May 17, 2023
If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of having suffered a personal injury because of someone else’s carelessness, you likely also find yourself in the unfortunate position of trying to find a personal injury attorney without knowing anything about world of personal injury or what makes an attorney effective. Maybe you got the name of an attorney from a friend, saw a billboard promoting an attorney, or received a letter from a personal injury attorney offering their services. Unless you have been through the litigation process, and specifically the personal injury litigation process, you likely have next to no frame of reference. Choosing the right attorney is important to ensure that your claim is handled competently, efficiently, and effectively. This article outlines five qualities that make a personal injury attorney effective at representing you and resolving your case and provides helpful questions to ask when you are interviewing potential attorneys.
1. Great Personal Injury Attorneys are Aggressive Personal Injury Attorneys
The best personal injury attorney will aggressively pursue your case. Not every claim will be treated the same, but great attorneys do not hesitate to file lawsuits and push cases toward and into the courtroom. The harder your attorney pushes your case, the more pressure insurance companies will feel, and the more likely those insurance companies are to come to the negotiating table in good faith. If an insurance company does not recognize the true value of your claim, your personal injury attorney should not hesitate to encourage you to have your case decided by a jury of your peers.
Questions to Ask your prospective Personal Injury Attorney:
2. Communication is Key
You should know what is going on with your personal injury case at all times. You should not find out about case developments weeks after they happened. If you have questions about your case, you should be able to call your attorney and talk to him or her about your case. Attorneys should not make you feel like you are bothering them when you call or email. The best personal injury attorneys will have processes in place to make sure they are keeping in regular contact with each of their clients.
Questions to Ask your prospective Personal Injury Attorney:
3. Relationships Matter
You should endeavor to find a personal injury attorney that has cultivated strong relationships with both judges and defense attorneys. An aggressive personal injury attorney does not need to employ a “scorched earth” strategy on your behalf. If you can find an attorney that has earned the respect of her or his peers in the legal community you will find yourself on a smoother path with more consistent results in your favor.
Questions to Ask your prospective Personal Injury Attorney:
4. Empathy is a Must
Great personal injury attorneys care about their clients. If you get the sense that you are just another file, you should continue your search until you are comfortable that you have found an attorney that, above anything else, cares about your personal success and well-being.
Note: There are no specific questions to ask your prospective personal injury attorney here. Rather, listen to the questions she or he asks you. Are all of her or his questions focused on the details of the case or are they also making an effort to find out about you as a person. Attorneys that care about you will ask where you grew up, how you got to where you are in life, what your interests are, and more.
5. True Believers in American Justice System
Dedicated personal injury attorneys know the legal landscape and fight to keep a level playing field against large insurance companies. They participate in organizations that draft legislation and support political candidates that protect and promote the rights of injured Nebraska citizens. You will hear them talk about your 7th Amendment right to trial-by-jury with reverence and a dedication to preserving that right.
Questions to Ask your prospective Personal Injury Attorney:
The Rembolt Ludtke Personal Injury Trial Team Difference
The Rembolt Ludtke Personal Injury Trial Team checks all of the boxes above. We pride ourselves on aggressively pursuing our client’s cases in a responsible and professional manner. We seek permission to file lawsuits for our client’s early, knowing our clients typically will only receive the best results once the time and effort has been made to “work-up” a case. We push cases forward aggressively without unnecessarily demonizing the other side. We try cases to juries when an insurance company refuse to make reasonable offers.
Rembolt Ludtke’s Personal Injury Trial Team does not just talk the talk, it walks the walk. The head of our practice is Pete Wegman, a member of multiple exclusive trial attorney organizations, including the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL) and the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). Pete is the past president of the Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys and remains actively involved with that organization today. Mark Richardson has been trying personal injury cases for more than a decade. He is also actively involved with NATA, testifying on multiple legislative bills every year. Mark will become NATA’s president in the summer of 2024.
Rembolt Ludtke’s Personal Injury Trial Team receives invaluable insights from Tim Engler, another Rembolt Ludtke member of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Tim’s background as one of the foremost mediators in Nebraska provides the team with a down-to-earth and balanced perspective on our cases. Sam Colwell and Adam Prochaska are the newest additions to the Rembolt Ludtke Personal Injury Trial Team. Adam has been litigating for more than twenty years and brings a wealth of knowledge and ability to our team. Sam Colwell graduated from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 2022 and has proven himself a major asset to the team in a relatively short period of time. He already has been involved in every aspect of trial preparation and contributes significantly to legislative efforts.
At Rembolt Ludtke, our focus is first-and-foremost on the success and well-being of our clients. We innovate different strategies tailored to the specifics of each case. Our team approach allows us to take on the most significant personal injury cases in Nebraska, including catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, and complex product liability cases. We are leaders in the legal industry, committed to maximizing the results for our clients.
Rembolt Ludtke does not advertise its personal injury and wrongful death services on billboards, nor do we send impersonal marketing letters. Rembolt Ludtke’s reputation is well-known in Nebraska with judges, attorneys, and the public. Continue on our website to view our attorney bios, read more about our practice group, or to schedule a meeting with one of our team members.
This article is provided for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Those requiring legal advice are encouraged to consult with their attorney.
