When the sound of screeching tires and metal meets metal enters your life, everything changes. One moment you are simply driving to work, a grocery store, or to a family member's house and the next moment you are immersed in the train wreck that is a car accident. The adrenaline subsides, the police reports are taken, and the next moment sets in: you need legal help now.
Searching for "auto lawyers near me" has naturally become one of the most searched legal topics in America. Car accidents quite literally happen every day, millions of people find themselves dealing with a train wreck of insurance claims, medical bills, and a legal procedures they never asked to deal with. It's a high-stakes process, it's rife with ambiguity, and one bad decision can cost you thousands if not millions of dollars or risk your future.
Here is what most, if not all ancient lawyers fail to convey in their fail-studies: not all auto lawyers are created equal, and simply because the auto lawyer is the first to show up does not indicate they are the best lawyer for your specific situation. The world of automotive legal representation is nuanced, specialized and it's personal. It is not simply a case or a file on someone's desk - it is your pain, financial stability and path forward after an unimaginable experience.
The law practice dedicated to automotive accidents has markedly transformed in the last few decades. The straightforward practice of determining fault has projected into a sophisticated field that requires experts in everything from biomechanics to insurance law, accident reconstruction, and medical terminology. Nowadays, auto lawyers have transgressed arguing accidents in courthouses to advocates, negotiators, counselors, and even life coaches, for clients whose lives have been turned upside down.
When you start the search for automotive legal representation, you are engaging with a highly competitive and fundamentally fragmented marketplace. Large national firms advertise ceaselessly, claiming efficient settlements and maximum payouts. Small local firms advertise personal service in the community. Single practitioner advertising claims flexibility and low operating costs. "Boutique" law firms that exclusively handle auto cases advertise expertise and available resources. Each category of practice has some advantages and disadvantages to consider, understanding the differences between them becomes crucial in making your decision.
National law firms usually represent cases with lots of resources including teams of investigators, medical experts, and staff. They are able to take on cases with complicated issues including multiple parties or serious injury cases. Their name-value sometimes provides leverage when negotiating with insurance companies. Interestingly enough, you may find yourself working with a paralegal or junior associate, instead of the seasoned attorney advertised in the firm.
Regional law firms provide the best of both worlds compared to national versus localized practice. They know the law and court procedures in the specific jurisdiction, but can support serious cases and maintain the efficiency with their size. These companies typically have close relationships with local medical providers, expert witnesses, and sometimes even opposing counsel, which can make negotiation easier and expedite resolution.
The solo practitioner or small local firm are able to offer more personalized service, often developing relationships with clients that feel real during the legal process. Your attorney will probably be able to remember your name (without plowing through a file) and specific details about your case. A local attorney, especially a solo practitioner, will also likely be more responsive to minor issues and your questions or concerns, which might be ignored in larger firms. The key trade-off is usually in the available resources; for example, a solo practitioner may not have the means to involve a pricey expert witness or have access to the latest and greatest technology for accident reconstruction.
The costs associated with poor attorney selection go far beyond direct financial loss, even when those losses can be significant. Let us consider Sarah, a teacher from Ohio, who was rear-ended by a distracted driver while she sat in a queue at a traffic light. Sarah had neck pain and headaches, but, at first, felt fine enough to go to work. Her initial instinct was to handle the insurance claim herself; however, when the other driver's insurance adjusted her injury claim and offered what seemed like a reasonable settlement, she chose to leap and call an attorney she randomly found while searching on the Internet.
The attorney she contacted did not have a bad demeanor, was fresh out of law school, and showed some urgency to get a client. He told her that her case was simple, and he could finish everything quickly. He didn't realize that Sarah's symptoms were indicative of a traumatic brain injury that may not show up until weeks or months post-accident. He didn't recognize how those injuries would affect her profession that required significant cognitive focus and flexibility in thought. He settled her case quickly and for pennies on the dollar, and, not just lost her money but her life's trajectory.
Unfortunately, Sarah's cognitive symptoms worsened over time, to the point where she had to take extended medical leave from her teaching duties; she eventually resigned from the profession. A more seasoned attorney would have recognized the signs and symptoms, pushed for a thorough medical work-up, followed by waiting for stabilization of her condition before negotiating the case. Sarah's situation illustrates why experience matters in automobile cases. The negative outcome of the attorney's negligence was not only her suffering a severely negative result, but there is evidence an experienced attorney would have changed the entire outcome in Sarah's situation since the situation was indicative of a larger problem. The difference between a good attorney and a superior one can literally change your life!
Superior auto attorneys don't just know how to navigate the legal process, they know how a serious accident can affect you medically, financially, and emotionally. They have a keen understanding of the symptoms of a serious injury, which insurance lifers have a strategy to minimize your loss of value, and which doctors or experts can provide normalization for your case.
One of the hardest parts of any automobile legal case is any insurance company involved, which exist to collect premiums while paying as little in claims as possible. Insurance adjusters are trained professionals whose jobs are often based on how much money saved their company, not how fairly they treat a potential accident victim. Understanding this potential conflict of interest can be essential to protecting your rights from the moment of accident.
Insurance companies have every conceivable strategy to attempt to put themselves in the highest position of liability; many, while perfectly legal, can devastate an unprepared accident victim. They may reach out to you immediately following the accident while you are still shaken or even injured in hopes to secure a record statement that could be later used against you. They may initiate a quick settlement before you fully understand the extent of your injuries or damages to your vehicle or person. They may prevent or delay processing your claim with the hope that you will become financially distressed enough to settle for less than an adequate settlement amount.
Other insurance companies use a much more sophisticated means by employing a large group of attorneys / investigators / medical professionals, all trained to specifically work against you. They utilize surveillance technology, social media monitoring services, and databases with everything from a history of your medical condition, driving record, to your financial status. They fully understand that almost all accident victims are currently facing significant pain, stress, or financial distress while trying to accept far less than they deserve.
This is exactly where experienced auto attorneys can level the playing field; they fully understand the tactics of the insurance companies. They have resources, adjusters, and experts that assist in presenting injuries, medical evidence, and negotiating from a jump-seat position instead. They understand the true value of different types of damages and won't be intimidated by insurance company lawyers or adjusters.
The relationship between experienced auto lawyers and insurance companies is often surprisingly collegial, built on mutual respect and understanding of each party's role in the process. Insurance adjusters and company lawyers know which attorneys have strong reputations for thorough preparation and successful trial outcomes. This expertise typically leads to a more sensible range of settlement offers and a more timely resolution of the case, as insurance companies want to avoid costly litigation once they discover they have an opposition with the experience to defend against the merits of the case.
The modern practice of automotive law is highly reliant on a significant amount of medical knowledge by lawyers, who are required to possess knowledge of basic anatomy from which to complex diagnostic procedures. The human body responds to automotive accidents significantly differently than is commonly perceived, and insurance companies take advantage of this difference when the presentation of delayed signs or symptoms for injuries.
An injury that is commonly cited as a result of automotive injuries is whiplash, with more serious symptom presentation commonly repurposed by those with limited law or medicine background. Whiplash is sometimes described as a "soft tissue" injury, which diminishes the seriousness of the injury, when in reality chronic pain, diminished cognition, or emotional trauma may exist for years after the injury occurred. The biomechanics of whiplash is relatively poorly understood, not only by subjects outside of healthcare, but many healthcare providers have limited knowledge of the actual biomechanics associated with whiplash. As such, these characteristics make it relatively easy to downplay claims being made by an injured party in lieu of the fact of performance of range of motion and significant and noteworthy symptomology.
Traditionally, experienced auto lawyers will closely work with and develop relationships with medical professionals who are trained and specialize in the area of healthcare concerning automotive injuries. These professionals range from doctors to physical therapists to mental health professionals who have the experience to understand the full scope of not only the healthcare presentation of an injury but also the criteria for different injury levels (motion in relationship to force applied). Generally, these professionals can provide clear and well documented detail of injury symptoms, provide research evidence of the connections of forces presenting to an injury, provide clear protocols for rehabilitation and even clear forecasts of prognosis of expected outcomes.
Timing of medical services and treatment is also proved to be very important in the context of automotive law. Gaps in treatment are typically regarded by insurance adjusters as evidence that the injuries were not that serious or that the injury was not caused by the subject accident. There are many valid reasons some accident victims could put off going for treatment, including insurance issues, obligations of work, or simply not recognizing the extent of their injuries. However, skilled attorneys can provide the type of guidance clients can rely on to assist them in their medical approaches while still protecting their rights under the law.
When it comes to medical complexities, brain injuries be consideredthe most difficult aspect of automotive legal practice. A minor accidentcan produce a traumatic brain injury, and a person can sustain a mild brain injury even with no contact with an object in the vehicle. The nature of brain injuries is such that symptoms can separate by days or weeks, and, in some cases, mentally or cognitively, may not be detected in a routine medical examination. The long-term consequences of a brain injury can be significant and can affect every aspect of every day in a person's life, including the ability to work, develop and maintain relationships, and the ability to live independently.
However, the challenge that some lawyer may have in acting on behalf of a client with a brain injury is proving the injury and its severity through medically sophisticated tests or expert health professionals. Specialized auto lawyers invest considerable amounts of money securing knowledge about a brain injury and developing relationships with approved health professionals who have the expertise and competence to diagnose and treat a brain injury.
Successful cases in automotive law are built through quality investigation and documentation of evidence. Investigation begins the instant the accident occurs, and continues on to the litigation process if required. The thoroughness and quality of the investigation done at the front end will determine whether cases settle early on on favorable terms or, alternatively, will necessitate costly litigation and a trial.
The investigative process is an arts and science. Understanding the physics, engineering, and human behavior belonging to the accident is an important part of the process. The patterns of skid marks, damage done to vehicles, areas of debris, and conditions of the road all provide parts of the evidence of what took place in those crucial seconds immediately before the crash occurred. These pieces of evidence begin to disappear as soon as the traffic resumes, weather conditions change, and cars are towed away.
Experienced auto lawyers know the value of a quick response, and often maintain relationships with professional accident reconstruction experts who can arrive on the scene of an accident in a matter of hours. They photograph everything, measure very carefully, and even utilize laser scanning technology to create detailed three-dimensional models of accident scenes. When the insurance company disputes basic facts about how accidents took place, it can become very valuable evidence.
Eyewitness testimony can also be significant; however, it is just as fragile and is subject to the same time constraints. People's memories fade, and they ultimately become unreliable or unwilling participant witnesses to the accident as time goes on. Experienced lawyers know how to find eyewitnesses, interview them effectively, and capture and preserve their testimonies in an admissible and persuasive way, should a case go to trial.
A large portion of investigation is also the analysis of electronic evidence, including from the vehicles themselves. Many newer vehicles come equipped with "event data recorders" which can record details such as how fast a driver was going, whether the driver was braking, whether the driver was steering, and other data for up to seconds before the impact. Cell phone records can also show whether the driver was texting or talking on the phone right when the accident took place. If the accident occurred in plain sight of a nearby business, or a nearby traffic camera, we may be able to obtain and analyze video evidence and/or color background at the scene represented on video evidence.
Investigations can go beyond the accident itself to review all the damages to the accident victim. This comprises not just immediate medical costs and property damages but also ongoing medical needs, loss of earning capacity, as well as non-economic damages for items like pain and suffering. Assessing damages will involve the assistance of medical professionals, vocational experts, economists, and at times life care planners, who can actuate and cost out future needs.
One of the common assumptions with accident victims is that they can accurately gauge the value of their own cases. Adjusters are aware of this assumption and will frequently take advantage of that naiveté, making offers that sound reasonable to the untrained eye, all the while offering pennies on the dollar of what the cases are actually worth! Understanding how legal professionals value car accidents can help you have a better idea if you should retain an attorney and what to expect in a settlement negotiation.
Economic damages are usually the straightforward damages because there is a paper trail with bills, receipts, etc., illustrating financial loss or cost. Economic damages generally include medical expenses, lost wages, property damages, as well as costs for services you are no longer able to perform yourself, such as housekeeping or child care services. Even these damages can be tricky, especially if they include future projections and lost earning capacity.
Medical expenses often go well beyond your visit to the emergency room and immediate treatment. Serious injuries usually require ongoing medical treatment, such as physical therapy, psychological counseling, and sometimes further surgical or other interruption of care. A number of injuries will never heal altogether, requiring continuous treatment and adjustments to daily living. In order to calculate these future medical expenses, you will need to rely on medical professionals who can assess both likely injury progression and cost of required care.
One of the most significant damages in many automobile cases is loss of earning capacity, especially if the victim is young, or has specialized skills and training. Loss of earning capacity is not merely calculating a salary based on a number of years until retirement. It examines your career path, education, skills, and how your injuries alter your ability to perform duties in your field of specialization.
Generally speaking, non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life are more subjective damages that usually also represent the largest portion of damages in significant automobile cases. Non-economic damages represent the impact and loss that accident victims sustain that may not equate to easily converting to dollar amounts. The calculation of non-economic damages varies widely from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and also depends on your lawyer's ability to provide the best evidence to allow the jury or the judge to fully understand the impact of your injuries and your daily life.
Some lawyers are talented at storytelling, and can paint a clear picture of how accidents have altered their client's life. Other lawyers lean more heavily on expert testimony and objective evidence to substantiate their damages.
Settlement negotiations in automobile cases involve an art, a science, and a psychology, and are far more complex than exchanging simple settlement offers and counteroffers. Insurance companies utilize trained negotiators who have a deep understanding of human psychology and will utilize all kinds of techniques to spur on the motivation of accident victims to settle in an imprecise and ineffective way. Understanding the negotiation process can help you better understand and prepare to utilize and work with your attorney so you will make better decisions about when to settle and when to go to trial, which is the best option for an accident victim.
There is a critical element of timing involved in settlement negotiations. Insurance companies often make an initial offer rapidly so they can work out the case before the accident victim understands the full extent of her injuries or has the opportunity to talk to an attorney. These early offers can seem reasonable, especially for accident victims who are dealing with mounting medical bills and lost wages. However, the first offers rarely take into consideration the case's full range of value.
On the flip side, waiting a long time before you begin settlement discussions can be equally problematic. The medical evidencewill be the strongest when it is fresh, witness memories fade as time passes, and the emotional impact of the accident becomes less salient when, in fact, an accident is traumatic for accident victims. Experienced attorneys will have a sense of how much time will be best for their client's circumstances to weigh these competing factors to negotiate successfully.
The psychology of negotiation is particularly important in automotive cases because of the heightened emotionality amongst all involved. Accident victims will often display heightened levels of anger, fear, and financial distress. Insurance adjusters will work under internal and external pressures to resolve cases quickly and cheaply. Even with a wealth of experiences, attorneys will sometimes allow the emotional component to become an important aspect of the negotiation process.
Successful settlement negotiations will require patience, preparation, and logistical strategizing. There will be an effective attorney to develop cases logically by presenting the case through documentation supporting the client's damages claims with thorough evidence and relevant documentation while actively developing and counteracting any potentials weaknesses. They know that the negotiation process can often take a long time, go through many rounds of offers and counteroffers, and they are good at preparing their clients for this reality.
Whether to accept a settlement offer or proceed to trial is one of the most important decisions that accident victims must make. Trials can be costly, time-consuming, and uncertain, but they sometimes result in a verdict or awards that are much more than settlement offers. This decision must be based on a rigorous analysis of the strength of your case, the likelihood of trial success, and your personal situation and risk profile.
While the overwhelming majority of automotive cases settle prior to trial, cases sometimes must be resolved in a courtroom due to failed settlement negotiations, or due to the settlement offers being inadequate to make the victims whole for their damages. Knowing how the trial process works will help you make more informed decisions about legal representation and case strategy.
The preparation for trial in an automotive case can be extremely intense and collaborative, often taking months of collective work, all consuming entire legal teams. The attorney must gather thousands of pages of medical records, coordinate testimony of multiple expert witnesses, prepare demonstrative exhibits or visuals, and develop persuasive narratives that will help the judge or jury understand complicated facts and legal principles.
In automotive cases, the selection of experts is typically the decisive factors in the outcomes of cases that proceed to trial. Accident reconstruction experts demonstrate how the accidents occurred and who was at fault in the incident. Medical experts testify about the nature and extent of the injuries and how they relate to the accident at issue. Economic experts assess damages and articulate economic losses to jurors who may not fully understand the meaning of present value or lost earning capacity.
There is significant variation in the competency of expert witnesses, and insurance companies often hire their own experts to explicitly challenge the testimony of experts hired by plaintiff attorneys. This can create a contest between experts that can be confusing to juries, which requires astute lawyering. The best attorneys develop long-term relationships with credible expert witnesses, who themselves can explain and describe the complex, detailed ideas and analysis into terms and language that ordinary people can understand.
Jury selection is an important step in trial proceedings that many do not always acknowledge. Auto cases often include testimony that is technical, medical evidence that is complex, and large sums in damages that can sometimes seem nebulous to a person who has not experienced a serious accident. Competent trial attorneys understand how to identify jurors who will be open to being persuaded by their clients' stories, and who demonstrate the emotional intelligence and patience to sort through complex evidence.
Organizing evidence to be presented at trial requires a different skill set than gathering information to investigate either the plaintiff's or the defendant's case prior to trial, and is also different than lawyering during settlement negotiation. Lawyers must be persuasive public speakers who can help jurors organize complex information in a logical, compelling, and persuasive manner. Attorneys must engage, capture, and solidify the jurors' emotions while also maintaining credibility and ethical responsibility by using the law and facts accurately to prove their case. Trial attorneys must be on their game to think on their feet during cross-examination, and when appropriate, object to inappropriate questions or evidence presented by their opponent's lawyers.
Where you seek legal representation can have a substantial impact on any given case, and it's much more than finding someone close to you. States have different statutes and common laws for automotive accidents, insurance requirements, and damages calculations. Even within states, there are sometimes differences in the local rules, customs, and tendencies from judicial districts to special judicial districts when it comes to the management of cases.
Venue shopping has received some criticism; however, the real differences between courts and juries in handling automotive cases should not be ignored. Some jurisdictions are more forgiving of accident victims while others are famously more conservative with the payouts of damage awards. A certain measure of local knowledge is needed in order to understand these differences, especially an out of area attorney.
Local attorneys often enjoy relationships with judges, court personnel, and opposing counsel that help push cases in a certain direction. Local attorneys will know what local court schedules look like, how to file papers (or what papers need to be filed) and what court's informal practices are for everything from how attorneys work calendars to what evidence is likely to be persuasive to local jurors.
Although geography is important, it can be overstated. If a case is serious concerning injury or very complicated in terms of other legal issues, it may be worth working with attorneys from outside of your area, if they bring the specialized expertise that won't be found at a local practice. Consideration can be given to the high level of communication technology that allow individuals to work with an attorney who is not geographically convenient. The attorney-client privilege is still maintained while communicating with someone across the country or halfway away from home. An attorney that you can meet with in person is still a preferred option for many individuals. However, geographic location is a different factor when you're getting help and then reevaluating the connection with the attorney as technology continues to change the way in which clients are represented in their legal cases.
New and different options are continuously being provided to accident victims arising from the rise of national law firms consisting of attorneys that are automotive case specialists. The functions of how national law firms operate, often with local offices mostly staffed with organizational clerical personnel that supervises, writer, and communicate together with support personnel, will be all or in part how legal work gets done by attorneys who are in the jurisdiction of its headquarters, which can be hundreds to thousands of miles away. Regardless of the local office set up, the process of getting efficient and cost-effective representation by individuals with credentialed expertise, there may not be the personal response or communications from the attorney who was formerly "geographically arranged," with the communication being a very important factor in deciding if a case remains handled by a particular firm.
Technology has changed the field of automotive law representation in many positive ways, and both attorneys and clients of representation have seen the benefits of these changes. For example, accident reconstruction software simulating accident settlements allow judges and jury proceedings the ability to see an actual presentation on how the accident happened, and does so without engaging them in the question of understanding complex accident physics. The objective evidence of injuries being taken by modern imaging technology and based on imaging evidence is thought to be easy for today's courts and jurors; the evidence can prove Iowa or serious imaging injuries that may have taken further lengths for Florida based juries in the past. There is also case management software tracking attention, maintaining deadlines, and organizing more and mass amounts of evidence all while working through claims before the provider accepts a case and during the process all the evidence from medical records comes from far and wide based case related treatment with medical providers enjoined in litigation to obtain evidence.
Technology changes are relatively more significant for the client of legal representation in automotive case law practice. For the client, the changes have occurred in the last four or so years of utilization of communication technologies as access to information continues to change; much more modern and easy to access and inquire about their case and to upload documentation that is relevant and provides details to communicate with a response necessary to receiving answers. Technology has in fact changed the client communication transformations, let alone the amount enclosure in forms of persuasive evidence that were fundamentally insufficient in every essential way. Everyone engage with the long, painful, relay of communication via telephone.
However, technology also creates new challenges for automotive legal cases. Social media posts can be used by insurance companies to argue that accident victims aren't as seriously injured as they claim. Surveillance technology makes it easier for insurance investigators to monitor people's activities. Electronic communication leaves digital trails that can be subpoenaed and used as evidence.
The most successful modern auto attorneys understand how to leverage technology to benefit their clients while protecting them from its potential pitfalls. They know how to use advanced investigation techniques while advising clients about social media use and privacy protection. They understand how to present technological evidence persuasively while maintaining the human connection that makes legal advocacy effective.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are beginning to impact automotive legal practice, particularly in areas like case evaluation and document review. These technologies may enhance efficiency and reduce costs but they fall short of the judgment, creativity, and advocacy skills needed for effective legal representation.
The right auto lawyer is selected after weighing several factors, including expertise, resources, communication style, fee structure, and personal fit. This decision should not be made rashly, but you also shouldn't postpone the decision unnecessarily, as evidence preservation and general case development are time meeting processes.
Begin by analyzing your specific needs based on the severity of your injuries, the complexity of the case, and your preferences for communicating with the attorney. Easy cases involving minor injuries and clear liability can probably be handled effectively by an attorney with limited experience, while the same can only be said for serious injuries or disputed fault cases if that attorney possesses significant relevant experience and resources.
Research potential attorneys thoroughly so as to not rely solely on advertising and website testimonials. Check for any disciplinary records with your state bar association, read real case results, and even ask attorneys whether they can provide previous client references. Steer toward an attorney with specialized experience in automotive cases as opposed to one who is simply a general practitioner handling accident cases amongst his or her many other forms of legal work.
Consult with several attorneys prior to making your decision. Most reputable auto lawyers will offer a free consultation. During your consultation, you can observe the attorney's legal knowledge, communication style, and interest in your case. Prepare questions and take notes during the consultations so that you can compare your notes and options later.
Pay attention to how the attorney explains your potential case and strategy. Attorneys who make immediate promises of a specific outcome, or who appear to downplay the complexity of your issue, may not be the best fit for you. Instead, look for attorneys who take the time to ask you a variety of questions about your injury and the circumstances surrounding your injury, who honestly discuss potential roadblocks you may encounter, and who communicate a realistic timeline for completion of your case.
Take into account the types of resources available to various attorney and law firms. Cases with more complexity will require expert witnesses, medical consultants and investigation services which can become costly. Attorneys who do not have those resources available to them, or are not willing to pay for those services, will least likely be able to present your case as effectively.
Additionally, when choosing a national firm, regional firm, or a local attorney, do not make assumptions that one type of practice is inherently superior to another. Each type of practice has its benefits; however, the competence of individual attorneys will vary within, and across practice types.
When evaluating attorneys, you should also think through the attorney fees , as they will have an impact on your financial risk and the incentives for the attorney. Most auto attorneys accept an arrangement where the attorney is paid on a contingency fee arrangement, meaning the attorney is only paid if they recover money for you; however the percentage charged by attorneys, and how incidental expenses are handled, can vary greatly.
Finally, trust your instincts about personal compatibility with an attorney! Attorneys will often work closely with you over months, or maybe even years, with what may be a drawn-out, and stressful process. Find someone who you can talk to. Find a person who not only wants your case, and the attorney fees that come with it; but is sincerely invested in you as a client.
The transition from accident victim to full recovery will come with many bumps in the road, and selecting the proper legal counsel will be one of the most significant decisions you make along the way. The stakes are astronomical, the process is complex, and the consequences of an improper decision might last for years or even decades. Understanding the landscape of automotive legal representation allows you to feel empowered in making choices that are in your best interest, and put you in a position to receive just compensation.
The best automobile lawyers do not just handle legal procedure; they also advocate, counsel, and guide you through one of the hardest periods of your life. Remember, you are not just selecting an attorney; you are selecting a partner who will work with you in the process of reshaping your life after a truly traumatic experience. Take the time to select someone who has the legal acumen to handle your particular case, and care for you as a uniquely individual, whole being - not just another file on their desk.
The phrase, "auto lawyers near me," is really a search for justice, a search for recovery, a search for peace-of-mind. With appropriate representation, you can restoratively heal while someone is fighting on behalf of your rights and securing your future. The accident changed your life; but with the right representation you will emerge stronger, and more secure than before. A case matters, recovery matters, and your future matters. Select your representation wisely, and remember, the time and resources you invest in obtaining quality representation now, will pay dividends for years.