In this two-part blog series, we continue our discussion of some of the hallmarks of effective personal injury representation. By understanding these traits, you will know what to look for when the time comes for you to find an effective personal injury attorney.
Gathering Facts From the Crash Scene
In our last post, we discussed how a personal injury attorney’s case often begins by visiting the accident scene, gathering evidence, and utilizing an accident reconstruction expert, if needed. The claim begins with these small details.
Elements Of A Personal Injury Claim
Yet facts alone will not win your case. As a civil lawsuit, a plaintiff in a personal injury lawsuit has the burden of proving, by a preponderance of the evidence, the elements of a negligence claim. These components include establishing that the defendant’s actions breached an applicable duty of care. For a motor vehicle accident, this translates into the duty every driver has to obey traffic laws and drive according to road conditions. The plaintiff must then establish causality between the defendant’s actions and his or her injuries. Finally, the plaintiff’s request for damages must be substantiated.
Interweaving The Facts Into A Persuasive Trial Presentation
If these elements sound dry and technical, you’re right. In the hands of a skilled litigator, however, they become the basis of a compelling trial narrative. This leads to our final hallmark of effective personal injury representation: a commitment on the part of the attorney.
To properly tell your story in court, an attorney needs to take the time to listen to you and learn how your injuries have disrupted your quality of life, ability to do your job duties, and other functionalities. An attorney that believes in your story will be that much more effective in fighting for your right to fair compensation in court. Compassion can have a place in the professional attorney-client relationship.
Source: FindLaw, “Meeting with an Injury Attorney.” Copyright 2018 by Thomson Reuters