Does The Law Office of Cheryl Sterling allow for free initial consultation?

Yes. Many times a client does not know if they have a cause of action. At the Law Office of Cheryl Sterling we will be happy to discuss your case with you either over the telephone or in our office. There is never a charge for consultation.

What if I cannot afford to pay an attorney?

Under the Michigan Code of Professional Conduct, you can retain the Law Office of Cheryl Sterling under a contingency fee agreement. A contingency fee agreement means that you only pay the attorney if the attorney makes a successful recovery on your behalf. If there is no recovery, you owe the attorney nothing. In Michigan, the standard contingency fee is one-third of the total recovery. The higher the recovery on behalf of the client, the higher the attorney fee.

What is a Statute of Limitations?

Under Michigan law, our State legislature has set deadlines for claimants to file complaints. Depending upon the nature of the cause of action, the Statute of Limitations can be as short as one year or as long as ten to fifteen years. Each case will have a different Statute of Limitations. At the Law Office of Cheryl Sterling, the first thing that we determine for a client is the applicable Statute of Limitations. We make sure that the complaint is filed well before the Statute of Limitations expires to protect the rights of our clients.

How long does a lawsuit take?

The time to proceed with a case of action varies from case-to-case depending upon the complexity of the lawsuit. In some cases, a settlement can be reached within a few months of retaining counsel. However, in other cases, a case may take longer to resolve. The Law Office of Cheryl Sterling will be able to provide you with an educated guess as to how long your case will take at our initial meeting.

Is it possible to settle out of court without having a jury trial?

Yes. At the Law Office of Cheryl Sterling, approximately 95% of all of our cases settle before trial. The cases settle because the insurance company realizes that if they proceed to trial, the jury may very well return a verdict in favor of the plaintiff. As a consequence, the insurance company solicits a settlement demand after the case is properly prepared for a jury trial.

What do I have to do if a lawsuit is started?

If we cannot settle your claim prior to filing a lawsuit, you will have to give a deposition to the insurance company. A deposition is a sworn statement under oath that is usually held at our office. Depending upon the case, a deposition may last an hour or a few hours. Prior to your deposition, you will meet with your attorney who will carefully review your case with you prior to your deposition. During your deposition, your attorney will be with you throughout the process to make sure that the deposition is proceeding properly under the Court Rules and to make appropriate objections as necessary.

How do I determine how much my case is worth?

The value of a claim varies from case to case. In some cases, no amount of money could justify the loss of a loved one or catastrophic injury. However, our system is based upon monetary compensation. As a consequence, at the Law Office of Cheryl Sterling we work with your physicians, vocational rehabilitation specialist and economist not only to determine your claim for past pain and suffering, wage loss, loss of recreational pursuits, etc., but also to determine your claim for future damages. After consulting with experts, we will meet with you or your family and review the findings. We will then work with you or your family to determine a fair value for compensation.

What if my conduct may have also contributed to causing the accident?

In many cases, there is more than one cause to an accident. In Michigan, we follow modified comparative negligence. Modified comparative negligence means that the jury will take into consideration the conduct of all parties who caused or contributed to causing the injuries. The jury will then divide fault among the various persons. If the jury decides that you were 10% at fault for causing the accident, your damages would be reduced by 10%, but you would receive 90% compensation for injuries or damages you sustained.