Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Need to Hire an Attorney?

When you need to hire a Wisconsin personal injury attorney depends on the facts of your case. At a minimum, you should consult with an attorney as soon as possible about your personal injury case. Two reasons to immediately contact an attorney are to preserve evidence and prevent you from losing more than you already have. The initial consultation will help you decide whether you need an attorney for your case. Martin Law Office provides a free initial consultation. If you are not able to come to Martin Law Office, we will come to you, whether at your home, in the hospital, at a nursing home or anywhere else.

How Do I Choose a Lawyer?

Choosing the right attorney for your case is a very important decision. You should consider the attorney’s background, including whether their experience and credentials. While it is important to ask the attorney whether they have handled your type of case, it is equally important to talk with the attorney about their credentials. Are they Board Certified? Are they AV Rated by Martindale Hubble? Are they members of organizations where peers recognize their level of achievement, such as the American Board of Trial Advocacy? What background do they bring to your particular case? For example, if you have an issue involving school law, you should ask if your attorney was a teacher before becoming an attorney. If you have a personal injury case, you should ask if your attorney was a health care provider before becoming an attorney.

 

This will help you determine if the lawyer has the skills necessary for your case. You should also ask questions about how you can contact the attorney, and how often that attorney will contact you. It is important that you feel comfortable sharing the intimate details of your case, so make sure you take the time to get to know the lawyer representing you. Do some research and see what previous clients have to say about the law firm you are considering.

 

At Martin Law Office we have a passion for helping the people in our community, and the community has great things to say about our service. Contact us for a free consultation and find out if we have an attorney who is the right fit for your case.

 

Do I Need an Attorney After a Rideshare Accident?

Dealing with a Lyft or Uber accident is not only traumatizing, it can be complex. Simply suing the rideshare company may not be possible. This means you may need to file a claim against the Lyft or Uber accident policy, but certain conditions may limit your recovery. Consulting with an attorney may be essential if you were injured and need compensation for your medical bills and losses. Our Wisconsin personal injury attorneys may be able to help you maximize the compensation you need. For more information, please read our rideshare car accident blog.

 

How Much Is My Case Worth?

No attorney can tell you the value of your case during the initial consultation. However, we will be able to advise you on the categories of compensation that you may be entitled to, including past and future medical expenses, past and future pain and suffering, past and future wage loss, and other areas of damages.

Can I Afford a Lawyer?

The attorneys at Martin Law Office represent clients on a contingency fee basis. This means there is no fee unless we win.

What Should I Do After a Car Accident?

The first step to take after an auto accident is to make sure the injured are provided the help they need. After that, you should contact the police. Get the names, addresses, phone numbers, and insurance information of all the drivers involved in the accident. Then get the names, addresses, and phone numbers of all witnesses to the accident. You should also take photographs of the scene and the damage to the vehicles. With that information, you should contact an attorney at Martin Law Office to protect your rights and make sure you do not lose more than you already have.

Can I Get a Free Consultation With an Attorney?

Yes. The initial consultation is always free.

The Insurance Company Said I Don’t Need an Attorney, Is That True?

Insurance companies are out to represent their own interests. The Wisconsin personal injury attorneys at Martin Law Office are here to represent your interests. Statistically, an attorney is much more likely to get more compensation for your injuries because attorneys represent a threat to the insurance company through knowledge of the law.


How Soon After I Am Injured Do I Have to File a Lawsuit?

Under Wisconsin law, the statute of limitations on a typical personal injury claim is three years from the date of the injury, unless the claim is for wrongful death arising from a motor vehicle accident, in which case the statute of limitations is two years. As provided by Wis. Stat. § 893.54(1m), “the following actions shall be commenced within 3 years or be barred: (a) An action to recover damages for injuries to the person, including an action to recover damages for injuries to the person caused or sustained by or arising from an accident involving a motor vehicle. (b) An action brought to recover damages for death caused by the wrongful act, neglect or default of another.” As provided by Wis. Stat. § 893.54(2m), “An action brought to recover damages for death caused by the wrongful act, neglect, or default of another and arising from an accident involving a motor vehicle shall be commenced within 2 years after the cause of action accrues or be barred.”



I Was Injured When I Fell Down Slippery Steps, Can You Help?

Yes. Martin Law Office has represented countless victims of unsafe premises. Under Wisconsin law, an employer or owner of a public building has a duty to construct, repair and maintain their premises in as safe a manner as reasonably possible. This is known as Wisconsin’s Safe Place Law.

Why Should I Choose Martin Law Office?

The insurance company represents its own interests, not yours. The Wisconsin personal injury attorneys at Martin Law Office are here to represent your interests. Martin Law Office brings unmatched knowledge of both the law and medicine. This includes board certification and being rated among the personal injury attorneys in Wisconsin. The managing partner, Kevin Martin, is also a registered nurse.

What Types of Cases Does Martin Law Office Handle?

We handle every type of personal injury case, including auto accidents, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, wrongful death, slip-and-falls, unsafe premises, dog bites, nursing home neglect, medical malpractice, insurance disputes, bad faith claims, wrongful denial of benefits, and many others.

How Can I Be Compensated for Future Medical Expenses?

Under Wisconsin law, future medical expenses are recoverable if the jury is “satisfied that [the plaintiff] will require health care services in the future for injuries sustained as a result of [the accident].” Absolute certainty is not required in order to award future medical expenses or future pain and suffering. As ruled by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in Meracle v. Children’s Serv. Soc. of Wis., 149 Wis. 2d 19, 26-27 (1989), “To recover for future expenses due to an injury, a plaintiff must demonstrate that the anticipated expenses are reasonably certain to occur. ‘Recovery may be had for reasonably certain injurious consequences of the tortfeasor’s negligent conduct, not for merely possible injurious consequences.’

Brantner v. Jenson, 121 Wis. 2d 658, 663-64, 360 N.W.2d 529 (1985). This standard applies to the recovery of future medical expenses. In Dumer v. St. Michael’s Hospital, 69 Wis. 2d 766, 776, 233 N.W.2d 372 (1975), we held that the parents of a deformed child could recover in a wrongful birth action those expenses which they “will to a reasonable medical certainty suffer in the future” in providing medical attention for the child. Similarly, in Bleyer v. Gross, 19 Wis. 2d 305, 312, 120 N.W.2d 156 (1963), we allowed a husband to recover future medical expenses when his wife was injured in a car accident when medical testimony about future expenses ‘was not in terms of possibilities