Value vs. Volume Law Firms: Why the Difference Matters for Your Case

The problem is that you likely will not receive the sort of compensation you deserve if you retain one of the high-volume, churn and burn personal injury law firms. If you’re concerned about the amount of compensation that you receive for your injuries, and you want a firm that is actually dedicated to achieving results for you, it’s time to consider a value (not volume), boutique firm. Find out why Atlanta personal injury victims trust The Dixon Firm.

Sometimes called high-volume law firms, volume legal practices often have such characteristics as:

• Taking in as many clients as they possibly can, often an unreasonable amount given their current workload
• Using flashy and aggressive advertising tactics
• Focusing more on a quick settlement than on taking a case to trial
• Treating their clients as case file numbers rather than individuals
• In some cases, making unrealistic guarantees

The lure of these firms is often the contingency fee, which may be relatively low. The client may not have to pay the firm a standard percentage of their winnings. But this low fee can mask some of the disadvantages of a volume firm.

Most personal injury law firms take cases on a contingency fee basis. The law firm doesn’t get paid unless it wins the case, which means the firm has to put money and resources up front for its clients. This arrangement is usually beneficial for both the client (who would not otherwise have the money to access the court system) and the attorney (who is incentivized to do well in the case, win more money, and therefore claim a higher fee).

But this is where a critical distinction lies between a volume- and value-based personal injury firm. Since the volume firms have so many clients, they can’t possibly devote a fair amount of money and resources to each one. This means the firm gives less money and less attention to:

• Conducting a thorough investigation of the accident to acquire strong evidence and identify all potential at-fault parties, not just the other driver
• Hiring expert witnesses who can discuss complicated subjects like a victim’s future medical needs and decreased earning capacity
• Accident reconstruction, which could not only point to liability on the part of the at-fault party but could also rebut any attempt to shift blame to the client (under a doctrine known as comparative negligence)
• The use of courtroom technology, which is playing an increasingly important role in making the victim’s case to the jury
• Many are unwilling to go to trial at all, limiting the amount of money you might receive
• Developing a compelling and unique legal strategy that is aimed at maximizing the client’s compensation

For this reason, and as mentioned above, many volume-based law firms tend to focus more heavily on settlement than on litigation. Put simply, it’s easier to settle a case, tell the client it’s the best they can hope for, and then move on to the next client to keep the firm’s volume high. This is the result of an attitude that treats clients as mere case file numbers.

Although you may be enticed by the promise of a quick settlement and a low contingency fee, it’s important to consider the future. By hiring a volume-based firm, you might be missing out on these damages:

• Future medical expenses: Accident victims can reasonably be expected to have future medical needs such as rehabilitation and physical therapy. Insurance companies don’t want to pay for these and may push for a quick settlement, which the volume firm is more likely to accept.
• Decreased earning capacity: After being in an accident, you might not be able to work the same job you once had. This can cost you years or even decades of lost potential revenue, career advancement, and benefits.
• Non-economic losses: Victims can also claim non-economic losses such as pain and suffering and decreased quality of life. However, since these are more subjective in nature, insurers typically loathe having to pay them.
• The value added when the insurance company knows there is a risk they will have to go to trial against a lawyer with a track record of winning.

Volume-based law firms are less interested in these types of future damages because they require more time, money, and attention. It simply doesn’t fit the business model of taking as many cases as possible, settling them as quickly as possible, and putting the client’s results second to the firm’s profits.

Value personal injury law firms are also sometimes called boutique firms. “Boutique” can be thought of as the opposite of a volume firm. The firm is usually smaller, takes on fewer clients, and devotes more time, money, and effort to each case. Other advantages include:

• Personalized attention: An attorney who directly handles each major aspect of your case, including insurance negotiations, mediation, and trying your case in court.
• Direct communication with your attorney: Having a value firm means having your questions answered and your concerns addressed in a reasonable amount of time.
• Trial preparation: Value firms prepare for trial from day one, since their focus is not on settlement at any cost but, instead, fair results for the client.
• Making the most of mediation: We represent and advise clients during mediation, helping them weigh the benefits of a potential settlement against moving forward to trial.
• A reliable network of expert witnesses: To make the strongest case for future damages, you need expert witnesses on your side – and a firm that invests time and resources in them.
• Well-established relationships within the legal community: These relationships are the result of years of direct investment in the lives of clients, and they could prove vital as your case progresses.
• Better institutional knowledge: A boutique law firm is more likely to understand the lay of the land, so to speak, such as the disposition of the judge who is assigned to your case.
• A long-term relationship: Value-based firms help their clients work through the physical, financial, and emotional aspects of their accident injuries with confidence.
• Value-based firms add value to your case because insurance companies fear them.

Accident victims in Georgia have their choice of law firms. There is no shortage of mass-advertising practices that churn through as many cases as they can to make a profit. But if your concern is maximizing your compensation, having a personalized relationship with your attorney, and achieving client-focused results, your better choice is a value firm.

Have you or a loved one suffered injury because of someone’s negligence? Reach out to The Dixon Firm to learn what sets us apart from the volume firms. Call or complete our online contact form today.