Smith, Christina Lee

The biggest satisfaction I have practicing law is helping ordinary people who have been seriously damaged, rather than defending the person or corporation that caused it.

It's amazing how people can injure others and then refuse to take responsibility for it; and companies and employers are at the head of the list. Unfortunately, this attitude is the rule, not the exception.

What does this means to you? Your case must be handled in a way that paints the other side into a corner. Otherwise, they will use this escape route to avoid paying. So the lawyer representing the injured party has got to be knowledgeable and hard-working. The national peer reviewed law directory of Martindale-Hubbell has given me its highest rating of AV (for legal ability and ethics) for more than the last 30 years. Common sense tells us experience, and lots of it (in my case over 30 years) makes for a powerful combination.

Remember, the burden of proof is on the injured person. That means the other side can just sit back and try to poke holes in the injured party's case. But when the injured person's attorney gives them no out, they are forced to either settle the case, or take their chances when the matter is tried. That is dealing from strength.

What is the best way to settle the case and avoid trial? The injured party's lawyer plays a major role. If the opposing side knows or senses the injured person's attorney is inexperienced, unskilled, or unprepared, then lowball offers (or no offers) can be expected. This may happen in any event, but any of these things will virtually insure a less favorable result and that means money.

So experience, reputation, and preparation are key. The other side must know that if they do not settle the case they are going to run into a buzz saw in other words, that they will be exposed to the one thing they (and their insurance companies) know, and for insurance companies in particular, the only thing they care about: Risk.

That is the playing field that you are on, and now you know the rules.