What Should You Look For In A Personal Injury Lawyer?
Above all, most people want accurate information and the truth about their rights to compensation. When you need legal help, you should expect your attorney to work your case actively, know the law, keep you informed and prepare for a possible trial. Legal knowledge and expertise, trial experience and reputation in the legal community all matter. Sometimes, the best way to choose a lawyer is by relying on recommendations and reviews from clients. These can provide evidence of the lawyer's skill and give you confidence that you have made the best choice.
Since 1995, attorney Michael K. Smith has handled hundreds of
personal injury cases, including taking more than 50 through trial. In the past several years, he has won settlements and trial verdicts for clients totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. Prior to founding the Law Office of Michael K. Smith in downtown Nashville, he was a partner in another prominent firm, primarily focusing on insurance defense. His insight into insurance companies' defense tactics and methods is an extremely valuable asset for the clients we assist every working day.
1) Please describe a case(s) in the last year or two where you made a big difference. - In a recent wrongful death claim - the prior atty handled 2 years adn gave up when atty thought no auto insurance available . I took over for a sad and worried family and understood Tennessee law and did research with investigation and secured a collectible $55,000 judgment for the family ..........on a Different case - a teenager auto accident with serious injuries and no liability insurance by the other driver . The other driver claimed my client teenager ran the red light and the police report showed my client ran a red light adn at fault. He had serious injuries. I located witnesses and also personally interviewed adn secured a video surveillance form a local business to prove my client was not at fault. Resulted in a policy limits payment for my client and also reduced the medical subrogation owed by 90 %
2) How did you build a successful practice? - many years of experience and one satisfied client and successful case at a time - creating referrals to help other people
3) What should clients look for in a lawyer? integrity, experience and hard work to fight for them
4) How important is local knowledge to the success of your cases? very important - each case and jurisdiction is different
5) What information can you provide in a free phone consultation? examining the facts and issues, an understanding of what the problems are and what I can expect to do to help them and a "gameplan" as to how to successfully win the case for a client.
6) What information do you need in a free phone consultation? the facts of the accident, the police report, discussion of the injuries and what expectation to have
7) What differentiates you from other lawyers in your community? my 24 years experience, my work effort to fight for justice an the clients benefit and my reputation as a fair, honest and experienced trial lawyer
8) What is the most rewarding aspect of your job? winning a difficult case for a family in need and helping them to recover
9) What are your other interests in addition to law? my family and spending time with them
10) Are you involved in your community? yes
