Carol L. Schlitt, NY Personal Injury Attorney:
Superior Personal Services and Striving for
the Largest Award Possible
I have built my practice on two
principles: delivering superior personal services and helping to win
the largest award possible for each case. I make a simple vow to
each client: I will do my best.
A Commitment to Personal Service
Like all legal matters, personal injury
law can be complex and confusing, so I establish a personal
relationship from the first time I meet a client. I often travel to
their homes to meet them so they are comfortable. I see my clients
through all phases of a case from the time of the injury through a
trial or settlement. Unlike larger law firms, where clients get
bounced from attorney to attorney, I think it’s very important that
clients have one person they can count on. I am my client's personal
lawyer.
Frequent Communications
Over the years, many of my clients have
started out with other attorneys and they came to me complaining
that the other attorney never returned their phone calls or paid no
attention to their case. That is so unacceptable. Part of delivering
great service means frequent communication. When developing a case,
a trial attorney and a client have to work as a team. I keep my
clients up-to-date on all developments. I call them. I send regular
emails. I send letters with news. If a client calls me, I return the
call as soon as possible.
I make sure to speak with each of my
clients at least once every two weeks. I understand that your case
is the most important case in the world to you and I treat it that
way.
A Focus on Each Case
Practicing law for over twenty years has
taught me that each case is unique, each case has its own fact
pattern and each client brings a unique set of needs and interests
to the case. There is no generic case, no run-of-the mill legal
matter.
I opened a solo practice so I could pick
and choose my cases and ensure that I had the time to devote to each
case. I've worked in places with large caseloads; it's profitable
for the firm, but not best for the client. I limit my caseload so I
can give my clients the attention they deserve. I understand that
the most important case in the world is your case.
Focusing on Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice
Clients
I only take personal injury and medical
malpractice cases so I can focus my energies and knowledge. I do not
try to be all things to all people. Like a doctor who specializes, I
do not pretend to be a divorce lawyer or handle wills and estates. I
want to be the best personal injury lawyer possible.
Client Reports
Several years ago, I realized that I was
working very hard for my clients, but they did not always see the
work I performed for them. From a client’s perspective, a case might
begin with a flurry of activity, and then go for long periods of
time with no action or communication. To improve communication and
to ensure that each client fully understood the status of his or her
case, I have established a schedule of reports that I deliver to
each client as part of my service:
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Welcome Kit: This package provides an overview of the legal process and the services I will deliver for the client. It also contains all the papers a client will need to sign to retain me as his or her attorney and to begin investigating the case.
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Case Assessment: Prepared after completing my initial investigation, this document provides a comprehensive review of the case, assesses liability and damages and estimates the value of the case at trial and in settlement talks.
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Suit Report: Prepared after filing suit, this document provides details on the nature of the suit and the legal process.
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Discovery Report: Prepared at the beginning of the Discovery process, this report identifies all witnesses that we or the defense will depose and the evidence and records that we will exchange.
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Deposition Guidelines: Delivered shortly before a client’s deposition, this document provides advice on how to prepare for the deposition and what to do during the deposition.
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Trial Report: Prepared as we approach the trial, this document provides an overview of how we will prosecute the case at trial and offers guidance for my client to follow.
These six documents were years in the
making and provide a detailed and comprehensive status update and
education from the beginning to the end of the legal process. I will
be glad to show you samples of each document. I know of no other
lawyer or law firm who prepares anything like my six client reports.
Aggressively Prosecuting Each Case
Although I love practicing law and relish
the opportunity to try a case, I must admit that I often hate the
legal system. The court system move ridiculously slowly and cases
can take many years to resolve. Most defense firms are paid by the
hour so they have an interest in dragging out cases so they receive
more revenue. I hate the way the system moves so slowly. I push very
hard to move my cases along. I hold the defense’s feet to the fire
and press the courts to move cases. Paying attention makes a
difference. Colleagues have asked me how I get cases to move so
quickly. The answer is that I push every case, respond to a defense
demands quickly, fight requests for adjournments and push for early
deposition dates; that’s how I move my cases along.
Exploring
Opportunities for Settlements
I work hard to move cases towards trial.
At the same time, I explore every opportunity to settle cases early
if that can bring full value sooner. Many cases can settle early -
meaning more money in the hands of my clients sooner. After
completing a case assessment, I prepare a settlement package for
every case. If we can receive full value in an early settlement, it
benefits everyone to do so. I would never recommend settling a
case for less than full value, but there is no need to wait years
for a trial if I can deliver a settlement in much less time.
A Solo Practice, Yet Each Case Has the Best Team
Possible
I want my clients to benefit from the
focus and personal touch of my solo law practice, but they should
also receive the same support that a large firm might offer. Winning
large awards and bringing justice to her clients requires great
skill and commitment. For each case, I assemble a team of experts
needed to best try that case. That team might include doctors,
nurses, accident reconstruction experts, vocational counselors,
economists, security experts, design experts, architect, or
engineers. My team of experts bests any team that the largest law
firm can assemble. I assemble not only a team of leaders in their
field, but the right people for the case at hand.
For example, I had a case involving a
client who fell down a defective stairway at a crowded bar. For that
case, my team included a medical reviewer, the client’s treating
doctors, an engineer with expertise on stairway design and safety
and a security expert with expertise on crowd control at a bar.
Fighting for Large Settlements
I have made many clients happy by earning
them early and large settlements. The best way to force an early
settlement that meets my client’s needs is to prepare an aggressive
trial strategy. I love going to trial. I believe passionately in my
clients, I prepare well and I relish standing before a judge and
jury arguing for my clients.
It is important to know that my past
experience cannot guarantee the outcome of any new case, but I give
my all to uphold my reputation as someone who wins large cases and
large awards.
Fighting for Justice
When a person suffers an injury, he or
she must first focus on getting the best medical care possible. Part
of the recovery process involves seeking justice. Justice includes
an holding the negligent party responsible. Justice includes
compensation for pain and suffering, for lost wages and expenses.
Justice also includes an effort to insure that no one else suffers a
similar injury due to that person’s negligence.
In the end, it is all about my clients. I strive to be the best personal injury lawyer for my clients.
Carol L. Schlitt - New York Personal Injury Lawyer
If you or a loved has been injured in through the neglect or actions of another person or organization, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. You should contact an experienced New York personal injury attorney. If you think you have a case or if you have questions, you can call me and I will be glad to discuss your rights, answer your questions and help you with a potential case. You can call me at 1-800-660-1466 or send me an e-mail at Carol@SchlittLaw.com. The consultation is free and I will be glad to help you.
I hope you have found this information
helpful.
Carol L. Schlitt
New York Personal Injury Attorney
1-800-660-1466
Carol@SchlittLaw.com.