When you go to court or seek out an insurance claim, you rely on your attorney to help you get through the claim and to get the most you can. The settlement you receive is based on many factors, but a good negotiator can make the best of a complicated situation.
When someone botches a claim, that hurts the victim the most. That’s what happened in this case, according to a former DC United defenseman. He claims that two attorneys mishandled his case so badly that important information never made it into the discovery process. He claims he had a strong case, but they failed to turn in a medical report, business proposals and emails to support his involvement with Soccer Pros.
The man had suffered a concussion in 2009, but the team doctor did not examine him during the game. He did not receive a follow-up test, and he was playing again just days following the injury. The symptoms of the concussion returned and eventually resulted in his retirement.
He believed that his attorneys would help him through the process of filing a lawsuit, but they were negligent, he claims. They failed to make sure all information was disclosed and caused his medical malpractice claims to be dismissed due to failing to file the correct documents with the court. His attorneys also allegedly failed to defend him against allegations that he’d continued to work with Soccer Pros after his injury, a claim that could hurt his case against team doctors. The attorneys risked exposing their own mistakes by admitting they had withheld important information from the court.
Cases like this result in victims losing out on the settlements they need. If you’re a victim of legal malpractice, there is help for you available.
Source: Courthouse News Service, “Ex-Soccer Player Says Lawyers Botch Injury Claim,” Tim Ryan, April 06, 2017