information (After 6 months!) and wants to charge me $200 to hire an investigator. And says, if the investigator cannot obtain the information, it will be obtained through litigation ($350) and his fee would be raised from the 33% agreement to 40%. Essentially, he wants to charge me upwards of $550 an additional 7% just to find insurance information.
Stay as far away from this guy as possible.
Find an attorney that will charge you anywhere from 20% to 33% on your settlement but not on your medical costs. And someone who is interested in taking care of your needs.
0 comments