And yet, when people are seriously injured by the negligence of others, facing astronomical medical bills and, in many cases, a lifetime of pain or paralysis from their injuries, the notion of being compensated for one’s injuries suddenly begins to look quite reasonable. Also, it quickly becomes apparent an attorney is necessary to negotiate the maze of the legal process.
How did society get to the point of turning to lawyers and the courts to settle grievances, anyway? It all started back in 1789 with James Madison…
The seventh amendment to the Constitution, first introduced by James Madison (prior to being a US President), established the right to seek compensation through the court system for harm caused by the negligence, ineptitude or carelessness of others. The legal term for this is “compensatory redress,” although it’s often shorthanded to “compensation.”
Basically, if you’ve been injured or had property damaged by someone else, you have the right to seek financial compensation for your losses. Often, in cases that merit it, punitive damages can also be awarded. Without the legal right to seek redress through the court system, society would be reduced to vigilante justice.
The media loves to run stories on lawsuits where huge amounts of money are awarded for seemingly laughable injuries. Yet key facts are usually left out.
Some years back, there was a lot of publicity about a 79-year-old woman who was burned by a cup of McDonald’s coffee. The case became the poster child for every negative stereotype about lawyers and frivolous lawsuits. Everyone was incredulous: $2.86 million for spilling a little hot coffee! Who wouldn’t endure a little burn for that kind of money?
What the headlines didn’t tell you is that the woman spent 8 days in the hospital having multiple skin grafts to treat third-degree burns on her thighs, groin, genitalia and buttocks, followed by two years of ongoing treatment. They also didn’t tell you the woman had initially tried to settle directly with McDonald’s for $20,000 to cover the medical expenses she incurred and medical expenses she anticipated having. McDonald’s’ response? $800, take it or leave it. Nor was there any mention of the McDonald’s store manager testifying in court their coffee was too hot to drink when served because, at 185-degrees, it would cause severe burns to the mouth and throat. Also not covered in news stories was the fact the jury award of $2.86 million (the equivalent of 2 days of coffee sales for McDonald’s) was reduced by the judge to $640,000, then renegotiated in a private, out-of-court settlement.
For most people, their perspective on lawyers changes drastically if they become the victims of someone else’s carelessness, or lose a loved one because of it. Things like a spouse spending the rest of their life in a wheelchair because someone recklessly flew through a red light and T-boned their car have a way of quickly changing opinions. Then they want payback, and rightfully so.
If you have been injured in a car wreck, or at work, or due to anything related to the carelessness of someone else, you need a law firm with a proven track record in personal injury lawsuits. As Milwaukee’s leading personal injury law firm, Warshafsky Law has a history of winning big for our clients in court, as well as in settlement negotiations. Often, the victories are so huge and so beneficial to society at large as to be considered society-changing judgments.
Unlike the many law firms quick to accept lowball settlement offers from the insurance companies of those responsible for your injury and grief, our Milwaukee personal injury attorneys prepare every case as though it will go before a judge and jury. The “settlement mill” law firms aren’t interested in fighting for you. All they care about is getting their cut of a settlement as quickly as possible so they can move on to the next case.
There’s something you should know, though: The insurance companies you will face off against in court value your case by the quality of your attorney. If you retain one from a firm known for settling quickly and easily with insurance companies, you can expect a low-ball settlement offer. Warshafsky Law, on the other hand, isn’t afraid to tell the insurance company exactly what they can do with their lousy offer. Our ability to secure huge sums for the clients we’ve represented has made all the difference in their shattered lives. While no amount of money can change what happened to them, it can make dealing with it a little less stressful.
If you think money doesn’t make a difference, just ask the parents of the 13-year-old girl who suffered brain damage as the result of an accident caused by an auto manufacturer’s poor design. Or the family whose mother was killed by a runaway trailer because a trucking company didn’t bother to properly secure it to the truck cab. Or the wife of the brilliant 61-year old civil engineer who was reduced to the mental capacity of a 10-year-old due to negligence by a hospital.
These are all real people we represented in personal injury cases. Faced with astronomical medical bills, a loss of earnings and, in many cases, a lifetime of expensive institutional care, it most definitely is about the money.
Warshafsky Law offers a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our experienced Milwaukee personal injury attorneys. Not a paralegal, not a secretary, but a real personal injury attorney who will be able to answer your questions and give you an honest assessment of the merits of your case.
If you decide to retain us to represent you, we will fully fund your case all the way through trial, and even through appeal if necessary. We ask for no payment from you until your case has been resolved through either an award or a settlement. With Warshafsky Law, there is absolutely no financial risk whatsoever to you. Ever.
