CHOOSING AN ATTORNEY IN ALTON IL
The Ugly Truth... What Many Lawyers Don't Like To Talk About
Most people don’t know that a very large percentage of lawyers that advertise for personal injury cases have never tried a case before a jury. There are also many, many lawyers who claim to have extensive courtroom experience when they have little or no experience standing in front of a jury. Unfortunately these lawyers will take a case knowing that they will never try it.
“The only real lawyers are trial lawyers, and trial lawyers try cases to juries.” -Clarence Darrow
Questions to ask before hiring a lawyer
- How many clients have you represented involving a case like mine?
- How many jury trials have you had? Were you the lead trial lawyer or just the assisting trial lawyer known as the “Second Chair”?
- If my case goes to a jury trial will you be trying it as the lead lawyer? If not, who will?
- If my case goes to a jury trial will you need to bring an outside attorney in to help?
- If my case goes to a jury trial will you have to refer it out to a specialist?
OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY
Trying a case effectively in front of a jury is not only the most difficult job of a lawyer - it is also the most important. Our constitutional right to trial by jury is the cornerstone of our justice system. There has been a disturbing and lazy trend of late to take this all important right away. Mandatory arbitration is becoming more and more common place. Court ordered arbitrations and mediations are said to be done for the sake of “judicial economy." The goal of “judicial economy” is to save time and money. However, when we give up our constitutional right to a jury trial it only becomes “economical” for Big Insurance and Big Business.
JUSTICE HAS NO MAGIC WAND
The law does have its' limitations. It cannot undo the physical harm that a careless defendant has caused. Our justice system cannot help you walk. It cannot pick up your daughter and hold her tight. It cannot put you back to work. Our legal system will never take away the physical and emotional pain that you suffer at the negligent hands of another. When you are injured or have lost a loved one, there is no magic wand to wave or reset button to push. While the law does not offer miracles, the right trial lawyer will fight to help level the playing field.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT LAWYER
MeyerJensen PC will help prove your case and make sure that those accountable pay for the harm that was caused. Justice can only be obtained by making them compensate you with what the other side has - money. If they refuse to voluntarily take responsibility by settling out of court, then you are entitled to have a jury trial. The jury will then determine who should pay and how much.
MOST CASES SETTLE
It is true that most cases settle. When the other side decides to settle it is not because they care about you or your struggles. They only care about their own pockets and not losing any money. So why would they voluntarily pay money and settle? It's because they are afraid that a jury might make them pay even more. You are just another business decision to them.
BIG INSURANCE AND BIG DEFENSE FIRMS KNOW YOUR LAWYER BETTER THAN YOU
One thing is certain: the other side will know if you have a capable trial lawyer fighting for you or if you have an attorney that will never climb into the ring. If you do not choose a lawyer with an accomplished record of trying cases to jury verdict then the other side will have nothing to fear when deciding what to settle for. Why would they pay fair compensation if they know your attorney will never take your case all the way to a jury trial? They wouldn't, that's why you need MeyerJensen PC.