There are many attorneys who advertise that they will represent you in your injury claim. Most of them, however, are not truly trial attorneys. What does it matter? Isn't one attorney as good as another? Actually, all attorneys are not the same. The insurance companies keep track of attorneys who represent people in claims for car crashes and other types of injuries. They know which attorneys are willing to go all the way to trial and which attorneys will settle a claim for whatever the insurance company will offer.
A trial attorney can get more money for your claim than an attorney who simple settles. However, that does not mean that you will have to go to trial. The best way to settle a claim for its full value is to be prepared to go to trial. If the insurance adjuster knows the attorney is prepared to go to trial and will "go all the way" if necessary, the case is more likely to settle for a larger amount than the same case where the attorney is simply "bluffing" and will take whatever he or she can get. When you realize the offer is not adequate, you are left with two choices: (1) try to squeeze a little more out of the adjuster, or (2) file a lawsuit and prepare to go to trial. Knowing that the attorney will go to trial changes the dynamics of the settlement process and gives the trial lawyer "leverage" that the "settlement" lawyer does not have.
The truth is, trial attorneys don't want to go to trial in every case, either. The difference is that a trial attorney is both willing and able to go to trial if necessary. All personal injury lawyers will prepare your case so that the adjuster can make the best decision in evaluating your claim. A trial lawyer will be more thorough and prepare the claim as if he were getting ready for trial. That meticulous preparation pays off in the pay out.
Don't take chances with your injury claim, whether its a car crash, motorcyle injury, big rig disaster, dog bite, wrongful death or other injury claim. Get the experience you need to get what you deserve. Hire a trial attorney. Hire an attorney with MARSHALL BENSON.
Randall Lee Marshall
