Frequently Asked Legal Questions

FAQ

Below you’ll find answers to some of the most common legal questions our clients ask.

What is a TORT?
Now that I have been hurt on the job, what payments can I expect?
What if my employer refuses to report that I have been injured or threatens me if I turn in the claim?
The insurance company wants to tape-record a statement from me and they want me to sign papers. Should I cooperate?
What is a Statute of Limitation?
What is the Idaho Industrial Commission?
What will it cost to hire an attorney to help me in an injury case?
How do I choose the best lawyer for my situation?
When should I call an attorney?
What is a personal injury case?

A tort is a civil wrong that results in damages or injuries. Usually, when suing a governmental entity like the city or state, you must file a tort claim within 180 days of the accident/injury.

Call our law office for details 208-466-0030.

With an attorney handling your case, you can expect payments for

• Medical Treatment – “To cure and relieve” the effects of your injury.
• Temporary Disability checks – If the doctor takes you off work or puts you on light duty and you cannot work, a check for 2/3 of your gross wages should be paid to you every two weeks. If you are a high wage earner, the checks may be less than 2/3 due to a legal limit.
• Permanent Impairment Checks – Monthly checks when you return to work if you have a permanent injury. The number of months you receive checks depends on the severity of your injury.
• Vocational Rehabilitation/Disability – If you can’t return to your old job or type of work, you are likely eligible to receive disability checks.

Contact an experienced attorney immediately to be advised of your rights. There may be time deadlines you are required to meet.

Remember, the insurance company’s primary goal is to not pay out money or to pay as little as possible. If you have been seriously injured, contact an attorney call us at 208-466-0030 for free advice about signing papers and whether to give a tape-recorded statement.

A statute of limitation is a rule establishing a time period within which a lawsuit must be brought. If a lawsuit is not brought within that time period, the right to sue is lost forever. The statute of limitations for a personal injury lawsuit is usually two years.

Because of the statute of limitation laws, you must act quickly to ensure your legal rights are protected. If a government entity is the potential Defendant, a Tort Claim must be filed, usually within 180 days of the accident. If the Tort Claim is not filed, you may lose your right to sue for recovery. (Extended times for filing usually apply to children.)

Think of the Idaho Industrial Commission as the courthouse for injured workers. All work injuries must be reported by employers to the Industrial Commission. For more information about the Industrial Commission, you may view their website or contact them at (208) 334-6000 or (800) 950-2110.

A National Insurance Council study found injury victims with lawyers received on average 2.5 times more money in their pocket, after attorney fees, than people who did not hire a lawyer.

Attorney fees are usually 33% of the funds recovered for the client in personal injury cases and usually 25% in workers’ compensation cases.

At Skaug Law, charges are settled at the end of your case. You only pay attorney fees when you win.

Our clients rest easy knowing we are dealing with the insurance companies, finding better medical care, meeting legal deadlines, submitting documents and building a winning case.

Experience, results, reputation, resources and commitment. Our Nampa office has been serving the legal needs of injured persons for 23 years. Our practice emphasizes personal injury, workers’ compensation and wrongful death. We have recovered millions of dollars for our clients in settlements and verdicts.

Our attorneys are licensed in Idaho, Oregon, Montana, and Arizona. We are members of the Idaho Trial Lawyers Association and The American Association for Justice. We have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and are highly rated in online reviews.

You should talk with an attorney whenever you have suffered a physical injury caused by another person OR you have suffered an injury at work. It costs nothing to consult one of our attorneys.

Failing to consult with an attorney in an injury case could cost you a loss of money and loss of your rights as an injured person or worker. There is no charge to speak to an attorney at Skaug Law to discuss your case.

A personal injury case arises whenever one person injures another through negligence, recklessness or simple stupidity. If you are injured by another person, you have a right to get money for your medical bills, wage loss and misery caused by that person’s actions.

To win in court, the injured person must prove that the wrongdoer was negligent or at fault. It is best to consult a lawyer if you have been seriously injured. Car wrecks, slip and fall accidents, toxic exposure, accidental death, dog bites, child abuse or injury, and battery are some examples of personal injury acts.