When accident victims come to our Orlando law firm, many have already been told by other attorneys that their cases are worth far less than their true value. Just recently, we turned a “$10,000 case” into a million-dollar settlement, and saved critical evidence days before it would have been destroyed in another multi-million dollar case. (Of course, those clients were very seriously injured, but these differences exist in all cases, regardless of injury severity.) Here’s why your choice of Orlando car accident lawyer matters so much.
Do Orlando Car Accident Lawyers Need To Re-Think Lawyering?
As an Orlando personal injury lawyer, unfortunately I inherit the depressing public attitude toward all lawyers. Many personal injury lawyers, in small and large firms, have a high volume / quick settlement mentality. Many times lawyer work is being performed by secretaries or paralegals, without careful lawyer oversight. I could give you a long list of outrageous examples I’ve observed over the years.
Let me share a few recent case examples that demonstrate exactly why this matters to accident victims:
A client called us after becoming frustrated with one of the big advertising firms in town. He had a serious accident case (which eventually settled for $2.3 million), but his car was about to be destroyed by the impound yard. Despite having his case for several weeks, the high-volume firm hadn’t taken any action to preserve this essential evidence. When he hired us, we were able to recover his car just days before it would have been destroyed. That car proved essential in establishing he wasn’t at fault for the accident. Without it, his multi-million dollar case could have been worth nearly nothing.
Another client came to us after a high-volume firm’s relatively new associate told him there was only $10,000 in insurance coverage available. This client had suffered a serious neck injury that ended his long-time career as a trucker – meaning substantial lost wages and a dramatic impact on his quality of life. Shortly after he fired them and hired us, we discovered a one-million-dollar insurance policy. We eventually settled his case for the full policy limits. Had he stayed with the other firm, he would have received just a few thousand dollars – a fraction of what his case was actually worth.
These aren’t isolated incidents. We regularly see cases where high-volume firms miss crucial evidence, overlook additional insurance coverage, or fail to properly value their clients’ cases.
There Aren’t Any “Simple” Cases, Despite Some Other Lawyers’ Stated Belief To The Contrary
I’m really tired of what has become a widespread high volume mentality. I started in a large corporate defense firm where there is no way in hell any client would have received this kind of treatment. In my practice of personal injury, every single case potentially involves complications. Problem is, some injuries either don’t exist (are worth zero) or are very minor (are worth very little). Still, the potentially low fee does not justify crappy work. Sorry, it just doesn’t.
Personal Injury Lawyers Need To Think Outside The Box
Personal injury lawyers must be smart enough to give whatever advice is needed, at the appropriate stages of representation. Perhaps some needed advice must be given in stages if the significance of the injury is unknown during the initial consult. But the lawyer absolutely must give all clients some basic instructions related to case valuation, or else the client has no chance of getting full recovery.
Sometimes, I tell clients that I may explain some things later, when we know more, including their diagnosis, and how their injuries will respond to treatment. (For example, I don’t need to explain what happens during a lawsuit when we don’t yet know whether their injuries will justify a lawsuit.) But every client deserves to be told the importance of sticking with their treatment until their pain is fully resolved, not having gaps in treatment, the dangers of saying the wrong things to doctors, the need to collect some evidence quickly, the dangers of social media, how those problems could hurt their case, and similar issues.
The Bottom Line: Quality Representation Matters
The bottom line is all clients need some reasonable amount of education about how they should behave when their personal injury case is pending. Clients with serious, or even potentially serious, injuries need to be told much more, including what to expect from a lawsuit, and the many ways an insurance company can devalue their case. Lawyers have a responsibility to somehow communicate that information, and make sure clients understand by answering related questions. If the case “isn’t worth it” to them, then they should pass.
More Examples Of This Problem:
High Volume Settlement Mill Firms: The Evidence Against Them
Warning About One Major Orlando Law Firm, Which Says They Will Never File Suit
Another Major Firm That Doesn’t Advertise A Curious Partnership
Ms. Willis is a personal injury and auto accident attorney based in Orlando, Florida, although she accepts serious injury cases statewide.