re: Private personal injury attorney vs. large firm

Posted by MoonrakerElite

Member since Mar 2016

518 posts

Posted on 4/6/16 at 3:42 pm to Neauxla

quote:
And she got $70k? Probably had a fusion which cost her 50k and your client convinced her 20k was adequate compensation for her pain and suffering, right?

This was my thinking. $70,000 for a $20,000 loss is great. $70,000 for a $60,000 loss is terrible.

Also, if the party paying $20,000 is represented by a lawyer, it's safe to assume that the lawyer was more than happy to cut that check because the claim was worth a lot more

ETA: and if USAA paid the 50k and was represented, then that was probably the policy limit and the loss was either close to or beyond the policy limits.

This post was edited on 4/6/16 at 4:01 pm

Posted by Motorboat

At the camp

Member since Oct 2007

22707 posts

Posted on 4/6/16 at 3:48 pm to AlxTgr

quote:
The plaintiff had no lawyer. She convinced the two companies to pay those amounts. One of the two companies had a lawyer.

I've sat and watched this thread for a bit. I'm gonna need some more information before I bestow a crown on USAA here.

Posted by L5UT1ger

Member since Feb 2004

2604 posts

Posted on 4/6/16 at 3:50 pm to Neauxla

quote:
Probably had a fusion which cost her 50k and your client convinced her 20k was adequate compensation for her pain and suffering, right?

She is now a quad who can no longer work as a riverboat pilot.

Posted by DaTroof

Louisiana

Member since Jun 2015

979 posts

Posted on 4/6/16 at 3:50 pm to boosiebadazz

quote:
We don't escalate our % if suit is filed

OK, but the injured individual has to pay out of their own portion for the filing fees (and all other fees associated with the case). While a suit is necessary in many cases to get a fair offer, most cases don't actually make it to court. Generally speaking these cases settle out of court. Not saying the attorney deserves nothing, but many of these cases only take a few hours of legitimate work for attorneys and they are getting tens of thousands of dollars. It's bullshite.

Posted by Motorboat

At the camp

Member since Oct 2007

22707 posts

Posted on 4/6/16 at 3:59 pm to DaTroof

quote:
Not saying the attorney deserves nothing, but many of these cases only take a few hours of legitimate work for attorneys and they are getting tens of thousands of dollars. It's bullshite.

This can be true, but there are also times when I spend many hours on a small case and make $20/hour. In the cases where I spend a small amount of time and the fees are large or I feel the fee is excessive, I will often reduce my fees. The attorney also takes considerable risk in expenditures that the client often cannot pay.

Posted by AlxTgr

Kyre Banorg

Member since Oct 2003

81744 posts

Posted on 4/6/16 at 4:01 pm to Neauxla

quote:
The plaintiff had no lawyer. She convinced the two companies to pay those amounts. One of the two companies had a lawyer.
And she got $70k? Probably had a fusion which cost her 50k and your client convinced her 20k was adequate compensation for her pain and suffering, right?

I totally misremembered. USAA paid $100K. Meds were under $50K. She negotiated that down with blue cross after the USAA payment. No fusion. right hip arthroscopy w/ labral repair.

Posted by AlxTgr

Kyre Banorg

Member since Oct 2003

81744 posts

Posted on 4/6/16 at 4:02 pm to MoonrakerElite

quote:
it's safe to assume

You do this poorly.

Posted by DaTroof

Louisiana

Member since Jun 2015

979 posts

Posted on 4/6/16 at 4:03 pm to Motorboat

quote:
I will often reduce my fees

Look, I don't know you and I'm sure you're telling the truth, but surely you don't expect anyone to believe that the majority of attorneys do this. Ever

quote:
The attorney also takes considerable risk in expenditures that the client often cannot pay

Nah, in fact personal injury attorneys take very little risk. Your previous statement just got less believable.

2 ...

Posted by kellyval99

Baton Rouge, LA

Member since Dec 2003

3439 posts

Posted on 4/6/16 at 4:05 pm to DaTroof

quote:
The amount that goes to pay your doctor bills shouldn't be part of what the attorney gets. The attorney should get 30% of what he/she can negotiate AFTER medical bills. Would be tough to find an attorney to do this, but trust me, it's possible and only fair in my opinion.

Good luck with that one! Most attorneys don't work that way!

Posted by MoonrakerElite

Member since Mar 2016

518 posts

Posted on 4/6/16 at 4:05 pm to AlxTgr

quote:
You do this poorly

quote:
I misremembered

As do you.

Posted by AlxTgr

Kyre Banorg

Member since Oct 2003

81744 posts

Posted on 4/6/16 at 4:06 pm to boosiebadazz

quote:
We don't escalate our % if suit is filed,

I know a guy that not only raises from 33 and 1/3 to 40, but has filed suit for people that have fired him, AFTER he was fired.

Posted by AlxTgr

Kyre Banorg

Member since Oct 2003

81744 posts

Posted on 4/6/16 at 4:07 pm to MoonrakerElite

quote:
As do you.

No.

Posted by MoonrakerElite

Member since Mar 2016

518 posts

Posted on 4/6/16 at 4:08 pm to DaTroof

quote:
Nah, in fact personal injury attorneys take very little risk. Your previous statement just got less believable.

A lot of stuff in this thread is debatable. This isn't.

If an injured client is uninsured, the PI attorneys have no clue what the policy limits are 99% of the time. They have to balance paying their clients medicals against what the policy might be.

Now, if a client comes in with $10,000 in injuries and $100,000 in UM coverage, your statement is completely true. But that isn't the case most of the time.

3 ...

Posted by DaTroof

Louisiana

Member since Jun 2015

979 posts

Posted on 4/6/16 at 4:09 pm to kellyval99

quote:
Most attorneys don't work that way

There are some that will. Attorneys know a good case when they see one. If they know you're about to get paid and you're going somewhere else if they aren't a little more reasonable with their fees, they will negotiate. They know there is another attorney out there that will negotiate fees with you and they just lost out on easy money.