Furious - need some clarity

[Lorelei Lee]

No, of course I don't. Do you?

Of course not. But if I were the victim in circumstances similar to what the OP experienced, I'd be finding out what HR wanted before I decided if I needed outside advice. People generally don't need a lawyer when dealing with their own employer unless their job or well being is being threatened.

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[Robbi]

Of course not. But if I were the victim in circumstances similar to what the OP experienced, I'd be finding out what HR wanted before I decided if I needed outside advice. People generally don't need a lawyer when dealing with their own employer unless their job or well being is being threatened.

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The key word is generally. The HR dept in this case has already showed that the doctor gets preferred treatment. A regular employee would have been fired immediately yet she was not.

 

[tasha99]

The key word is generally. The HR dept in this case has already showed that the doctor gets preferred treatment. A regular employee would have been fired immediately yet she was not.

To me the issue isn't even the firing or not firing. HR asked the OP to hold off on filing a police report. That sounds very unethical, and I would be very careful about anything that HR asked me to do at this point.

 

[Allison]

The key word is generally. The HR dept in this case has already showed that the doctor gets preferred treatment. A regular employee would have been fired immediately yet she was not.

How do you know that?

 

[DebbieB]

When I talked about getting a lawyer it was not so she could sue the doctor for money. It was so she had someone who knows the law to represent her in any meetings. Like any company, they want to cover their rear end. I hope she doesn't sign anything w/out having someone look at it.

Lawyers don't work for free. They sometimes work on a contingency if you sue and win, they take around 40%. They would be charging her hundreds per hour to represent her in a meeting.

 

[Robbi]

Lawyers don't work for free. They sometimes work on a contingency if you sue and win, they take around 40%. They would be charging her hundreds per hour to represent her in a meeting.

The only lawyers I know of that take 40% are the unethical ones. Around here, it's more like 30%. Also if she signs something that impacts her work, it could end up costing her a lot more than hundreds.
Hopefully, they dealt fairly with her today.

 

[jrmasm]

The only lawyers I know of that take 40% are the unethical ones. Around here, it's more like 30%.

That cracked me up!

 

[Robbi]

That cracked me up!

What's so funny?

 

[jrmasm]

What's so funny?

30% is so much better than 40%.

 

[Lorelei Lee]

Lawyers don't work for free. They sometimes work on a contingency if you sue and win, they take around 40%. They would be charging her hundreds per hour to represent her in a meeting.

Contingency fee arrangement only apply to tort cases. Like when you sustain a bodily injury as a result of a car accident. If you want a lawyer to sit in on a meeting with HR "just because" you're going to pay the hourly rate.

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[Robbi]

30% is so much better than 40%.

Ok, I guess they should work for free.

 

[Lorelei Lee]

The only lawyers I know of that take 40% are the unethical ones. Around here, it's more like 30%. Also if she signs something that impacts her work, it could end up costing her a lot more than hundreds.
Hopefully, they dealt fairly with her today.

Not a matter of ethics at all. The courts of each state have set rules governing contingency fee agreements. In some states a 40% fee is permitted.

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[jrmasm]

Ok, I guess they should work for free.

Sure!

 

[Lorelei Lee]

A regular employee would have been fired immediately yet she was not.

Not necessarily, as I said before. At my company you can be fired if you use your corporate credit card for personal expenses. Even if you reimburse the company, you might lose your job. I said "might" because one person I know was fired, but another received a reprimand. It had nothing to do with "preferential treatment" and everything to do with the severity of the offense.

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[Lorelei Lee]

Sure!

Why not? As long as my landlord, my grocer, my cable company, etc. also work for free.

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[TaraPA]

OP you've gotten a lot of good advice here, I hope this all works out in your favor. I'm just totally dumbfounded that someone - a doctor no less who you'd think would have morals & compassion - could hit your car that badly & drive off without reporting it! What the heck is this world coming to? My God people just do the right thing! It seems simple to me that if you damage someone else's property you fess up immediately & take care of it. Isn't that a basic life lesson? Tell the truth, do the right thing, take care of your responsibilities.

I just don't get people anymore.

 

[jrmasm]

Why not? As long as my landlord, my grocer, my cable company, etc. also work for free.

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I wasn't being serious.

 

[DebbieB]

Contingency fee arrangement only apply to tort cases. Like when you sustain a bodily injury as a result of a car accident. If you want a lawyer to sit in on a meeting with HR "just because" you're going to pay the hourly rate.

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That's what I meant, they would not work on a contingency in this case, she would have to pay. The post I quoted said you don't have to sue to get a lawyer. If you don't sue, then you are going to have to pay. It's hard to get a lawyer to accept a contingency case. My brother broke his ankle on an icy sidewalk and took a long time to find a lawyer to take it. One did but they took 40% (of $100,000).

 

[Lanshark]

There was a third car in the accident also. They too must be involved because their car was damaged when the OP's car was pushed into it. Was the owner of that car called into the meeting?

It was a car accident. Noone was hurt. The doctor is a jerk. It doesn't matter if it was a doctor or a janitor. It doesn't matter if she's driving a Bentley or a Dodge. She is a jerk for not leaving a note.

Turn the situation over to your insurance, tell them there is a video of the accident and move on. What can you gain by perseverating on the situation but added stress ?

 

[Robbi]

Not a matter of ethics at all. The courts of each state have set rules governing contingency fee agreements. In some states a 40% fee is permitted.

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Our state simply states the client must sign a contract which stipulates the percentage. So, here, yes, it is a matter of ethics.