By: Factfullguys
If you’re thinking of starting a career as a personal injury attorney, you should know it can be a rewarding and lucrative business. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there is a need for 62,000 more PI lawyers and the job outlook is robust — growing at a rate of 8% per year, faster than the average growth rate for other jobs.
PI cases are often complex, but they are highly personal. You are dealing with people who have been injured through no fault of their own. Many times, an injury is life-altering. PI lawyers get to know the people involved and become professionally motivated and invested in the client’s success.
Izzy Yetnikoff, Esq., the principal attorney at Yetnikoff Law Offices knows this firsthand.
“I try to do work on cases and obtain results that are meaningful and life-changing for the client,” Izzy Yetnikoff said. “I am able to make a real and positive difference for the client and her/his family. By producing meaningful results for clients, I am able to achieve career satisfaction. This explains why I love my career.”
Building a Pathway to Success
The path to building a successful business as a personal injury attorney takes time. Getting your law degree and passing the bar exam is just the first step. For Izzy Yetnikoff, that meant working in nearly every area of the law before settling on personal injury.
“I was intrigued by personal injury law because the lawyer works to level the playing field between the disadvantaged injury victim – often vulnerable and uneducated in the particular laws, and the insurance company on the other side, an entity that has all the wealth, resources, and time to undervalue and underpay the claim, he said. “Once I realized that I was naturally skilled at making insurance companies pay, I built on these talents and decided to specialize in this area of the law.”
For many lawyers, going out on their own takes a leap of faith. After working for several years in a general practice firm, his wife Chanie encouraged him to start his own legal practice. “I started from the ground up with no clients,” Yetnikoff said. “Chanie supported me for the first 18 months while I built up the law practice.”
Over time, Izzy Yetnikoff built a reputation for getting results. “I gradually built up a network of persons that benefited from my legal services, and now routinely refer clients to me — other people that really need help when they become subject to difficult or unfortunate circumstances,” Yetnikoff said. They receive personalized service and explanations every step of the way. Clients are comforted and confident knowing that their case is being handled and scrutinized by a top tier attorney. No one is going to lowball or take advantage of the client.”
Understanding the Client’s Loss, Damages, and Pain
PI lawyers typically work on contingency, meaning they don’t get paid unless they settle and win cases. This means understanding the nuances of personal injury cases, and having the ability to go head-to-head with well-funded and well-armed corporations and insurance companies.
“What’s paramount to me is to first understand all aspects of the client’s loss, damages, and pain, Yetnikoff said. “Being able to describe the client’s unique experiences, goals, and dreams for the future are of primary importance. Understanding the pre-accident experience, and then the pos-accident loss helps me work toward achieving a result that makes the client whole again.”
This requires persistence and willingness to go the extra mile, really taking time to know the client and how their injury affects their life. “I refuse to allow any element or aspect of the loss to be ignored or remain unaddressed,” he said, “knowing all aspects of the loss is critical in meeting the client’s goals for the case.”
Communication Is Key
Yetnikoff says communication is key, helping to uncover the intricate details of a case and understanding expectations.” I learn the client’s expectations for their participation, the timeline, and for compensation. We then develop a common goal, and I explore all options and the path or journey we’ll take together to get to the destination of justice and full compensation,” he said. “The client’s understanding of the process is an important component to success.”
His advice to new personal injury attorneys? “Approach every case as a partnership,” Yetnikoff advises. “I work with each client as partners to achieve that desired result in an efficient and expeditious manner.”
Insurance companies look to make fast settlements to reduce their costs and effort. They hope to get injured parties to accept compensation well below what they deserve. On the other hand, if there looks to be significant liability, corporations often try to drag cases out for years, hoping to wear down a client’s resolve and force PI lawyers to invest ever-greater amounts of time and money.
Either way, PI attorneys must maintain constant contact with clients. With each new step or development, the client should be notified, and receive an explanation of how this impacts their case.
“Great communication is also a primary element of effective advocacy,” Izzy Yetnikoff said. “The client is always informed as to the status of the case and will know the next step we are working toward in the overall strategy to win compensation, move past and overcome road-blocks, and succeed in the desired outcome.”
Protecting the Client
When someone is injured, they are often vulnerable. They may want to take a quick settlement or fail to account for long-term consequences, such as ongoing medical care or loss of income. A PI attorney’s job is to advocate on behalf of the client and protect them.
“As the injury victim, I protect the vulnerable client’s interests and ensure that no one is taking advantage of the client,” said Yetnikoff.
In injury cases, other stakeholders try to grab some of the money paid to injured parties or redirect funds that are owed to the client. “My unshakeable philosophy is that no one is paid more than the client, and this is the guarantee I employ to resolve each case,’ Yetnikoff said. “Every dollar belongs to the client, and I fight to make sure those dollars are paid to the client. I guarantee that no matter the amount of money paid — whether for a minor incident or for a catastrophic accident, regardless of the actual figures — no one is paid more than my client.”
Evaluating New Personal Injury Cases
Since PI lawyers typically work on contingency, evaluating each case early on becomes a critical skill. Beyond the dollars at play, Izzy Yetnikoff’s advice is to look for clients who have a strong commitment to their case.
“The client must believe in their claim, and must meet me with equal determination to make the at-fault party pay what is due and owing to the injury victim,” Yetnikoff said. “As long as the elements of negligence and damages are present, I can work with anyone as a partner to reach an end-result that has the client made whole again after a loss.”
Advice for Aspiring PI Attorneys
Yetnikoff has two specific pieces of advice for law students or lawyers looking to specialize in personal injury cases.
1. Work on interpersonal skills
The ability to communicate effectively with the other stakeholders in the process will be important in every single case no matter the type or extent of the claim. It’s especially important to accomplish effective advocacy, in negotiating settlements, and to achieve the desired outcomes.
2. Develop a background in multiple disciplines
An injury lawyer must often apply multiple disciplines to achieve the desired outcome for the client. This includes acquiring knowledge of a quasi-physician or therapist, psychologist, engineer, and financial planner, in addition to being a lawyer.
Pursuing a career as a personal injury attorney can be both challenging and rewarding. The field offers the opportunity to make a tangible difference in clients’ lives, advocating for justice and fair compensation. Izzy Yetnikoff’s experience underscores the importance of dedication, communication, and the ability to adapt to various disciplines. For those considering this path, focusing on building relationships, honing interpersonal skills, and developing a well-rounded knowledge base will help create a foundation for success. By approaching each case with empathy and a strong commitment to the client’s best interests, aspiring personal injury attorneys can pave their way toward a fulfilling career.
Published by: Martin De Juan
