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minutes. I settled most of these cases by simply notifying the insurance
company of my involvement and forwarding them a copy of a lawsuit
filed on each client’s behalf. All I had to do on many of these cases was
take the time to file a lawsuit and miraculously I would receive a call
from an adjuster who increased their settlement offer to something
reasonable and the case settled.
What I learned from this experience, and what you should know,
is that this TV Lawyer was not willing to go the extra distance for his
clients and file a lawsuit if the insurance company was being
unreasonable. He simply did not have the time to go the extra distance
for his clients. He was not a trial lawyer – he was a settlement lawyer.
TV lawyers often get numerous calls about accidents. Instead of
meeting with the potential clients, many TV lawyers send “runners” or
“investigators” (non-lawyer employees) out to the injured employee’s
home or hospital room to sign them up. The TV lawyer then requests the
medical records and files a claim with the employer’s insurance
company. However, if the insurance adjuster does not offer the client
enough to settle, the TV lawyer fires the client or refers him to another
lawyer. Believe me, the insurance companies know which lawyers are
willing to fight for your rights and which lawyers have neither the
knowledge, skill, nor time to go to court on your behalf.
Potential Pitfall: This attorney knows of several attorneys who
do heavy advertising, including billboard, phone book, and television
ads. Their faces are everywhere yet they do not regularly maintain an
office in the area, and they do not personally meet with their “clients.”
They simply maintain a small office or office address and have a staff
member meet with prospective clients rather than meet with the client
themselves. Meeting and discussing your case with a legal secretary,
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