Personal injury lawyers handle dozens of cases at once and cannot devote all of their energy on your particular case. They are bound to make mistakes every now and then. It’s your duty as the client to help them prevent making human errors. Here are four mistakes to avoid in the courtroom.
Letting the Lawyer Do All of the Work
It’s human nature to put all of your faith in a professional and sit back so that he or she handles the entire situation. Whether you’re a student, patient or legal client, it’s important that you learn to take over the driver’s seat.
Do not allow your lawyer to do all of the research and planning while you make the minimal effort. This case directly affects your life, and the lawyer is working with you to make money. You may be better equipped to gather evidence and prepare for the case than your lawyer.
In the courtroom, take on a more participatory role, even though you cannot perform as a lawyer. Whisper or pass notes over the table whenever you have a new idea. Do not allow any idea to remain hidden because you think that it’s not your place.
Not Listening
When you hear something that’s undesirable, you tune it out. There are some things that a lawyer says that you’ll want to tune out. However, it’s necessary to listen and remain attentive.
When you don’t listen, you don’t pay attention and fail to develop your case properly. Listening is more important than talking. It’s very important that you listen actively in the courtroom because this is where people tune out the most. Sit up straight, remain attentive and pretend like you’re a lawyer yourself by preparing rebuttal statements.
Underestimating the Defendant
A lot of personal injury attorneys underestimate the power of their defendants. As the plaintiff, do not assume that the defendant doesn’t have enough evidence and his or her attorney is willing to give up easily.
Many defense attorneys have resorted to extreme measures to win cases for their clients. They may lie, deceive or cheat to prove their points. These tactics are immoral but perfectly legal and admissible in court. Make sure that your attorney has the same amount of or more evidence than the defendant’s attorney does.
Having a Preset Attitude
It’s good to have a positive attitude about the outcome of your case, but do not automatically assume that you’ll win. Don’t assume that the case is clear as day, so the judge and jury will automatically believe everything you and the lawyer say. Some personal injury cases have had solid evidence in favor of the plaintiffs, but because of one technicality, the defendants won.
There are a few, common mistakes that everyone makes in the courtroom. The biggest mistake is to be passive throughout the entire case. Your attorney does not know everything, and your case only gets stronger when you become more interactive. Take on a bigger role and look for personal injury attorney Tampa services that fit your budget and legal needs.