Personal injury victim
Personal injury victims are particularly vulnerable since they often are instantly suffering with pain, and have many questions as to who will pay for medical treatment, fix their car, pay lost wages, and how to quickly get their life back. The personal injury industry is rampant with unscrupulous individuals who unlawfully solicit clients, pay tow truck companies and body shops for business, and attorneys who try to convince clients to have surgical procedures with the sole goal of making money. I knew that there were genuine clients out there who had a need for an honest attorney and I am proud to be one of them.
In your opinion, what sets your firm apart from other firms in the area?
Practicing personal injury law for well over 20 years, I strive to give each and every client personalized attention. My firm presents honest claims and I fight for our clients with integrity and personalized service. We respond to phone calls and client communication quickly. Each client is provided with my personal email and is invited to contact me with any questions or concerns, which are addressed expeditiously. My firm does not unlawfully solicit clients, and we genuinely want to see our clients get well.
Many clients have informed me that they chose my firm becasue they are comfortable with female attorneys for personal injury cases for several reasons, one of which is the belief that I would have a great deal of compassion for their injury. Many parents seek compassionate representation for their children.
I also practiced in the area of PIP litigation for more than 2 decades, which many personal injury firms do not. This means I am educated and well versed in the PIP laws. If the PIP insurance company properly pays my clients' medical bills, then the bodily injury settlement does not have to pay them. This results in a higher net recovery for my client.
Tell us about a case that you are particularly proud of:
Although many cases are automobile accidents, trucking crashes and premises liability cases, I had a case several years ago where a little boy received a rock in his eye courtesy of a neighbor. The neighbor was another little boy, who was negligently playing with a sling shot. The incident ruined my client's and his family's Christmas holiday as they spent it at the hospital with emergency doctors. The boy ended up extremely lucky, saving his eye, and received a handsome settlement in time for the following Christmas. Needless to say, it was a MUCH better holiday season for him and his parents were forever grateful.
How do you view your role in the attorney-client relationship?
Paying attention to detail is extremely important. Most difficult cases deal with issues of liability or causations issues. Hence, witnesses and experts are key, as well as knowing your clients past and present medical history.
Attorney ethics are of the utmost importance to the firm. My fiduciary duty to my clients requires communication, honesty, and putting their interest before my own. At the end of the day, it is up to my client whether he/she wants to decline a recommended medical procedure and it's a decision that client should make after speaking to his/her doctor after considering all factors involved. I want my clients to be educated on the significance of their injury, the prognosis, consider all appropriate treatment options available, and what their legal rights are in light of the above, before they agree to accept any settlement offer given.
How does your experience in the personal injury field benefit your clients?
I practice in the area of both PIP litigation and personal injury, and hence, I am well versed in the games insurance companies can play. I have witnessed, first hand, the unscrupulous part of the business, and have seen medical providers take advantage of clients' PIP benefits, unlawful solicitation by other personal injury attorneys, their representatives, tow truck drivers, etc., and I educate and warn my clients of the reality of same.
What types of personal injury claims do you specifically handle?
Automobile crashes, pedestrian accidents, Ride share accidents, trucking and boat crashes, slip/trip and fall, premises liability cases, and we consider any type of claim where our client is injured through no fault of his/her own.
In your opinion, what is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
Presenting an honest claim to an insurance company, obtaining an amazing result for a client, and having a client's appreciation for the manner in which we handled his/her case.
What advice do you most often give your clients & why?
Most of my legal advice is protected by attorney-client privilege, but I will share this: Medical documentation is key to a personal injury case. I know they are in pain and suffering on a daily basis but is it documented as evidence in the medical records? Insurance companies evaluate cases like theirs every single day, and in my opinion, view them as just a claim number instead of a human being whose life was adversely impacted by the negligence of another. Lack of consistent medical treatment and medical documentation is a sure way of giving an insurance company an excuse not to evaluate your case fairly.