Washington DC Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

Archive for August, 2008

ADVOCACY . . . FROM THE EYES OF A YOUNG LAWYER

Friday, August 22nd, 2008

Being a lawyer is much bigger than going to court, drafting pleadings and discovery, taking depositions, and the like. Being a lawyer means that you have committed yourself to the art and idea of ADVOCACY.

Advocacy is defined by Webster’s dictionary as “the act or process of advocating or supporting a cause or proposal.” Yes, this is true, but advocacy begins before a pleading is ever filed or before one enters their appearance in a matter. Advocacy begins when you first meet a client. It is that first moment, those first few seconds, that your client fills triumphant, hopeful, and safe, knowing that “you” will be their lawyer. Those first moments of that first meeting when a wife squeezes the hand of her child or husband sitting next to her, or when a grandmother pats her grandchild on the head or glares into their eyes while sitting in your office – all to say that, now, everything is going to be o.k. THAT’S ADVOCACY! Communicating a message early on to your clients that you are worthy of their trust and that you will do everything you can to achieve the best result possible, is one of the most fundamental aspects of advocacy to this young lawyer.

This early communication not only engenders trust, but energizes a lawyer to be optimal in their performance so that the glimmer of hope they saw in their client’s eyes during that first meeting will never fade.

by Ebony M. Robinson, Esq.

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The Importance of Eye Contact

Wednesday, August 20th, 2008

When you are speaking to a person and they do not make eye contact with you, are they lying? Not necessarily. Studies have shown that lack of eye contact while speaking with someone is driven more by some overwhelming emotion rather than truthfulness. Could the person you are speaking to be lying? Sure they could – the overwhelming emotion that person is feeling may stem from the fact they are lying to you. However, it is equally true that the person may not make eye contact due to some other emotion: embarrassment, fear, etc. Lack of eye contact is not really a good gauge of truthfulness. So why is it important?

It is important because people expect it. It is important because people believe, whether correct or not, that it is body language that signifies truthfulness. The importance of eye contact is so ingrained that it is futile to fight it.

I always tell my clients to remember that when they testify, they should make eye contact with the jury or Judge. They need to engage the person or persons who will ultimately make the decision as to whether they win or lose on their case. While eye contact may signify nothing, its importance lies in the expectation of the receiver. So, let the receiver have what they expect.

by Steven H. Kaminski, Esq.

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AAJ Names 10 Worst Insurance Companies

Monday, August 18th, 2008

The American Association for Justice (“AAJ”) released a report identifying the 10 worst insurance companies in America. The report is called “the Ten Worst Insurance Companies in America – How They Raise Premiums, Deny Claims and Refuse Insurance to Those Who Need it Most.” AAJ identified these insurance companies by undertaking a comprehensive investigation of court documents, SEC and FBI records, state insurance department investigations and complaints, news from across the country, and the testimony and depositions of former insurance agents and adjusters.[1]

According to AAJ’s report, the 10 worst are:

1. Allstate
2. UNUM
3. AIG
4. State Farm
5. Conseco
6. WellPoint
7. Farmers
8. United Health
9. Torchmark
10. Liberty Mutual

The personal injury lawyers at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. are fighting these company’s underhanded tactics on a daily basis on behalf of our clients.

[1] The opinions and views expressed in this report are those of The American Association for Justice and are based on investigations and research performed by that organization. Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. did not participate in that investigation or the authoring of the report, and cannot vouch for the methodology utilized or the results reported.

Click the following link to read the entire report: /10%20worst%20insurance%20companies.pdf

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What Is Wrong With This Picture?

Friday, August 15th, 2008

Have you been browsing our website lately and looked at the client comment page? After being touched by the comments and wiping the tears from your eyes, did you think to yourself, “why am I not pictured there?” Did you then continue this dialogue with yourself and say “after all, I love the lawyers at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. and they did a spectacular job handling my case.”

WE AGREE – your picture should be posted on our website. Contact your favorite attorney at the firm, and let them know that there’s something wrong with this picture!

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Allan M. Siegel Writes First President’s Message

Wednesday, August 13th, 2008

Allan M. Siegel was installed as the President of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. on May 10, 2008. As President, Allan writes a quarterly message to the trial lawyer members, which is published in DC TRIAL, the association’s magazine. In Allan’s first message he acknowledges how the association has grown over the years as a result of the hard work of all of its members, Board of Governors and Past Officers. As Allan takes the helm, the organization is stronger than ever, and more equipped to meet its goals to help its members hold wrongdoers monetarily accountable for the harms they inflict on consumers, workers, and families and maintain a civil-justice system that enables citizens to have their claims for full and fair compensation adjudicated promptly in a trial by jury.

Click here to read the message in its entirety: /President%27s%20Summer%20Message

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Partner Allan Siegel's Success Against the Post Office Continues

Monday, August 11th, 2008

Allan M. Siegel recently settled a case against the United States Postal Service for $97,500. Our client was driving home from a night club when she was struck in the rear by a tractor trailer owned by the postal service. The postal worker alleged that he struck our client’s vehicle because her rear taillights were not working. However, he admitted that he saw her vehicle 50 yards back, yet still struck it at a high rate of speed. Our client suffered injuries to her neck and back, and incurred approximately $30,000 in medical expenses. This settlement follows a $450,000 verdict entered against the postal service by United States District Court Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson in a case that Allan tried, as well as a $600,000 settlement against the postal service in a case where a United States Post Office tractor-trailer cut off our client while he was travelling on his motorcycle. The $97,500 settlement was obtained at mediation, prior to trial.

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Why Do Drownings and Near-Drownings Occur?

Tuesday, August 5th, 2008

Our community has recently suffered through an extraordinary number of drowning and near-drownings. The only explanation for a child drowning or nearly drowning is a failure on the part of supervisors to do their job. That is the sole cause of a near-drowning or for a child to drown. The law firm of Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. has represented families whose children have drowned or sustained a near-drowning. This is a terrible tragedy that requires lawyers experienced in this area and these injuries. Accordingly, if a member of your family has drowned or suffered a near-drowning, call the experienced trial lawyers at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C.

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The Number One Complaint About Lawyers

Friday, August 1st, 2008

People love to talk about legal issues in the news, cases and verdicts they have heard about, the latest laws passed by Congress or proposed by the President, and lawyers these friends and family may have encountered in their life or business. However, when I speak with people about lawyers and the law, the number one complaint I hear over and over again is that lawyers are often very difficult people to get hold of on the phone.

I understand why this number one complaint can be quite annoying to clients.

Our firm understands this as well. That is why we have a long-standing policy at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, that we return phone calls from our clients within 24 hours. Further, we try to be proactive with phone calls and contact with clients. We will often call clients if we know the client is scheduled for a medical procedure or just to ask if they are doing well. I think this simple, but important, policy is one of the many things that set us at this firm apart from the other lawyers and law firms. And from what we hear from our clients, they appreciate it as well.

by Steven H. Kaminski, Esq.

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