This is the next post in our series on dealing with insurance companies and otherwise handling Hartford, Connecticut personal injury cases. Our last article discussed why it is important to retain an injury lawyer with sufficient resources. If one is seriously injured and they retain a lawyer who lacks resources to handle the case, then the victim runs the risk of the matter not being handled properly. In order to avoid such situations, we suggest that you seek out a firm which has a history of handling serious injury cases. In this article we will discuss another important issue – the need to retain a lawyer who will actually litigate the case. If you or a loved one have been harmed in an accident, then contact us today to schedule an initial consultation.
It is not uncommon in personal injury law for firms to stop handling a case once it proceeds to litigation. There are firms which consider themselves “pre-litigation” practitioners. What this means is that the firm will deal with an insurance company after an accident and attempt to reach a settlement, of which they will take a portion. If a settlement cannot be reached then the law firm will typically refer the matter to a partnering “litigation firm.” In other words, if the initial law firm cannot reach a settlement they will refer the matter to a firm to file a lawsuit and take the case to Court, meaning that a victim will have been represented by two different law firms. Also, it is not uncommon for a pre-litigation firm to drop a case altogether if it appears that the insurance company is disputing liability. While these practices are, again, not uncommon, they can negatively impact an injury victim.
Suppose a victim was injured in an accident at a four-way stop sign. The victim retains a pre-litigation firm. The attorneys gather the medical records and send a demand letter to the insurance company. The insurance company reviews the matter and sends a letter to the law firm saying that it is denying liability on the grounds that fault seems to be evenly distributed between the parties. The law firm informs the client that they are dropping the matter and the letter questions the viability of the case. In such a situation, the individual may think that they “do not have a case,” and simply abandon the matter. However, if they retain another law firm then their new counsel may push the matter further and possibly obtain a settlement or even a verdict at trial. This hypothetical situation is an example of something that is not uncommon in personal injury law – one firm dropping a case in which a subsequent firm eventually recovers compensation for the client.
By retaining a firm which handles the litigation of the matter, you help to ensure that a) you will not have to switch lawyers in the middle of your case and b) that your case will be aggressively handled even if it is not an “easy settlement.” Our Hartford injury lawyers handle Connecticut cases from beginning to end and we pride ourselves on providing the highest level of service. We understand that this is a serious time in your life and we will give your case the attention it deserves. Contact us today to speak with an attorney. We also service the Connecticut areas of Wethersfield, New Britain, Bristol, Rocky Hill, West Hartford, East Hartford, Glastonbury, and Manchester, as well as the Middlesex County cities of Middletown and Cromwell.
