Should I Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer Who Advertises on TV?

Learn How To Make The Right Choice When Choosing a Personal Injury Attorney To Represent You In Mid-Missouri

In the personal injury legal space, there are many firms competing for a limited number of injury cases. To differentiate from one another, firms must market their services to the public. One method of marketing that receives mixed reviews from the general public is personal injury television advertising. But should you avoid hiring a personal injury lawyer simply because they advertise on TV? The answer: It depends.

How to Tell the Difference Between a “Settlement Firm” & a Personal Injury Law Firm You Can Trust

Perhaps the greatest stereotype of personal injury firms that advertise heavily on television is that they are “settlement firms”. A settlement firm is often characterized as a personal injury firm that signs up as many cases as possible and then turns around and settles those cases with the insurance company as quickly as possible. While efficiency in resolving your injury claim is not necessarily a bad thing, settling your claim as quickly as possible usually comes at the expense of your recovery. In other words, it’s difficult for your lawyer to obtain maximum compensation on your claim when their primary focus is on resolving your claim as fast as they can so that they can move on to their next claim. You can think of settlement firms as the “fast food” option of personal injury law firms. While you’re sure to get a quick meal, it will likely leave you wanting more and/or regretful for your decision in the first place!

While certainly not every personal injury firm that advertises heavily on television falls into the settlement firm stereotype, there are still more than enough firms practicing this business model to keep this personal injury TV advertiser stereotype alive. So, what can you do to ensure that your injury firm does not fall into the hands of a settlement firm? 

Treat finding a lawyer like hiring an employee by meeting with them & asking targeted questions about their experience fighting personal injury cases in mid-Missouri

(1) Meet with your potential lawyer in person: If they refuse to meet in person, or if they push you to sign a contract prior to having the chance to meet them, they may be a settlement firm. 

(2) Ask these questions: 

• Which attorney will be handling my claim? If they can’t give you an answer, odds are your claim will be dumped off to a new lawyer or paralegal.
• How long will this process take? Personal injury claims take time. If they guarantee quick payment, look out.
• Will you file a lawsuit if necessary? Your lawyer should not be afraid to file a lawsuit on your behalf if you receive a low-ball offer.
• How many other clients will my attorney be representing? If your attorney is handling hundreds of other clients’ claims at the same time as yours, that should be a red flag.

In short, while there is no black and white answer as to whether you should hire a lawyer who advertises on TV, you should do your due diligence prior to hiring such a lawyer. While there are many terrific personal injury lawyers who advertise heavily on TV, there are many others who are simply operating “settlement firms” and who will compromise your claim for a quick buck. To ensure you hire the right attorney for your claim, we encourage you to meet with your potential attorney in person and ask them pointed questions regarding your claim. 



Duckworth Injury Law offers free, no-obligation claim reviews to make the process of finding a personal injury lawyer a little easier in Missouri 

If you or a loved one has been injured due to the negligence of another person or entity, don’t hesitate to reach out to Duckworth Injury Law for a free, no-obligation, case evaluation. We never compromise when it comes to obtaining maximum compensation for our clients’ injury claims, regardless of how much effort that requires.