You’ve been injured in a car accident and it wasn’t your fault. You’re frustrated because you don’t have a working vehicle, you need medical care, and you’re not sure who is going to pay your medical bills. The insurance company representing the person who caused the accident wants your recorded statement. You just received a letter from the hospital saying they’ve filed a “lien” against you for a bill you thought was already paid by your medical insurance provider.
The problems accident victims face after they’ve been injured in an auto collision can be overwhelming. In addition to seeking medical treatment for their injuries, they must make numerous decisions associated with their accident claim, mostly in areas that are unfamiliar to them.
Trying to negotiate your own claim with insurance companies may result in frustration and little success. If you begin communication with the third-party insurance company and you later hire an attorney to represent you, those prior statements may become an impediment to the successful resolution of your case.
A personal injury office such as Hollingsworth Kelly is comprised of experienced attorneys and staff who can help you if you’ve been injured in an auto accident. They are ready to answer your accident-related questions, and they’ll work closely with you until your case is settled. They’re also experienced in working on liens. They will make sure any liens filed against you are valid, and if possible, will negotiate a reduction of those liens.
The attorneys at Hollingsworth Kelly have the experience to recover a fair and just settlement for your accident-related injuries. No fee is due until your case is resolved.
Why is it important to know how well an attorney performs in trial?
Because the insurance companies certainly do. The reality is that the only personal injury and medical malpractice cases pursued are those where there is insurance coverage, absent an individual having substantial personal assets.
Insurance companies are aware of the fact that of the over 2,000 attorneys in a community like Tucson, less than five percent have actual, significant courtroom experience. And of that five percent, even less have consistent, successful jury trial outcomes. When a lawyer doesn’t have a proven track record, insurance companies know they can get away with undervaluing an injured person’s claim.
When insurance companies know that a personal injury lawyer is willing to take a case to trial, and has proven time and time again that he or she can obtain excellent results, they are far more likely to pay full value for injuries. This is a basic economic principal involving a risk/exposure analysis.
How do you find out about a lawyer’s track record?
It’s simple. Ask the attorney to show you. There are two ways jury trial results are recorded. The first is a Minute Entry, a document generated by a judge at the conclusion of a trial. A lawyer should have a compilation of minute entries to prove his or her record.
Perhaps a more valuable method of documenting trial results is through the Trial Reporter, a publication that summarizes the history of each trial, along with strategies employed, witness testimony, closing arguments and trial results. Pre-trial negotiations are also included.
By requesting and reviewing these historical accounts, you should easily be able to form an opinion about the skill level of an attorney, which will assist you in making a wise choice when hiring an attorney to represent you in a serious personal injury case due to an auto accident or medical malpractice in the Tucson area.
