Every case has complications. Every client has a unique story. Every car accident case involves physics, applied forces and issues of fault. Medical malpractice cases are so difficult that the doctors win 90% of the time. But for the client, every lawsuit or Workers’ Compensation Act claim comes down to those three simple letters we’ve heard since childhood. T.L.C. If you want to help us win then you have to do your part:

T= Trust. I have to trust you completely. The defense attorney has to know you’re telling the truth, all the time. And, most importantly, the jury or judge has to trust you. The moment you’re caught in a lie your case is in serious trouble. Don’t lie. Our society admires people who admit their faults and failings. They hate people who lie and get caught…and keep lying to cover up the previous lies. Remember this: exaggeration of a complaint is a lie. Leaving out critical information is a lie. And lies are difficult to keep straight. The truth is easy to remember…it’s easily told… and it’s the right thing to do.

L=Like If you are angry, cranky, cry constantly or are emotionally volatile (the worst kind of client) then you are hurting your case. It’s perfectly fine to have emotions. Just like it is perfectly fine to set off fireworks….just not all the time. Angry or chronically weepy people turn jurors off. I know that seems unfair and people should have more compassion, but they don’t. As a client you must be aware that your emotional outburst lead to unpredictability. We don’t know what you’ll say…or how you will say it. Also, if you have a history of this behavior then the defense will maximize that character trait to their benefit. They will make you appear to be uncooperative, irrational, a poor communicator…and most likely the cause of the negligence if there was any. Calm, likeable, clients…clients who can smile and be kind even when life has dealt them a bad hand, are the very best clients. Jurors like them….which leads to…..

C=Compassion. If the jurors or judge trusts you and likes you then they must feel compassion (not pity) for you, Compassion leads to compensation. Jurors have to know what has happened to you and how it has impacted your life. We need you to make a log or journal of the times in your life that your injury has either caused pain or made an otherwise simple task much more difficult. If you talk to the jurors in a straight-forwards, honest way, they will see how dramatic your life has been altered by this accident.