subject: Is Personal Injury Law The Field For You? [print this page] The main difference between Personal Injury (PI) firms and other practice areas of the law is the monetary risk for the lawyer. Since most PI clients can't pay up front, the lawyer spends his own money as well as a great deal of time preparing and trying case; if he's lucky, he may recoup his investment in a year or two when he wins the case. Lawyers who work PI cases are not always compensated for all the hours they put in, even though PI cases can be some of the most time consuming and difficult to assemble.
A PI lawyer usually needs to hire doctors, engineers, accident reconstruction experts, and other professionals needed to analyze critical issues and testify in court. If a lawyer happens to handle many cases, he would have a hard time managing these people and get them paid on time. Thus, a personal injury lawyer needs to generate money to have the capability of handling cases. Given the financial and personal risks involved, you must examine yourself if you can really tolerate such difficult situations before embarking on personal injury practice career.
Obtaining a favorable verdict at trial is harder for personal injury cases. Many states are implementing "tort reforms" legislation that places upper limits on the amount of claims of an injured person. Also, a lot of insurance companies and corporate defendants are less motivated to settle before trial. This means that you are most likely to go through the process of filing a lawsuit which entails expenses on filing fees, depositions, expert witnesses and other court costs for the lawyer and long wait for the court decision for the client. Sad to say, because of the long process, many clients end up settling for a fraction of what the case is really worth.
Many personal injury lawyers are viewed with disdain by the public, 'ambulance chasers' is one popular nickname, although the amount of money such a lawyer can make when they win cases can be astounding. There is often something in the news pertaining to scams involving injury lawyers and insurance fraud, where clients and lawyers with the help of doctors have taken advantage of the system. However on the reverse of that there is also a great many struggles of personal injury lawyers and their clients trying to rightfully take on billion dollar insurance corporations, it truly is a David and Goliath act in some cases.
PI lawyers come in different personality types, interests, aptitudes, strengths and weaknesses but practicing this profession can give you an opportunity to help other people who are wronged and truly in need. There is no better feeling in the world than having put up with all that abuse from the other side and having his or her cause validated by a jury. With this, you gain a measure of confidence and assurance that will motivate you to stay in the game for a longer time. If you can manage your practice wisely, then you will be able to experience moments of triumph constantly.
by: Robert Smith.
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