Lawyer and attorney jokes are commonplace. Contrary to popular belief, most lawyers do have a sense of humor. However, many jokes and the underlying public’s negative perceptions serve to perpetuate damaging myths about personal injury lawyers and cases that are simply not true. For our civil justice system to work for everyone, it is important that the public be well-informed. So, we would like to take a moment to address a few common myths that we hear.
1. Personal injury lawyers are ambulance chasers
Not all lawyers are the same. Some spend enormous amounts of money on advertising, whether on television, buses, or the internet. Unfortunately, some ads are tasteful while others are not. Although advertising is legal, paying a non-lawyer a referral fee for a case is not. Unfortunately, there are lawyers who use runners and similar unlawful schemes to obtain clients. The majority of competent, highly-skilled lawyers – the kind you would want handling your case – must rely primarily on their reputation, experience and personal referrals to maintain their practices. At Brownstein & Nguyen, we have over 25 years of experience representing plaintiffs and personal injury clients. Our clients come to us from attorney and other referrals based on our reputation and results. We pride ourselves in our ethics and professionalism, and never engage in dishonest or improper means in obtaining clients.
2. Personal injury lawyers are only interested in making money
Our founding attorneys have built our practice around just a few areas of law, including personal injury law. While a law practice is a business, our case selection decisions are not based solely on economics. We don’t take on every case. However, many of the personal injury cases we do take for well-deserving clients are risky and difficult, and have often been rejected by other lawyers. We take on these cases because our primary objective and priority is helping people whose lives have been disrupted, sometimes even shattered, as a result of an automobile accident, medical malpractice, or other injury. Our goal is to make sure that our clients will be taken care of financially in order to help piece together their lives after a tragic event.
3. If my injuries are minor, I do not need a personal injury lawyer
Even seemingly minor injuries may necessitate hiring an attorney. Many times, an auto accident may not seem major; perhaps it looks like just a fender bender. However, if a car has sustained damage, there’s a good chance that the persons involved may have experienced an injury, as well. This is because of physics and the forces involved in collisions between steel objects weighing several thousand pounds and movable human objects inside of them. Often, muscle and other soft-tissue strains, sprains or soreness are not felt until several days after a collision. Even more serious injuries may not be discovered until days, weeks or even months later. If you or a loved one is in a truck or car wreck, you should first and foremost seek medical treatment for your injuries, without delay.
4. Personal injury lawyers are dishonest and can’t be trusted
Reputable lawyers play by the rules, not only in how they obtain clients but also in how they handle cases. Lawyers are bound by strict professional rules of ethics and are subject to harsh discipline, including suspension or even disbarment, for violating those rules. Lawyers are also considered officers of the court and owe duties of candor and honesty to clients, parties, opposing counsel, and the courts. At Brownstein & Nguyen, we cherish our professional reputation as honest and ethical attorneys , and would never do anything to damage our reputation as premier personal injury lawyers in Atlanta. We tell clients the hard truths about their cases; we are professional and respectful in our dealings with opposing parties and counsel; and we use facts and evidence to aggressively and honestly represent our clients and uphold the truth. We win cases, the right way.
If you or someone you know has experienced a personal injury due to an automobile or trucking accident, medical malpractice, elder abuse or other negligence and would like a free consultation, contact Brownstein and Nguyen personal injury attorneys in Atlanta. With our years of expertise, our reputation, and our willingness to represent the injured and needy in tough cases, we promise you will receive the attention and high caliber legal representation you deserve.
