5 Qualities To Look for in Your Catastrophic Injuries Lawyer

Catastrophic industries can be life-altering, devastating, and isolating. A catastrophic injuries lawyer can help take much of the pressure off you and help you get the compensation you deserve. 

But finding the right catastrophic injuries lawyer can be challenging when every law firm claims to be the best. In today’s blog, we’ll discuss what to look for in a catastrophic injuries lawyer.

What a Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Can Do for You and Your Case

First, let’s address one question: “What is a catastrophic injury?” 

A catastrophic injury is a major and severe injury to the body, spinal cord or brain. Spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and more can change your life. If an injury is because of the fault or negligence of another, the victim can seek compensation for the emotional and monetary losses (damages) that affect them. This can happen due to workplace accidents, defective products, or car accidents, to name just a few examples.

A catastrophic injuries lawyer can defend your right to fair compensation in court, negotiate with insurance companies, and even push for punitive damages when appropriate. But not all catastrophic injuries lawyers offer the same quality of representation. Make sure you find the right lawyer for you when it comes to your case. 

Make Sure Your Catastrophic Injury Lawyer Has These 5 Qualities

Looking for a catastrophic injury lawyer to represent you in a settlement or jury trial? There are many catastrophic injury lawyers working out of the Greater Los Angeles area. So here are five qualities you’ll want to look for in a catastrophic injury law firm.

1. Extensive Experience in Handling Catastrophic Injury Claims

Experience in the area of catastrophic injuries is a must. But it’s also important to recognize that lawyers often move firms or break off to form their own firms. Even if the firm has only been in business for one year, that doesn’t speak to the experience of the attorneys themselves.

Instead, take a look at how long the attorneys at the firm have worked on cases like yours. Many law firms will speak to their “combined experience.” This refers to the combined amount of years that the firm's attorneys have practiced the area of law in question. For instance, two partners with a decade of experience each would have two decades of combined experience. The attorneys should also list their years of experience on their bio and any accolades or certifications they’ve received.

2. A History of Successful Catastrophic Injury Settlements

An attorney’s bio may list some of the settlements they have won for their clients in catastrophic injury cases. The law firm may also have a page dedicated to its results. These examples often won’t go into case specifics to protect client privacy but will give you an idea of the lawyer's track record. 

For instance, they might post a sentence about a catastrophic brain injury case in which they settled for $5 million. This maintains their client’s confidentiality while giving you a sense of the results their firm can achieve. If this information is not listed on the firm's website, make sure you ask about their history of successful settlements before hiring them.

3. Strong Negotiation Skills

Although some catastrophic injury cases will go to trial, most cases settle. This makes the process more painless for you as the injury victim and will help you to receive your money more quickly. You need an attorney with solid negotiation skills if you want to settle. 

Your catastrophic injury attorney can handle any negotiations with the insurance company or the defendant’s counsel. A strong negotiator will always aim to settle. Only if the opposing side refuses to make a fair settlement offer will the case continue to trial.

4. Having Care and Empathy for Your Situation

A skilled and experienced attorney is essential. But it’s equally important to have an attorney who can show empathy and compassion for your situation. A catastrophic injury is just that: catastrophic. It causes as much emotional distress as it causes physical and financial distress. A caring attorney can help remind you that you’re not alone. Ideally, you want a catastrophic injury lawyer who will fight passionately for you to receive compensation but will treat you and your case with sensitivity and care. 

5. A Great Communicator

Excellent communication skills are another must. This goes beyond negotiation skills and empathy and speaks to the attorney’s ability to communicate your case as a whole. Your attorney must be able to lay out the facts of your case clearly and persuasively. And they must be able to use their communication skills to prove that you deserve the compensation you’re arguing for.

This becomes even more important regarding issues like non-economic damages (i.e., emotional distress, pain and suffering, loss of society, etc.) or punitive damages. Punitive damages are awarded when you can prove gross negligence or malicious behavior that caused the accident. The court awards punitive damages as a way of setting an example to deter similar actions in the future. The need for punitive damages can be difficult to prove, so it’s essential to have an attorney who is a skilled communicator.

Our Catastrophic Injury Lawyers Fit the Bill

So, where can you find catastrophic injury lawyers with all those qualities? The answer is Daniels Law! We’ve been in business for over 30 years, so our experience is unmistakable. Thanks to our experience in the field of personal injury law, we’ve honed our negotiation and communication skills. And our case results, both in trial and in settlements, speak for themselves. 

But the care we bring to each case and client is just as important as our experience. We know how personal this is to our clients, and we take their needs very seriously. Contact Daniels Law today to learn more about how we can help you or ask about our free consultations.

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