I hear a lot of different opinions about whether or not you need to employ a personal injury attorney after an accident. While I generally feel it is a good idea, the purpose of this editorial is about the value of a obtaining a quality personal injury attorney. Today, my firm discharged or substituted a prominent billboard attorney on a personal injury matter. After receiving the file and reviewing it, I noticed how different our offices are.
In the following case our client was hit by a landscaping truck and taken to the hospital. While she sustained no fractures, she did have serious muscle and tissue damage. As I combed through the report I noticed that the attorney was attempting to settle the case while she was still treating. Not to mention that the offer was well below the case value.
Personal injury cases are often times complex. It is important to be patient and thorough in order to fully understand the extent of your clients injuries. Only then will you be able to truly fight for their rights and obtain a favorable settlement. I don’t think that there is anything particularly special about handling personal injury cases, but I do feel that a level of care and interest in missing.
Attempting to settle a pedestrian accident case when the client is still treating is a perfect example. You should always wait until you have fully completed treatment before any demand for settlement is submitted. If you submit your demand before treatment is completed you risk the chance of undervaluing your claim.
If you settle prematurely you will end up settling your case without knowing the full extent of your injuries. This becomes a serious problem if you have additional medical expenses you need to deal with. When you begin settlement negotiations without having completed medical treatment you face the risk of not getting sufficient coverage for your case.
Having an attorney that understands your case and stands by your side at your time of need is important. A good personal injury attorney will be honest with you even when you don’t want to hear it, they will tell you the truth and fight for your rights. I know it sounds cliché, but this is the truth. However, so many clients these days experience something completely different.
Often times they are left confused or in the dark about their own case. Calls go un-returned and they are not informed as to the status of their pending case. As a client you deserve to know what is going on. You deserve to be given accurate and up-to date information as it becomes available. This in my opinion is what makes a good personal injury attorney. If you have been involved in any type of accident,
contact our offices for a free case evaluation. We look forward to helping you.