Know your client
New lawyers sometimes are too excited to accept cases that they run the risk of being called the “Ambulance Chasers.” The following pointers are adapted from Jay G. Foonbergs book How to Start and Build Law Practice:
When talking with the prospective client or family for the first time, tell them to engage to you as often and rapidly as possible. It is necessary to begin to work on the case immediately to protect the client’s own best interests and substantiate the need for immediate legal service. Remind to the client also not to discuss fault or facts with anybody except police officers until after they’ve consulted you. Before the potential client cleans up or engages in repairs, they should understand that the investigative team will need to photograph all evidence and that this is of utmost importance.
Accident sites need to be visited and documented photographically before any changes, repairs, or distortions occur. Be sure that the client understands not to allow damaged, dirty or blood-stained clothing or evidence to be discarded by medical responders. Any outward evidence of injuries, including bruises, scratches and the like, must be chronicled in photographs right away. The injured person must be reminded that insurance company’s primary concern is to defend a claim for damages rather than getting any funds for the insured for personal injury.
The client should completely and thoroughly review any medical records for accuracy and completeness. Medical records should be given the appropriate amount of time and consideration. Reports from doctors will be held in higher esteem by an insurance company than a report received by another medical professional who is not a physician.
Remind the client orally and in writing that “based on the facts as they appear in the present time, it appears that he has a meritorious case. That is why, it is impossible to value the case until the full extent of personal injury, the need for treatment, damages, and losses are known.