There's a lot going on with your case. You just don't know it.
There's a lot going on behind-the-scenes. Your attorney just hasn't filled you in on it.
Even when 'nothing' is going on with your case, there really is something going on.
Want to know what's happening with your case?
Join me as I share with you what's happening that gives you the impression that 'nothings happening with your case'.
1. You've met with your lawyer and now he has to investigate whether you have a valid medical malpractice case.
It's been weeks since your original meeting and you haven't heard anything. You get the feeling that he's forgotten about your case. Is your impression justified?
The answer is "No."
It can take 4-8 weeks just to get your medical records in New York. Then he has to hire a medical expert to review ALL of your medical records to confirm if you have a valid case. That could take many more weeks, depending on the doctor's availability and volume of records to review.
Although YOU believe your attorney is doing 'nothing', the reality is that this investigation is critical and can often take months to finish.
2. Your lawsuit has been started and you haven't heard from your attorney in months. You think nothing is going on. Is your impression justified?
The answer is "No."
Once your lawsuit is started many procedural things happen. Your attorney should be telling you all that is going on behind-the-scenes. Let me share with you some of what happens:
- The lawsuit papers must be delivered to the people you have sued. This is done by using a person who specializes in delivering these papers. They are known as process servers.
- Once these people have received the lawsuit papers, your attorney must now wait for their lawyers to respond to your allegations in a document known as an 'answer'.
- Then a document must be filed with the court letting them know that all the attorneys who represent the people you have sued are in the lawsuit. Another document is filed which requests a scheduling conference with the court. This is commonly known as a request for a preliminary conference.
- Once this document is filed, it will be months before the court schedules this initial scheduling conference. This often explains the massive gap where clients are in limbo wondering why 'nothing is going on with their case'.
The sad reality is that most attorneys fail to keep their clients advised of what goes on behind the scenes. It's not because they intentionally don't want to tell you, but rather it's because they don't have systems in place to make it routine and automatic.
In my office, I consistently call my clients every single month to let them know what's going on with their case. I get a chance to chat with them to find out how they're coping with their injuries. I send them fun and informative newsletters each month. Even if nothing is happening on their case, I make it a point to speak to my clients every month.
