Why shouldn't I try and settle this car accident case without a lawyer?

A:

You can and if you know what you're doing maybe you should. Even lawyers hire lawyers you know. As they told us in law school; a lawyer representing himself has a fool for a client. The problem I see with non lawyers representing them is they fool themselves into believing they know what they are doing, when in fact they have never negotiated and know nothing about the damages or how to value the elements of damages. The insurance adjusters don't have to be very good to know how to obtain admissions from normal everyday working people. For most people if you open your mouth you're probably saying something that you'll later regret.

And so what normally do people representing themselves do? Well they paint themselves into a corner, make all sorts of damaging admissions and then run to the lawyer hoping the insurance adjuster wasn't listening. But they were listening and also writing down what you admitted. And the adjuster doesn't tell the lawyer what you've said. He waits until you file suit and then their lawyer uses it against you. So by representing yourself you not only screw up the case but you tie your own lawyer's hands with little dumb surprises that even you don't want to admit to.

And once the adjuster hears your admissions there is no putting the horse back in the barn. They don't forget that little admission that you made thinking it would help ingratiate the adjuster to you and yours. No siree, you royally screwed the pooch as Hugh Grant would say.

So when you do try to represent yourself, don't later blame the lawyer when he or she can't do much with your case.  Just man up and take your medicine.

For good advice see a lawyer and if you have questions about this blog, the law or your case write or call me directly. Steve Lombardi, sdlombardi@aol.com and 515-222-1110. I handle all types of personal injury cases including car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, workers' compensation cases. We help truckers all across the country who come through Iowa and end up in an accident. If we need other lawyers from other states we hire them and it costs you no more than what you would pay us; in other words, we split the fee between us. So call 515-222-1110 or email us at sdlombardi@aol.com. 

Lombardi Law Firm
1300 37th Street, Suite 6
West Des Moines, IA 50266
Phone: 515-222-1110
Toll Free: 800-383-0331
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