A woman called me and said she was in a car accident and hired an attorney right away because she saw a commercial where the attorney told her on the TV that they could tell her on day one with the case was worth. That is complete and utter nonsense. Of course, this is a firm that is known for doing questionable things and we get a lot of calls from their unhappy clients.
The reason it’s nonsense is there is no way to tell after an accident or even a week or two later what your ultimate injury will be. It’s not uncommon to feel fine after an accident because of adrenaline, but then notice terrible neck or back pain a couple of days later. Nobody knows what medical care you will have, what financial loss you will suffer, how this will impact you in the future, etc.
The only possible exception to this would be if someone was killed, but even then, you’d not likely know the extent of any insurance that was available and there’s no guarantee that an insurance policy is going to be offered. You also likely don’t know much about the at fault party and what assets they have beyond insurance. You might think they were driving their personal vehicle, but later discover that they were driving for work. That could dramatically change how much money a case ultimately is worth.
I get why people want to know what their case is worth. But only slimy attorneys tell you that right away because they know that they are lying just to get you to sign up. There are so many variables that could determine the ultimate outcome.
An honest attorney who will truly look out for you will tell you they can’t answer the “what is my case worth?” question, but will show you how their track record of success can help you get the most money in the end. They will also discuss ways that they can protect you along the way as well as all of the do’s and don’ts to be aware of such as not posting on social media about your case.
In general it’s a good idea to avoid the types of lawyers who tell you what you want to hear. They are comparable to slick used car salesmen. We don’t ever do that, but instead talk to you directly and honestly. We treat our callers like they are family members or friends and leave all the BS out. If you’d like a FREE consultation with an attorney, contact us any time at 312-346-5320.