“I can’t believe this happened to me!” The first thought that goes through anyone’s head when they suffer an injury is one of disbelief. We all know that accidents happen, but we often don’t believe they will happen to us, or to our loved ones.
As Canadians we have access to one of the best, if not the best, medical system in the world. We do not have to worry about which hospital to go to or which clinic has the best doctors when we are injured. We can simply go to the closest hospital or doctor and know that we are going to receive excellent care. Our doctors and other healthcare professionals all receive world-class education and training. Canadians have a strong belief in everyone’s right to have access to the best possible medical care regardless of how much money they have. Some things are just too fundamentally important to be left to chance — or to advertising.
I think it is this belief that causes people to react with disdain when they see aggressive advertising by personal injury lawyers.
When you have been injured you are at one of the most vulnerable times in your life. You need help. People naturally resent being manipulated at the best of times, but especially when they are in need. As soon as you have a need for a personal injury lawyer, you will notice how many of them advertise on TV, the radio and other media. All of the ads, of course, explain how the lawyers in question are “leaders in their field.”
So how do you choose a law firm? Choosing a personal injury lawyer is too important a decision to be based solely on information contained in an ad or on a website. Advertising can lead you to a lawyer but there is no question that the best way to find a personal injury lawyer is through a recommendation from a friend, family member or some other trusted adviser such as a doctor or other health-care professional. Simply put, you want to be referred to your lawyer by someone who has your best interests at heart and is not motivated by financial gain.
You need to select a lawyer who practises only personal injury law and has extensive experience with the system you will have to navigate on your way to physical, mental, emotional and financial recovery from your injuries. The lawyer should have the resources to spend whatever is necessary to build and present your claims properly to the insurance company that will be responding to your claims. The lawyer should be able to help you access the benefits and funds you will need to support yourself if you are unable to work following your injuries.
The lawyer should be able to explain the claims process to you plainly and let you know when you can expect things to happen.
You need to be comfortable with your lawyer and confident in his abilities. The process of choosing a personal injury lawyer should feel natural and not forced in any way. Many lawyers are more focused on getting you to “sign up” than they are with making sure you understand the claims process. If you do not feel comfortable with a lawyer
