How We Process A Personal Injury Claim  The Law Offices of David P. Cline provides free initial consultation and evaluation of your personal injury claim.  You have nothing to lose by contacting our office.  We treat every person who inquiries with dignity and professionalism.  Moreover, our access to a nationwide network of experienced personal injury attorneys assures you that if we are unable to handle your personal injury claim we can refer you to an attorney who specializes in your type of injury.  The Law Office of David P. Cline employs a “team” concept of legal representation.  That's why in our office we assign an individual paralegal to each client to handle the day-to-day paperwork and legal details in a case.  Whenever a client calls the paralegal assigned to that matter will normally be able to answer most of that client’s questions.  Supplementing the legal team we frequently hire private investigators and consult with top experts to help sort out complicated medical, engineering, and economic issues.  Every individual is unique and we have never followed the adage that “one size fits all” in our representation.  Every injured person is treated as a distinctive individual.    While every injured person is unique, a personal injury claim will usually involve a series of distinctive steps.  Those steps include: 1.  The Incident.  This is the event which gives rise to the injury.  For example, the negligence of an automobile driver, professional malpractice of a medical professional, a defective product, or a landowner who has breached a standard of care in a slip and fall accident.  2.  An investigation.  An investigation should be conducted as quickly as possible after the incident that gives rise to the injury.  Failure to document the negligence of the defendant could be fatal to your case.  Additionally, it must be determined which person or persons caused the injuries and the availability of any insurance.   That is why, even if you do not use our services, we recommend an attorney who is experienced in your area of injury be contacted immediately so that an investigation can be conducted.  Remember, time is of the essence. 3.  Negotiations.  Negotiating a settlement with the negligent person's insurance company is serious business and requires a professional.  Remember the insurance company has already hired someone who is experienced in the negotiation process.  The person working for the insurance company is a professional and regardless of how pleasant they might be during the negotiation, they are paid by the insurance company to save the insurance company money.  The resolution of a personal injury case, even at an early stage, is a complex and legally complicated process.  Hire a lawyer; the average person is no match for the professionals who have been hired by the insurance company. 4.  Filing Suit.  If the case cannot be settled, a lawsuit must be filed.  Most courts now require litigants to participate in some form of mediation or arbitration.  David Cline is a certified arbitrator/mediator and has arbitrated/mediated thousands of cases over his career.  If mediation or arbitration fails, then the attorney and client must prepare for a trial of the injured person's claim.  Insurance companies know which law firms are willing to take cases all the way to trial and which law firms settle all of their cases.  David Cline worked as a lawyer for insurance companies for over ten years when he first started practicing law; he knows that insurance companies evaluate not only the injury, but the capabilities of the attorney.  Dave Cline litigated thousands of cases for insurance companies and since 1995 has converted his practice to representing plaintiffs in personal injury claims.  His experience in knowing the inter-workings of the insurance industry is invaluable to just compensation of your personal injury claim.