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 by: Dan Baldyga

YOU MUST STAY ON TOP OF THAT HOUND DOG FOR TWO HUGE REASONS: First because thats the only way to make sure he does his job correctly. If you dont watch him like a hawk you could end up on the short end of a very long stick! And second, because most Legal Beagles think theyre overworked (if you dont think so just ask them!) and they incorrectly feel they dont have the time to spend on your case today, tomorrow or even six months from now. The truth is youve signed his Contingency Fee Agreement so he knows youre in his back pocket and someday, when he decides to make his move, youre still locked in. Most have convinced themselves theyre too busy to fuss with your case for awhile. Unless you bug them on a regular basis theyll let years drag on before it gets settled.

If youve entrusted your case to one of the larger Legal Beagle dog houses in town (a big mistake) youve probably been passed on to a fumbling puppy just out of law school. Huge firms handle thousands of top-dollar cases. Yours will be on a slow assembly line with that puppy sniffin at pant legs and nippin at heels, acting as though he knows what hes doing. You gotta stay close because the youngster youve been stuck with has little experience and he usually doesnt have the foggiest idea how to properly handle your claim.

You must stay active, throughout the whole process, no matter which Legal Beagle you hire. Demand that you receive copies of all correspondence that are sent out on your behalf, request you be copied in on everything sent to your Beagle from the insurance company or its lawyers, and insist on eye-balling the medical records sent to your lawyer (by your attending physician, the hospital emergency room, etc.) to make sure theyre correct. (If they dont go into detail than the typically sloppy reporting, by attending physicians and other medical people, will be bedding you down with a rattler. If you dont want to die of snake bite you must return those Medical Reports to your "doc" and tell him hes gotta be more specific or youre gonna end up with a helluva lot less money than you should!).

The only way youll ever be sure your Beagle is being straight with you is if you insist on all of the above. Also, if your lawyer knows youre keeping close tabs on your case, hell put it on the "front burner", keeping it off the "back burner" - - where the majority of his cases are usually cooking - - under a very low flame.

You must know whats going on with your case at all times and if youre considered to be a pain in the butt than so be it. Make it known to your Beagle that youre not going to let your case disappear into a bottomless pit . What Im telling you here is very simple: Dont let your case drag on and on. If you stay on top of things itll get settled much sooner!

When your medical treatment is finished tell your Beagle and insist that he immediately gather up your records, and organize them into a "Settlement Package". What I mean by that is, a collection of your medical bills and reports, a list of all physical damages, with a thorough explanation of each, etc. Once done your lawyer should get that into the insurance companys hands just as soon as possible.

The first settlement offer should be made to him no later than 3 weeks after that "package" has been sent to the insurance company. If it isnt find out why. Be a pest, call that Beagle and push him. Your case should be settled within 6 weeks. If it isnt you tell your lawyer, "Sue the buggers." To do that should take no more than an hour or two to complete - - even the puppy can do it. Those papers should be ready in a week. Its not asking too much for the suite to be filed by the time another week passes. But, this will only happen if your Beagle is humping away and staying on top of things. Lawyers need to be pushed by their clients or theyll sit on their butts doing other "stuff". Most of them wait forever to move on a case when they could have had the job done in several months.

DISSATISFACTION WITH YOUR LAWYER: "The first thing we do, lets kill all the lawyers." Those words, written several hundred years ago by Shakespeare, still sums up the feelings of a lot of people. Thats because Legal Beagles dont bother touching base with their clients. Telephone messages arent answered right away - - sometimes never. The way most lawyers treat their clients leaves them feeling ignored and powerless!

So, whats the solution? A Give Him Hell letter to your lawyer, sent Certified Mail Return Receipt Requested, will get his attention, and in most cases (unless hes a blazing idiot which some of them are) assure a prompt phone call. The letter should clearly state your complaints, and also your thoughts about hiring a new attorney - - quick like a bunny - - if the necessary steps arent taken.

CHANGING LAWYERS: This is a very difficult move so it must be well thought out. The following are some facts you must be aware of:

The new lawyer will ask you to contact the old lawyer telling him to turn your file over. If you have foolishly agreed to pay some of your old attorneys costs (above and beyond the Contingency Fee Agreement youve signed) the two of them will have to work that out. The old lawyer may agree to wait and not be paid his costs until the new lawyer has settled your case, but (and this is usually the way that ball bounces) he may not! If thats the situation you may have to pony up some big bucks before he turns your case over to the new lawyer.

The new Legal Beagle will want to review the file a soon as possible to determine if he wants to take it on. If it looks like some money can be made, the new lawyer may take it, but thats a long shot. Why? Because your case has to be an outstanding goodie - - with a huge payoff potential for the lawyers Contingency Fee. Both Beagles (and theres no way out of this one) will have to split that fee. If theres not enough money to go around the second lawyer wont be interested in taking you case. If that happens, youre gonna be left with an upset attorney. Chances are hell let your case slip into

Limbo for years to come. Thats the risk you take when you try to dump your Beagle. Insurance companies react in various ways to a change in lawyers. They may view the switch as a sign that your case, or you, are a problem. Theres no doubt that the switch will tell the insurance company something is wrong. If they smell smoke, theyll suspect a fire is probably blazing. This can result in an increased reluctance to settle. On the other had, the new lawyer may breath needed energy into the case, causing the insurance company to start thinking seriously about settlement - - but thats a long shot. I wouldnt bet on it.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Be sure to pick a good Legal Beagle to begin with, because youre probably gonna be stuck with that hound dog right to the bitter end!

DISCLAIMER: The only purpose of this claim tip is to help people understand the motor vehicle accident claim process. Neither Dan Baldyga nor ARTICLECITY.COM make any guarantee of any kind whatsoever; NOR do they purport to engage in rendering any professional or legal service; NOR to substitute for a lawyer, an insurance adjuster, or claims consultant, or the like. Where such professional help is desired it is the INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBILITY TO OBTAIN SAID SERVICES.

Dan Baldygas fourth and latest book Auto Accident Personal Injury Insurance Claim: (How To Evaluate And Settle Your Loss) can be found on the internet at http//.www.autoaccidentclaims.com or http://www.caraccidentclaims.com.

Copyright (c) 2003 Daniel G. Baldyga. All Rights Reserved.

About The Author

For 30 years Dan Balddyga was a claims adjuster, supervisor, manager and also a trial assistant. He is now retired and spends his time attempting to assist those involved in motor vehicle claims so they will not be taken advantage of..

dbpaw@comcast.net