Like medical doctors, lawyers should be mindful of their bedside manner and not harshly deliver negative news to an injured party seeking legal representation. However, like medical doctors, a lawyer should give a potential client a frank and candid assessment of their situation even when it is not news they want to hear.
I have found over the years that most people like an honest answer from a straight shooter. However, many have a very distorted view of the legal system. Part of this disconnect from reality is due to some of the legal advertising that floods television, radio and billboards. All seem to promise great riches at the end of a mythical rainbow. These pipedreams often fail to mention the elements necessary to have a viable case.
First of all, in order for an injured party to have a case, someone else must be at fault and have caused the wreck in the vast majority of automobile accident scenarios. There are some notable exceptions such as people on the job within the scope of their employment who may still have a workers compensation claim. Like many states Georgia is an “at fault” state when it comes to the issue of automobile and trucking accidents. Simply put, the person at fault that caused an accident rarely is able to make a personal injury claim. They may be able to make a claim on the medical insurance payments provision of their automobile insurance policy for some of their medical bills but only if they have elected to purchase such coverage.
Secondly, the lawyers singing, dancing or bragging about the millions in dollars they have collected for their clients on the TV screen rarely mention that it is only cases that involve severe injuries that have a viable possibility for a large settlement or verdict. Additionally, exaggerated news headlines about verdicts and unrealistic depictions of legal disputes in television, books and movies further distort the view of many in the public about the law and the legal process.
This office is pleased to field calls from people who have been injured in automobile and trucking accidents. If it does not sound like the person has a viable case, they will be told so in a forthright manner. Hence when someone calls wanting to sue “somebody” for a wreck they themselves caused, little more can be done than wish them best wishes for a speedy recovery. One cannot and should not sue “somebody” who did nothing wrong. So, no Virginia not everyone has a case. When you need help with legal matters, call the one you can trust. Contact Chris today … click here.
