No matter what kind of personal injury case you may be involved with, whether it’s a car accident, a bicycle accident, a slip and fall or anything else, you need the best possible legal representation you can find. What you don’t need is to unwittingly hire a law firm that’s actually what’s known as a “settlement mill.” If you do, the chances are you’ll obtain far less compensation than you’re entitled to.
The attorneys with The Eberst Law Firm want you to get the money you deserve for the suffering you’ve been forced to endure. We have some information that will help you spot a settlement mill, and why hiring one will be such a bad idea.
One thing you’ll always be able to count on is The Eberst Law Firm doesn’t fall into this category. We’ve never been a settlement mill, and we’ll never be one. When you hire us, you’ll be working closely with a real attorney who will work passionately to help you get every cent you deserve. Schedule a free consultation by calling 1-888-CALL-JON or contacting us online.
Defining “Settlement Mill”
You’ve no doubt seen the ads on television for personal injury lawyers. Some of them are fairly humorous, while others consist of in-your-face messages that scream about why you need to hire that firm. In many instances, these firms are nothing but settlement mills. Of course, there are some exceptions to the rule. But, in general, you’ll see settlement mill law firms air a lot of TC advertising – especially during the day and late at night.
So, what is a settlement mill, exactly? It’s basically a law firm that accepts a huge volume of cases, taking a sort of “mass production approach” to litigation. They are notorious for accepting settlements in personal injury cases – even if that means a client gets much less money than they’re entitled to receive.
How to Tell if an Attorney Works for a Settlement Mill
If you want the best possible chance of obtaining the maximum amount of money for your injury, you’ll need a true personal injury attorney, one who won’t stop until you receive fair compensation. You don’t want a lawyer who works for a settlement mill.
How can you avoid a mill? Keep the following in mind.
- Watch for flashy advertising – There’s obviously nothing wrong with an attorney advertising. But if a firm floods radio and TV airwaves with a barrage of ads, and purchases billboards all over town, that could mean the firm is a mill. They have to take on a huge volume of cases so they can pay for all of that advertising. Also, instead of working with the lawyers they see on TV, they’ll probably work with a paralegal.
- Quick settlement offers – A settlement mill, as the name implies, cranks out one settlement after another. Insurance companies love these types of law firms, because they often save a lot of money. Insurers will usually refuse to settle for a fair amount of money, unless they know an injury victim has powerful evidence. But when they’re working with a settlement mill, they’ll often be happy to make an offer. The mill will accept the offer, and the client will be the one who suffers.
Common Tactics Associated with Settlement Mills
There are a lot of things settlement mills do that other law firms don’t. One is that the attorneys rarely actually work on cases. They pass them off to law clerks, paralegals and case managers. Oftentimes, clients of these firms are actually shocked when they speak to a real attorney.
What is even worse is that settlement mills often work with insurance companies, instead of against them. They cooperate because it makes them a lot of money. Insurers will typically pay out much less when working with a mill, because the mill won’t take them to court. Attorneys who truly care for their clients would never do that – they’d always hold the threat of going to trial over an insurance company’s head. That would be the only way the insurer would even consider paying a fair amount of compensation.
Why You Shouldn’t Work With a Settlement Mill
It will never make sense for injury victims to represent themselves in personal injury cases. But hiring a settlement mill is nearly as bad. Plaintiffs that represent themselves routinely lose their cases, getting nothing for their suffering. Hiring a settlement mill might result in getting some money, but that amount will be far less than a victim has coming to them. It might not even be enough to pay for their accident-related expenses, such as medical bills, lost wages, prescription medications and others.
You should always go with a law firm that will always work in your best interests, not one that has a handshake agreement with the defendant’s insurance company. If you’ve been hurt in, say, a motorcycle accident – even if you only have what’s considered to be a short-term injury – you need full and fair compensation.
Avoiding settlement mills will be your best chance of obtaining that compensation.
How Eberst Law Can Help You Get the Most for Your Case
The Gainesville personal injury attorneys with The Eberst Law Firm always offer personal attention to every case they accept. You’ll never have any reason to wonder whether you’re talking to an actual attorney, or a paralegal or a law clerk. When you work with us, you’ll always be able to rest easy knowing you’ll be working with a skilled, passionate attorney who will work incredibly hard to help you win your case – and be more than willing to take an insurance company to court if needed.
We’ve seen far too many cases of accident victims who suffered because they went with a settlement mill. They were just another case number in a file, and received far less than they deserved.
Please don’t let this happen to you. Let The Eberst Law Firm work on your behalf to help you obtain full and fair recovery. Schedule a free case review as soon as you can by giving us a call at 1-888-CALL-JON or using our online contact form.
