Five Common Myths About Personal Injury Lawyers

PART I 

If you have been injured, you get only one chance to get the compensation you deserve. One of the most important decisions you’ll make in your lifetime will be the lawyer you choose to take on this task. In today’s blog, I'm going to expose some of the 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. There are five (5) myths I’m going to talk about. In Part I, I will discuss the first two (2). 

MYTH #1:            EVERY ATTORNEY HAS ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT 

                          OF EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING.

The truth of the matter is that experience and training differ 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 don't want some paper pusher 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 of knowing that you have given yourself the best chance of winning a large settlement or verdict. 

Many attorneys have lots of cases, but they have never taken them to trial! Many lawyers prefer "out of court settlements," and some of the reasons attorneys may not take cases to trial are that the facts or evidence may change as the case progresses or it may be more cost effective to settle the case rather than take it to trial. Sometimes, however, it is because they don't have the skill to take their cases to trial, even if they are offered less than the case is worth. Most insurance companies know who will try cases and who won’t. More than likely, those insurance companies will never offer you what you truly deserve when they know that your lawyer probably won't take your case to trial because he may not have the skills necessary to try a case in court. 

Please don't be bashful in asking the lawyer 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, doesn't qualify him or her to handle personal injury cases. Amazingly, some lawyers who advertise on TV may never have 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 has to offer is a slick TV commercial, do you want to trust one of the most important decisions of your life to that kind of lawyer? 

I hope this information helps you in choosing the best lawyer for you. If you have any questions please feel free to call me at 304-345-3400 or 1-800-247-2845 or to learn more about me and my firm go online to www.jeffreytjones.com.