I had fun the other day doing a new radio commercial for my injury law practice.
I have to be in the right mood to do an ad. I always want to be genuine and sincere, and tell the listeners something real and important about why they should hire me. I can’t just wing it and I am really opposed to doing a hard-sell or trying to razzle- dazzle the people. No— I want them to get a real good idea of who I am, what I do, and why I do it.
My recent ad spoke of a simple truth. I do not wish an injury on anybody. I hope nobody needs to hire a personal injury lawyer. I see what it does to people– andthe devastation a crash has on the lives of people.
And, I got a chance to tell the people that ” I am re-energized like never before.” I am consumed with a drive and a passion to help the little guy stand up to the big insurance companies.
It’s what I do, and it makes me who I am!

It is always a good feeling as an injury lawyer to give a client a settlement check.
In our legal system the only form of justice is money.
Money never, ever replaces what is lost, particularly if a client has sustained a catastrophic and life altering injury.
But life goes on and to the extent a strong financial recovery can make an injury victim’s life a little easier and manageable, it is worth the effort.
Life does not stop.
Bills continue to accrue.
Inflation roars. I don’t care what the government says about prices not rising. Everything except real estate is, in fact, increasing. We have inflation.

It seems like injury cases settle in bunches– always been that way.
Means we are getting the job done.

Sometimes the check clients receive sets them up for life.

If you or someone you care bout has suffered a personal injury, I would be honored to help.

Charlie Donahue

These are the words an insurance claims adjuster told me this morning.
This professional works for a big insurance company. He got hurt several years ago in an automobile accident.
This is his business, so he figured he would not need to hire an injury lawyer to help him.
After all, he does these kinds of cases all day long.
He negotiates settlements with other plaintiff lawyers.
He goes to mediations and, if necessary, trial.
This fellow deals with a lot of lawyers, and has seen many in action.

It is an honor that when he was not able to work out a deal with the insurance company handling his claim, he asked me to help him.

The last thing on his mind was that another insurance professional would try to screw him over.

In another case, I am honored that a retired judge has asked me to look into a potential injury case for one of his family members.

I’d be happy to help you, too.

All the best,
Charlie Donahue

Similarly, I have

If you have been injured, don’t go it alone.
Some folks do not seek an injury lawyer because they do not want to pay the typical contingency fee if 1/3.

If I think you can handle a claim without an injury lawyer, I will tell you.
I offer a free consultation.
On some very small injury claims you might not need help.
I will level with you.
I’d rather have your goodwill, than your money.
Plus you will tell all your friends and family I was honest and direct.
That is a ton of positive free advertising.

Not all cases are big.
Nor are they all too small for me to take.
Let me give you an example.

Today I settled a personal injury case where my client was offered $1500 by the insurance company to settle. At the time she was handling the insurance claim by
herself. She was smart enough not to fall into the trap. She hired me. In less than 1 year I was able to settle the case for $18,000.

That is a big difference!

It is true I get 1/3 for my fee, which is $ 6,000.
My client nets $12,000 tax free.
She made $10,500 by hiring me, letting me take care of everything, and settling
within 1 year.
It was worth the wait.

Now, that is not the biggest injury case in the world, nor at my office.
However, that kind of money is a big deal to folks these days.

Yes, I handle very serious and catastrophic injury cases, but we also can help you with more regular kinds of cases. And, let me decide if an Injury case is too small to handle. You might be surprised. We can meet, talk, and I will give you some pointers and direction— free of charge!

Think of me as your go-to injury lawyer.
Unlike a lot of guys who look at injury law as a way to rip off their own clients ( just ask around), I have a reputation for being aggressive and direct and honest. It’s just the way it is.

All the best.
Keep your strength.

I met a guy today who got in a serious car crash in another state.
He had a chance to meet with an injury law firm, was asked to sign a fee agreement, but decided to hold off.
He went with his gut.
He told me that he had a funny feeling about the injury lawyer.
It just didn’t seem right.

I understand totally.
For years I’ve been telling people to trust their gut when it comes to hiring an injury lawyer.
Ask other people for a recommendation.
Do not just rely on advertising.
I am a big advocate of free speech, and, as the pioneer of legal advertising in my neck of the woods, have no problem with it.
But some lawyers are unethical, and some are outright thieves, liars and crooks.
They will sweet-talk you, and sound real good.
They are to be avoided.

Ask your friends and co-workers.
Then meet with the lawyer, and ask him or her anything and everything you want.
Trust your mind, and your gut!

There are a lot of good, solid personal Injury lawyers out there, so don’t hire a bad one.

Peace.

I’ve been helping Injury victims for so long now, and have seen all kinds of needless suffering from all kinds of accidents, I find myself noticing dangerous situations.

During a recent trip to Montreal I stopped at a terrific sight, Notre Dame Basilica.
It is an important part of the history of the city.
A crown jewel of religious heritage, really.

It is an incredibly beautiful building.
We watched a light show which gave a history of the church.
The architecture inside was spectacular, and the light show highlighted and displayed different parts of the church.
It is ornate.

What also struck me was that the original architect, an Irishman named O’Donnell from New York City, wanted to blend the outside of the church into the city.
It sits in a plaza type setting.
The purpose was to blend in with the city and be accessible to the public.

He did a great job.
And, you can tell there were no injury lawyers around then.
The church empties into a busy road, and if you are not paying close attention, you could find yourself in the road.

It also figures that I almost tripped on some uneven pavement exiting the basilica.
The area was raised on purpose, and again, it was a bit dangerous.

Maybe all these years of personal injury work have made me crazy.
Mr O’Donnell is probably rolling in his grave over my comments, but hats off to him any way for a job well done, indeed.

Be safe.

I’ve been doing a lot of hiking recently.
One of the things I enjoy most is clearing my mind and just thinking.
Naturally my injury cases come to mind and I find myself talking to the trees and whatever animals happen to be in my path, about these cases.

A recent revelation was that injury law must be about winning.
It is not enough to say nice things and simply wish an injury victim all the best.
Sweet talking and whispering sweet nothings do not help the client pay the bills.
They do not make up for lost wages.
They do not alleviate his or her fears and worries about the future and how they will provide for family, let alone save for retirement— a thing of the past and these days a myth.

Winning in the business of helping injury victims means money— top dollar.
In our system, as crass as it sounds, justice is money.
Money helps make the best of a bad situation.
It is never enough, as there is no substitute for good health.
But money is a reality because the bills don’t top just because one’s been in an accident.
We need to earn, to live and enjoy.

It does no good to tell someone who has been seriously injured: ” The insurance company just screwed you over, but I really enjoyed helping such a nice person like you.”

The goal is to win.
As in any athletic event it is a competition ( although with higher stakes) where preparation, conditioning, effort and drive are important.
These days my main sport is golf and I love the competitive side of the sport.
Having to make a key putt is still thrilling.
Having a strong mental approach is also key.

I am uncomfortable with battle terminology— injury law with the insurance company is battle.
These days and for the last decade too many of our young men and women have come back home after experiencing real battle.
It is not the same.
Those folks are heroes.

So let’s stay with winning and fighting those big insurance companies for justice.

Did you know that an injury victim has to bring suit against the person who caused the accident and not against the insurance company that is paying the bill?

At trial the insurance company— the real party in interest and the most involved player in the claims process— is given total and complete anonymity.

Nobody can breathe a word about its existence.

The jurors are left to guess and wonder if they find for the injury victim who will pay.

The injury victim can not tell the jury that the defendant in the courtroom will not have to pay. For that matter his or her lawyer is being paid by the same insurance carrier and nobody is allowed to tell the jury.

It surely looks like the insurance companies are very powerful, and are able to influence lawmakers.

What’s the big secret?

Why let insurance companies hide?

Why perpetrate such a fraud on the jurors?

Why not let the jurors know everything?

Is there so little trust in the ability of the people to do the right thing?

If any changes are to be made in the law — so called tort reform— the best change is to end this deception and let the jurors know the real players.

There are worse things than a fair playing field.

What if…
The real problem with personal injury cases was crooked insurance companies?
What if….
Most insurance companies have as its bottom line profit to stockholders?
What if….
The plight of injury victims is secondary to corporate profit?
What if….
Insurance adjusters move up the corporate ladder by shortchanging injury victims?
What if….
Those in charge of insurance adjusters– at the top of the insurance corporate structure– make it corporate policy to limit compensation to injury victims?
What if…
The problem with the tort system has nothing to do with injury victims but everything to do with greedy companies?
What if….
These same insurance companies look at justice as a game and a way to save money?
What if….
These companies reveal their true identities by actually using, abusing and taking advantage of their own adjusters and employees too?
What if….
These companies spent more money on compensating injury victims rather than spending billions of dollars on the airwaves poisoning the public against injury victims by making up false claims and stretching the truth on others?
What if….
The press actually gave more attention to insurance companies which were found guilty of fraud, deceit and theft of their own policy holders, as opposed to one or two crazy verdicts benefitting some unworthy claimant?
What if…
The little guy could trust the insurance company to do the right thing?
What if…
Victims of medical malpractice could get fair compensation without needing to move heaven and earth?
What if…
Those who lost loves ones could make a claim for wrongful death and not be made to feel guilty?
What if….
It were truly a level playing field for injury victims.
What if….
At trial the law allowed the injury victim to tell the jury that there was an insurance company in the background responsible for paying any award it might make against the wrongdoer?
What if….
Punitive damages were allowed in New Hampshire?
What if….
The insurance industry did not take billions of government money?
What if….
what if….
What if….

Have a good weekend, and thanks, as always, for following my blog.
Charlie Donahue
Personal injury/ accident lawyer

There is a movement in our state to limit the rights of injury victims.
It is called tort reform.
Torts involve wrongs.
If someone drives carelessly and smashes up an innocent victim, the wrongdoer has committed a tort– civil wrong for which he is to be held responsible.
In most cases the wrongdoer is covered by insurance to pay the damages caused the victim.

In some states there are a lot of frivolous law suits and run-a-way jury verdicts–
Not as many as reported but enough to infuriate legislators who want to slam on the brakes.

In New Hampshire we are not known for those problems, so there is absolutely no good reason to implement tort reform. In fact implementing things like loser pays will only prevent the little guy from pursuing justice and exercising his or her constitutional right to a jury trial— things near and dear to all of us who care about liberty.

The rich guy won’t care because he can afford to pay if he loses, and the poor guy can never be forced to pay because you can’t get blood from a stone. It is always the middle class who gets killed. Folks with something to lose, but not a whole lot, can not think about taking the chance. If they attempt justice and happen to lose– as can happen in the real world for any number of reasons– the insurance company will put an attachment or lien on their home and make them pay a price, sending a message to every one else: don’t mess with us!

Sure there will be fewer lawsuits, but at what price? The price is justice. The price is our constitutional rights.

These tort reforms are an assault on injury victims. It is my hope that the NH House of Representatives will do the right thing because the unintended consequences to the good folks of our state will be devastating.

I’m going to do more blogging on my experience before the Committee.
I enjoyed it very much, and found the members to be very attentive and hopefully receptive.

Many of them, like myself, are undoubtedly concerned and angry about the direction our country is heading. In light of that, actions like tort reform sound good and sound tough, but any time you monkey around with constitutional rights and access to the courts you play with fire.

I’ll be back with more on this experience soon, but after being out of the office all day to be in Concord, I’ve got to work on a few personal injury cases before it gets too late.

All the best.
Keep your strength.