Lying attorney
With reputations as ambulance chasers, we PI attorneys are already at a disadvantage when it comes to getting and keeping clients. Ask ten people what it means to be professional and they will all have a different answer. Many of them will have similar trains of thought, largely revolving around the ideas of respect and decency.
However, there are many other factors that go along with these cornerstones of running a personal injury law firm. Honesty is the best policy, and coupled with tried and true management techniques your firm will become and remain respected.
In asking attorneys about their experience, as well as from the client side, several key ideas emerge.
A Suit and Tie Don’t Make You a Professional
A nice...
American football fans get together for a super bowl party.
It’s football season again and which teams will make it all the way to the final game depends on many factors. Be assured though that the two top teams will have one thing in common: Teamwork. To excel at the highest level in sports or business requires teamwork. You might be asking what this has to do with personal injury and if you allow me to make this football analogy I think you will agree it has everything to do with successful personal injury practice.
Like an NFL team that desires to make it to the big bowl game, a personal injury client/patient also is in search of a successful outcome. In each case, a winning, cohesive team must be selected and work together to achieve...
Michael Ehline, Law Office Study Program Graduate
Rapid changes in technology and professional attitudes have upended the regular personal injury law office culture. The standard nine to five job, if it ever existed for a self starter, has been partially replaced by those in mobile offices, contract workers, remote services, and other significant shifts. For those in the personal injury legal field or about to enter it, it is important to recognize how these changes have affected the practice and will continue to shape it.
Newly minted lawyers may not realize the profound changes the last thirty years have brought. You can no longer get $20,000 in a quick settlement for a soft tissue, rear end auto accident. Those lawyers cashed out when...
PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM red Rubber Stamp over a white background.
Consumer attorneys are always looking for the latest boutique injury case to bring. With all the news about Uber lately, it is natural that lawsharks are looking for any chinks in the armor of this powerhouse transportation company. Recently in California, a court found that Uber drivers are not independent contractors, and are in fact employees of Uber. This could spell the end of Uber in the Golden State according to some experts, like attorney Michael Ehline. But not so fast, it appears another chink in Uber’s armor has been found.
Can I Sue Uber for Illegal Texting?
Sure why not? Uber customers, in a new lawsuit, claim that Uber, the ride sharing service built around...
Ridesharing
Whip out your smartphone and click open an app. Wow! I can have a ride from my apartment to a nearby restaurant for how much? Technology and new ideas make the American economy function. However, there are many cases where unsuspecting consumers are taken advantage of by those posing as entrepreneurs. Americans love innovators and want to find the best service at the lowest price. This is where the trap of ride-share services come in.
The Dark Side of Ride Sharing?
Companies like Lyft and Uber burst on the scene over the last several years. Their potential has been lauded in the press and millions of rides have been delivered. However, there has been tremendous concern about the so-called ‘dark side’ of ride sharing....
Illustration depicting a roadsign with a negligence concept. Sky background.
One of the biggest fears for any attorney or law firm, especially large “personal injury mills” with little margin for profits, is being challenged in court over their conduct. Making sure that you are able to properly care for your clients while avoiding controversy can be a major advantage. This is a learning process that all attorneys need to go through and can be advanced with good advice. Speaking from experience, I’ve seen good attorneys going through accusations simply from misunderstandings. Many cases can be avoided simply through clarity.
Simple Steps for Personal Injury Lawyers to
Avoid Malpractice Lawsuits
The steps below can help...
A successful lawyer in the office of justice figure in the foreground.
As odd as it sounds, one of the most progressive/liberal states in the union goes really hard on personal injury victims. Strange as it sounds, with a personal injury Plaintiff’s Bar that is beholden to the California Democratic party, the people we represent as plaintiffs, often have less rights in their damages recovery claims for example, than other more so called “conservative” states.
Interference With Plaintiff’s Rights Is An Ongoing Battle – The Motive
Traditionally, Republican politicians, despite their universal view that we need less government, like to make hay against injury victims every election season. Their answer is...
Be a Person, Not Just an Attorney
Lawyer Shark fishing for clients
There are many things that people are looking for in an attorney. Often the phone call to a prospective lawyer only happens after a traumatic event and is buffeted by stress. When people are in such a vulnerable position it is important to make sure that the person feels comforted by a professional. Serious, confident leadership will be able to create the transition from serious legal issues to resolution. You client will be looking up to you in hopes that your experience and bedside manner will be able to repair their issue.
Because of the means that the average person contacts an attorney or the complex series of issues a larger client would be looking for a lawyer, the...
Business concept flat icons set of law and order judicial proceedings legal services police investigation infographic design elements vector illustration
The world is rapidly changing, and getting smaller. For many prospective clients, the right attorney is one that can speak to them on many levels. Gone are the days where clients would just look on the side of a bus or the back of a phone book to determine who would represent their divorce, property, or personal injury issue. The magic of the internet has allowed citizens the chance to find out more about their advocates. Even a simple Google search can show a tremendous amount about an attorney’s professional and personal life.
Connectivity is a Double Edged Sword For Attorneys
The...
Closeup of a smart phone with a female hand texting and driving.
Texting and driving has become a very dangerous precedent on the road. Every day, thousands of Americans text and drive rather than listen to consistent statistics and evidence of why it is a dangerous practice. Many states have made the practice illegal and some have imposed heavy penalties for texting and driving.
Some have attempted to create new stops for drivers to pull over and use their phone. Consistently, it is shown that use of electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle can be dangerous for all people involved. Below are some surprising (or maybe not so surprising) facts tied to texting and driving:
Public opposition is strong:
94% of the public support a ban...
