Southwest Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

Harris Law Firm

Do I need a lawyer?

Of course, this depends on your circumstances. If the accident was minor (i.e. less than $2,000 property damage) and you have not suffered permanent injury, i.e. herniated disk, head injury, broken bones, aggravation of pre-existing injury or illness, etc., then the truth is you may not need a lawyer.

Unfortunately, some lawyers seem to think that everyone needs an attorney for minor car accidents. In fact, lots of lawyers advertise in the phone book and on TV counting on minor accident claims to help them meet their bottom line. These firms operate on volume. They accept a very large number of small value accident cases. They may refer you to a chiropractor if you have muscle soreness but not other problems. Good for the firm and good for their doctor referral, but maybe not so good for you.

If you want to avoid being a number or statistic, then you may want to avoid:

• mega-size firms, where your case is handled by non-lawyer staff, and your luck to even speak with a lawyer; these are "volume" firms, where they seek to handle as many small claims as possible for quick, often small, settlements to pay for their large overhead;
• some TV "referral service" which is trying to send you to a chiropractor and lawyer who are "on their list" -- the fact is you don't anything about these attorneys and chiropractors, their experience, or backgrounds, and must wonder if they put themselves before your interests;
• blindly hiring some lawyer who has paid thousands of dollars for large phone book ads (probably a volume operation which depends on large numbers of clients for small settlements);
• hiring a firm which has a non lawyer staff handle most aspects of your claim, and in some cases, you are lucky if you ever meet your attorney;
• be wary of law firms which make a bunch of promises to you, especially when it comes to how much money you will receive for your injuries. Many firms lure clients in with promises of large settlements, only to come up way short. No lawyer or legal staff should be making promises about a result -- no lawyer is permitted to guarantee a result.

Here are Some Bible Verses to Help You Get Through Your Difficult Times:

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

The kingdom of God is within you. Luke 17:21

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 11 Timothy 1:7

Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Psalm 73:2

Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:13

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he. Proverbs 16:20

If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. John 7:37

Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. Matthew 5:44

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13

In Him we live, and move, and have our being. Acts 17:28

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee. Isaiah 26:3

I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4

Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Mark 11:23

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31