When you find yourself suffering with a personal injury, it’s best to turn to the biggest, baddest, law firm around, right?

Wrong.

That’s right – bigger really isn’t better when it comes to hiring an attorney to help you with your personal injury case. There’s a big difference between the experience you have working with a big law firm (also known as regional firms or national firms) and working with a small law firm (also known as boutique firms).

 

Small Firms are Local

The law is a local profession. Small firms made up of lawyers who have practiced in the same area for a long time have insights into courts and juries that are invaluable. In addition, some of the largest firms are managed by people who have never actually practiced law and may not even live in the state! This means that the attorney handling a case will have to get authority for strategic moves or even to advise the client to settle the case from a lawyer in another time zone. The biggest firms may have non-lawyer stockholders who are not bound by the lawyers code of professional ethics, and put the firm’s needs above the clients’.

 

Attention to Detail

Because boutique firms generally take on smaller caseloads, they have more time, energy, and resources to spend on each personal injury victim’s case. This also often leads to more personal client-attorney relationships and easy communication. Small firms tend to be more aggressive in pushing cases forward for clients as well, which makes a huge difference in the result of your case. Large firms with thousands of clients can’t afford to try lawsuits for what they consider to be “small” claims. Because of the inner workings of running a large law firm, they lose money if they can’t settle cases quickly which means they are more likely to settle instead of fighting for a fair settlement.

 

High Level of Expertise

Boutique law firms generally limit themselves to a few different types of law, which means that they develop a high level of expertise in their field. It’s always better to have a true expert in your corner rather than someone who has little experience in cases relevant to yours.

Having a personal injury lawyer on your side throughout the legal process significantly increases your chances of reaching a fair settlement agreement. How can your attorney help you win the compensation you deserve?

  • Advocating for and protecting your rights as a personal injury victim.
  • Negotiating for a settlement that covers all of your personal injury related expenses such as medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and even future injury related expenses.
  • Managing legal paperwork, making sure the appropriate forms are filled out correctly and submitted in time for legal deadlines.
  • Gathering and presenting the evidence needed to prove the value of your personal injury, and that the defendant was at fault for the accident. This evidence can include police reports, receipts, medical records, eyewitness testimony, and other forms of documentation.
  • Filing a lawsuit on your behalf if a fair settlement can’t be reached, and being ready and able to try your case if that is what is necessary.

Unfortunately, many personal injury victims do not end up hiring an attorney because of the myth that it’s too expensive. However, most personal injury lawyers don’t get paid until you’ve received the compensation you deserve. They receive a small percentage of your settlement as payment – that means if you don’t get paid, then your lawyer doesn’t either.

If you’ve suffered a personal injury in an accident caused by the actions or negligence of another party, contact The S.E. Farris Law Firm as soon as possible to schedule your no-cost initial consultation where you’ll be given free legal advice from an experienced St. Louis lawyer near you.