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Related Articles: Personal Injury



Chiropractors: The Client Deserves Personal Attention

An auto accident victim who has been helped by chiropractic treatment is as likely to praise the doctor's personal attention as the professional treatment. Such personal attention has become the hallmark of chiropractic. The clients of Edward Gross tell us how pleased they were that their chiropractor was able to see them on the same day they called; that the doctor actually listened to their complaints; that the doctor returned their telephone calls; that the doctor told them frequently how they were progressing; that the doctor and his staff really cared.

They should get the same treatment from their lawyer. An accident victim should visit a lawyer as soon after the accident as possible. It is important for your lawyer to spend as much time as it takes to go over the case. How did the collision occur? What injuries did the victim suffer? How much time has been lost from work, and how much is the wage loss? How much are the medical bills? What lifestyle problems have been caused by the injuries?

It is the attorney's job to assist clients in obtaining the maximum recovery to which they are entitled. As part of this process, the client should keep a "pain diary," making daily entries to help document pain and discomfort. The attorney will review the available auto and health insurance policies, so those sources of compensation can be identified to enable payment to the doctor and repair of the automobile.

The first contact an accident victim makes with a lawyer should not be the last one; there should be an ongoing lawyer/client relationship. Clients need to be informed at every step of the way. Office policy must require return of all phone calls and meetings with a client whenever requested. In the meantime, the attorney will be in touch with the doctors to get their reports, and with the various insurance companies.

Attorneys are compensated on a contingency fee basis. Thus, there is no financial incentive to spend more time than necessary with the client. However, we believe that client contact with personal attention results in higher settlements and satisfied clients. The chiropractic doctor's philosophy of personal attention works in the medical and legal areas. Obtaining the maximum damage award is clearly of paramount importance, but we're not satisfied unless our client believes that we care.