5 Myths About Accident Lawyers - EXPOSED!
If you have been injured, you get only one chance to get the compensation you deserve. One of the most important decisions you make in your lifetime will be the lawyer you choose to take on this task. That's why I'm going to expose some of these myths about lawyers. That way you can have a better chance at making the decision that's right for you. I know I'm going to get some flack for this, but if I can help just one victim with this critical information, then I will achieve my goal.MYTH #1: EVERY ATTORNEY HAS ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING.
The truth of the matter is that experience and training differs greatly from attorney to attorney. Some attorneys may have years and years of experience drafting wills or shuffling papers in real estate transactions. Why would you want that lawyer representing you in your personal injury case? If you have been injured, you want an experienced attorney on your side!
The lawyer you hire for your personal injury case should have a "proven" track record of taking cases like yours to court in front of live juries and WINNING! Only an experienced personal injury attorney can give you the peace of mind knowing you have given yourself the best chance of winning a fair settlement or verdict.
Many attorneys have lots of cases, but they would never take them to trial! Many lawyers prefer "out of court settlements," primarily because they don't have the skill to take their cases to trial, even if they are offered less than the case is worth. You can rely on the fact that insurance companies know this and take gambles with these soft attorneys. Those insurance companies will never offer you what you truly deserve knowing that your lawyer will never take your case to trial and doesn't have the skills necessary to try a case in court.
Please don't be bashful at asking these tough questions; "How many cases have you taken to court? How many have you won? How many years of experience do you have as a trial lawyer?" These are the kinds of questions you better ask any lawyer you see.
The legal profession is like any other profession when it comes to experience. Every professional needs experience. Why let someone gain experience on your dime? When you need help, make sure it is the best help available so you can get the most benefit from it. Let the inexperienced lawyer experiment with someone else's legal problems - NOT YOURS!
MYTH #2: IF A LAWYER IS ON TV, HE MUST BE GOOD.
Just because a lawyer appears in TV commercials, this doesn't qualify them to handle personal injury cases. Amazingly, some lawyers who advertise on TV have never tried a personal injury case! Some lawyers who advertise on TV don't even appear on the commercial themselves but hire paid "actors." Please don't be fooled by those slick commercials. If a lawyer doesn't have the right tools and experiences that you are looking for, then don't hire him or her.
If you do talk to a lawyer who advertises on TV, then ask him or her the very same questions you would any other lawyer, "How many cases have you taken to jury trial? How many have you won? How many years of experience as a trial lawyer do you have?" If all a lawyer had to offer was a slick TV commercial, do you want to trust one of the most important decisions of your life to that kind of lawyer?
MYTH #3: ALL LAWYERS ARE SKILLED IN THE ART OF NEGOTIATING.
If you have ever dealt with a big corporation, you know they can be intimidating and play hardball. They don't mess around when it comes to losing money.
You need a lawyer who knows where the weaknesses are in those big insurance companies. Knowing how to negotiate effectively and driving a hard bargain. Someone who has been head to head in many "high powered" negotiations involving hundreds of thousands of dollars every year.
The truth of the matter is we settle most personal injury cases out of court. If you don't have a lawyer who knows the fine "art" of negotiation, you will not get full value for your claim.
MYTH #4: ALL LAWYERS ARE PERSONALLY INVOLVED IN THE CASES THEY HANDLE.
Unfortunately, this is not true. Some lawyers have so many cases, they hardly ever look at the file and they hardly talk to their clients! Just try to get one of those busy lawyers to return your phone call, let alone a quick call from his paralegal. These law firms are what we refer to in the industry as "mills," "factories" or "assembly lines." These lawyers hire paralegals to do most of their work.
The bottom line is no matter how big or small your case, it's important to you! You need to have a lawyer on your side that is 100% committed to providing quality personal service and detailed attention to all of his clients. You need to know that your lawyer is personally involved in the preparation, evaluation and resolution of your case. A lawyer who will treat your case with the utmost importance it truly deserves.
MYTH # 5: JUST BECAUSE A LAWYER SAYS HE GOES TO TRIAL DOESN'T MEAN HE GOES IN FRONT OF A JURY!
No, in fact just because they say they are a trial attorney, doesn't mean that they take cases in front of a "live" jury. They can appear in front of a judge presenting their case. Just think about how difficult it is to convince seven people versus one. What skill level is needed to talk in front of seven jurors? First, you need nerves of steel and you better be prepared, because you only get one shot in front of a jury to look confident.
I hate to admit it, but incompetent and inexperienced lawyers hurt their clients all the time. They don't file the correct paper work. They miss critical deadlines. They don't know how to research their client's case. Even worse, many lawyers have never taken a case to trial and so they don't know what their client's case is worth.