The American Bar Association guide to establishing a motor vehicle law practice : from inception to trial

The ABA Guide to Establishing a Motor Vehicle Law Practice is designed to help lawyers implement and immediately profit from an MVA practice without having previous experience in this area. This book will teach you how to establish a corporation, open the proper accounts, and create dozens of forms that are necessary for an MVA practice. Sample cross-examinations, discovery, and jury verdict studies provide further guidance. As a complete guide for setting up a practice, samples, forms, pleadings, and a full trial transcript are included. Real cases and their respective Model Disciplinary Rules are covered, and each activity discussed is referenced with the law and legal considerations that the practitioner should consider when handling any one aspect of an MVA claim.

• Dedication p. vii
• Preface p. ix
• Acknowledgements p. xi
• About the Author p. xiii
• Chapter 1 Introduction p. 1
• Why I Wrote This Book p. 1
• The Needs of Clients p. 1
• The Needs of New Attorneys p. 1
• The Lack of Information p. 2
• Why You Should Consider Starting an MVA Practice p. 2
• Money p. 2
• Availability p. 2
• Student Loans p. 3
• More Interesting Cases p. 3
• You Are the Client's Warrior p. 3
• Personal Growth p. 4
• A True-Life Story: Mine p. 4
• About This Book p. 4
• How This Book Is Organized p. 5
• Conventions p. 6
• Closing Argument p. 6
• Chapter 2 Starling Your Practice p. 7
• Basic Startup Procedures p. 7
• License to Practice Law p. 7
• Choosing a New p. 7
• Choosing a Form of Organization p. 8
• Certificate of Organization p. 8
• Federal EIN p. 8
• Business License p. 10
• Fictitous Business Name Statement p. 12
• Bank Accounts p. 12
• Operating (General) Account p. 12
• IOLTA Accounts p. 14
• Your Office p. 14
• Office Space p. 14
• Furnishings p. 14
• Letterhead and Business Cards p. 15
• Telephone p. 16
• Internet Connection p. 17
• Research p. 17
• Communication p. 18
• Office Staff p. 18
• Accountant p. 19
• Marketing p. 19
• Word of MountùYours p. 20
• Word of MouthùAssociates p. 20
• Word of MouthùClients p. 20
• Yellow Pages p. 20
• Other Advertising p. 21
• Internet Listings p. 22
• Social Media and Website p. 22
• Case RunnersùMarketing Gone Bad! p. 22
• What's a Case Runner? p. 22
• How It Works p. 23
• The Problem with Case Runners p. 24
• Ethics and the Law p. 24
• If a Case Runner Approaches You p. 26
• Time to Do Business p. 27
• Chapter 3 Your First Clients p. 29
• Setting Client Expectations p. 29
• Speaking the Client's Language p. 30
• The Language of Money p. 30
• Time p. 31
• Sophistication and Statistics p. 31
• Estimates p. 31
• "Unique" Injuries p. 32
• Low Trust p. 32
• Property Damage p. 33
• Completing the Paperwork p. 33
• Motor Vehicle Accident Intake Form p. 33
• Client Information p. 38
• Passenger Information p. 39
• Employement Information p. 40
• Your Client's Insurance Company's Name p. 40
• The At-Fault Party's (or Parties') Insurance Information p. 41
• Medical Treatment and Health Insurance p. 41
• Date of the Accident p. 42
• Note the Police Report p. 43
• Note the Claim Particulars p. 44
• Note the Medical Treatment p. 45
• Chiropractic Care p. 46
• Stacking UM/UIM Policies p. 47
• Present the Contingency Fee Agreement p. 49
• Medical Information Release Authorization p. 57
• Authorization for Wage and Salary Information p. 57
• Representing a Client Who Previously Retained Another Lawyer p. 57
• Terminating the Agreement p. 60
• Client Challenges p. 61
• Representing Multiple Clients Involved in the Same MVA p. 61
• The Client Who Dies After Engaging Your Services p. 64
• The Client Files for Bankruptcy before Settlement of Trial p. 64
• Chapter 4 Processing the MVA Claim p. 65
• Maintaining a Client File p. 65
• Orderliness and Completeness p. 65
• Compliance p. 65
• Protection p. 66
• Justifying Your Fees p. 66
• Avoiding Mix-ups p. 67
• Paper or Electronic Format? p. 67
• Paper Format p. 67
• Electronic Format p. 67
• Combined Systems p. 68
• The At-Fault Party's Insurance Company p. 68
• Submit a Letter of Representation and Request the Declarations Page p. 68
• Providing a Recorded Statement p. 70
• Confirm That the At-Fault Party's Insurer Accepts Liability p. 70
• When the Other Side Denies Liability p. 71
• Withdrawing Prior to Filing Suit p. 73
• Withdrawing After Having Filed Suit p. 74
• Notification Certificate p. 76
• When the Other Side Accepts Liability p. 76
• Requests for Medical Bills and Records p. 76
• Keep in Contact with Clients Pertaining to Ongoing Care p. 80
• Submitting the Demand Package p. 83
• The Negotiation Process p. 89
• Be Friendly to the Adjuster p. 90
• Legal Defenses from the At-Fault Party's Side p. 90
• The "Minimal Vehicle Damage" Defense p. 90
• The "Gap or Delay in Treatment" Defense p. 91
• The "Diagnostic Treatment Only" Defense p. 92
• The "Preexisting Condition" Defense p. 92
• The "Prior MVA" Defense p. 93
• The "Contributory Negligence" Defense p. 94
• The Problem with Loans p. 94
• Chapter 5 Resolution/Settling p. 99
• The Initial Offer p. 99
• Responding to the Initial Offer p. 101
• The Top Offer p. 101
• Presenting the Top Offer p. 101
• If Your Client Rejects the Top Offer p. 102
• Obtain Reductions of the Bills p. 103
• Subrogation and Liens p. 106
• Developing and Presenting a Final Disbursement Sheet p. 109
• Hold Harmless p. 109
• The Authorization to Settle p. 110
• The Release and Indemnity Agreement p. 112
• Chapter 6 Filing Suit p. 119
• What the Client Should Know p. 119
• Evaluating Where to File p. 119
• The Next Steps p. 120
• Sample MVA Complaint p. 122
• Propound and Respond to Discovery p. 124
• Request for Production p. 127
• Request for Admissions p. 130
• Chapter 7 The MVA Trial: Arguing the Case p. 133
• Preparation p. 133
• Preparing Yourself p. 133
• Preparing Your Case p. 134
• Preparing Your Client p. 134
• Direct Examination of Your Client p. 135
• Missed work/lost wages p. 137
• Cross Examination of the At-Fault Driver Defendant p. 137
• Conclusion p. 138