In The Beginning
October 13, 2008
My First Foray into blogging. Let the rant begin.
For almost 20 years I have represented injured people. As a personal injury lawyer I have had tremendous satisfaction from the heart felt appreciation of clients when a good result is achieved. I have also had incredible frustration as I try to help people recover some semblence of a normal life after it has been crushed due to injuries in a car accident, slip and fall, workplace accident, or some other accident.
Why the frustration? Court actions typically take a few years to complete. How does a person injured in an accident support their family for that long if they can't work? Sure, if it was a car accident in a state or province with no fault legislation there might be a small amount of weekly benefits for the injured person. But frequently these benefits are challened by the no fault auto insurer. The injured person now has to fight two insurance companies, the one for the at fault driver and their own for no fault benefits.
And what if it isn't a car accident or is a car accident that isn't in a no fault jurisdiction? These people often go bankrupt before the court action reaches trial or settlement. Imagine the stress for a young parent of two or three children that suddenly can't work. They have the stress of disability. They are often in significant pain and on a number of prescription medications. If they don't have medical insurance they have the increased expenses of medications and treatments. It is a recipe for financial disaster.
I don't have all the answers. Maybe my blog will help illuminate some of the problems. I know it will enable me to vent and release some of my frustrations. I also know it will likely offend other lawyers from time to time. So be it.
I do know there are some organizations and web sites that are trying to effect change - the American Association for Justice (http://www.atlanet.org/), the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (http://www.otla.com/) are two organizations specifically geared towards the legal solutions for injured people. Injury Alliance is a web site dedicated to trying to effect change that will help injured people recover physically, mentally and financially.
Please let me know if you have any comments or questions.
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