What Is a Plaintiff's Attorney?

When people who have been injured or wronged have nowhere else to turn, they turn to a plaintiff’s attorney.

A plaintiff’s attorney is a lawyer who represents individuals who have been harmed physically or financially. They fight for the rights of the “little guy” against the powerful. Plaintiffs' attorneys typically take on corporations, insurance companies, hospitals, business interests and even governmental organizations.

When a doctor amputates the wrong body part…
When a nursing home resident is abused…
When a family member is killed by a drunk driver…

That’s when you need to talk to a plaintiff’s attorney.

Holding the Negligent Responsible

Plaintiffs’ attorneys represent people who were injured through no fault of their own. If someone else’s carelessness left you permanently paralyzed, unable to work and support yourself, wouldn’t you want someone to seek justice on your behalf? That’s what plaintiffs’ lawyers do. They hold people and organizations financially responsible for the harm they cause others.

Individuals who have suffered serious injuries because of someone else’s negligence have a legal right to seek compensation for their damages. These damages may include medical expenses, lost wages or income, pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. These people did nothing to deserve the suffering they have endured. All of the damages are a direct result of someone else’s actions. Plaintiffs’ lawyers also represent the survivors of those who died a wrongful death — a death caused by another’s negligence.

Leveling the Playing Field

To protect their profits, insurance companies and other defendants are motivated to pay the injured party the least amount possible. They have teams of lawyers on their side working hard to make sure the injured individual is paid the absolute minimum or nothing at all.

Plaintiffs’ lawyers work to level the playing field. They protect the rights and interests of the injured person and strive to obtain the maximum possible amount of financial compensation for their clients’ losses.

Assuming All the Risk

Plaintiffs’ lawyers are risk takers. Generally, they bear all the financial costs of litigation in exchange for a portion of any final verdict or settlement. These cases can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to pursue and often take years to resolve. Plaintiffs’ lawyers don’t get paid a dime during this time. They usually pay all the costs associated with building a case, from paying investigators and accident reconstructionists to hiring expert witnesses.

Plaintiffs’ lawyers take this enormous risk based on their belief in the justice system, their belief in the case and their belief in their own ability to persuade a jury of the rightness of their position.

Meanwhile, the defendant’s lawyer or legal team has nothing on the line. These defense attorneys receive either a salary from the insurance company or charge an hourly fee.

Providing Representation With No Financial Risk

The injured individual pays nothing upfront and nothing out of pocket. If there is no financial compensation in a case, the individual pays no attorney’s fees. This contingency fee arrangement gives average people access to the justice system. The courts recognized that very few individuals could afford to pay an attorney by the hour to pursue these cases.

When a driver talking on a cell phone runs over a pedestrian…
When a medication error leaves a patient in a coma…
When a construction worker falls to his death because of negligence…

It’s time to talk to a plaintiff’s lawyer about your legal rights and options.

Pursuing Justice for Individuals

In courtrooms across this country, plaintiffs’ attorneys work to preserve the rights of individuals one case and one client at a time. They are on the front lines of our justice system, advocating on behalf of ordinary citizens.

At a time when corporate lobbyists write our laws and politicians are beholden to the special interest groups, the work of plaintiffs’ attorneys is especially important. Who else is working to protect the rights of individuals and the safety of the broader community?

Achieving Positive Change for All

The primary responsibility of a plaintiff’s lawyer is to achieve a positive outcome for the individual client. A by-product of this work is positive social change that protects everyone.

Large verdicts and settlements are the result of reckless behavior. When defendants see that their actions have consequences, they are more likely to change their behavior.

A property owner may fix a dangerous condition. A hospital may change procedures to prevent surgical errors. A day care may do criminal background checks on its employees. A city may install a stop light at a dangerous intersection.

These positive social changes can improve safety for everyone. They occur because plaintiffs’ attorneys are willing take on the risk and expense of standing up for the individual and demanding justice.

The attorneys of MyPhillyLawyer.com are proud to say that we are plaintiffs’ attorneys.

Contact the attorneys of Silvers, Langsam & Weitzman, P.C., to arrange a free consultation about your case. Our experienced plaintiffs' lawyers represent clients in Philadelphia, South Jersey and the surrounding area.