How to Choose a Personal Injury Lawyer

If you’ve been hurt by someone else’s negligence, you probably know that you need to find an injury attorney, but how do you choose the right one? The key to answering this question is to decide what it is that you want. Different personal injury lawyers provide different sorts of services. Some personal injury firms specialize in quickly settling your lawsuit and getting your money to you in a timely manner. The trade-off is generally that you get less money. Other personal injury lawyers specialize in complex litigation that could take years to decide. You stand a better chance of recovering more money the longer the litigation takes.

But not all lawsuits are simple traffic accident claims or injuries that fully resolve after treatment. The impact of a personal injury could upend your life, destroy your finances, and leave you in inescapable debt. So, the more serious your injuries are, the higher the stakes.

What are Settlement Mills?

Settlement mills are law firms that operate on volume. A business can make money by making an extensive profit on a few items or by making a little bit of profit on millions of transactions per day. This is the difference between a jewelry store and Walmart. While Walmart jewelry may work for some occasions, it will not work for special occasions. Settlement mills operate like Walmart. They take every case that is offered to them and settle it for a little bit more than the insurance company is offering. Since they take so many cases, it adds up. If you want a quick settlement, there are firms that specialize in offering legitimate quick settlements and avoiding litigation. There are also firms that abuse their clients by costing them tens of thousands of dollars in potential award money.

What you need to know is this: you will only have one opportunity to settle your case. If your injuries are severe and require you to miss time from work, the chances are good that a quick settlement is not in your best interests.

Financial Pressure on the Plaintiff

The insurance company and opposing counsel generally know that an individual who is missing time from work is facing a financial pinch due to the upheaval of their finances. They thus use the plaintiff’s survival pressure to force them to settle early. Yet there is such a thing as a fair settlement, and you deserve to be compensated for all of your injuries.

A real personal injury lawyer—regardless of whether or not they offer quick settlements or protracted litigation—will look at the totality of your injuries, the financial upheaval the injuries caused in your life, and the loss of activities you once enjoyed as a result of your injuries. This is on top of medical expenses and lost wages, which are considered economic damages. A real personal injury lawyer will ensure that you are compensated fully for lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment, and anything else compensable under the law.

Meanwhile, it can be very difficult for the average person to recognize the difference between an attorney who uses a quick settlement as a bargaining chip and an attorney who performs the bare minimum of work so they can take as many clients as possible.

Talk to an Ohio Personal Injury Lawyer Today

The best personal injury lawyers have a history of results that they can be proud of. They do not necessarily take every case that comes across their desk. Call Lafferty, Gallagher, & Scott today to schedule a free consultation and discuss your situation in more detail.