We interviewed Logan Quirk from Quirk Accident & Injury Attorneys, APC in Thousand Oaks California. With over ten years’ experience in practicing personal injury law, Mr. Quirk serves his clients with personalized attention, professionalism, credibility, and integrity.

Why did you choose a career in personal injury law?

I grew up in Northern California and from my high school days on, I learned that it’s important to protect others and help others out. For me, that most often applies to people who have been left vulnerable by hard times or someone else’s mistakes. Those values continued to shape my career choices during my time at Santa Clara University Law School. After getting my law degree, I immediately started helping homeowners who had been victimized by home construction companies receive justice. From there, I opened up law offices in San Diego, Los Angeles, and Ventura County. I found that there were a lot of other people out there that needed safeguarding after suffering financial and physical harm.

What type of clients are you drawn to?

I want to be the lawyer that clients who are feeling hopeless or overwhelmed feel comfortable turning to.  At Quirk Accident & Injury Attorneys we aren’t fancy or pretentious. We want clients to come in and feel like friends or family. We want to partner with our clients to help them reset their lives back to where they were before an accident left them far off course. We work hard to earn the most for our injured clients. We also put a premium on the peace of mind of our clients. We want to protect our clients from the stress of going up against an insurance company so they can focus on recovery.

What do people misunderstand when it comes to personal injury cases?

Many victims think that they file an injury claim against at-fault parties and their insurer and they receive a settlement check and that’s the end of it. They have no say in how much they get. They think you get a set amount for a broken finger and maybe a little more for a broken arm. But that’s not true. Personal injury settlements are negotiated. Because when you don’t negotiate and ask for everything you need to cover all of your injury hardships, insurance companies will provide you with as little support as they can. Victims can end up with additional medical bills months down the road with no way to go back to an insurance company to ask for more assistance.

What types of hardships do personal injuries cause victims that they may not expect?

Victims will be very aware of the enormous medical bills they receive and the lost paychecks they miss out on while missing work. But they may not think about the potential for those healthcare costs returning months or years after an insurance settlement has been finalized. Victims with serious injuries might need additional surgeries down the road. They may experience crippling emotional trauma stemming from an accident or debilitating arthritis in the decades to come. Victims must consider these potential damages when they decide what they’ll demand from an insurance company.

Does every California accident victim need a personal injury lawyer?

No, but every victim should speak with a personal injury lawyer to find out. It’s a free consultation, so there’s no risk involved. It’s an important step in determining what your case is worth and if you’ll need the help of a lawyer to force insurance companies to pay what’s fair. A reputable lawyer will listen to you and be honest about how much they can help. If an attorney can’t do much to increase the settlement money you’ll receive, that attorney should tell you that you are better off filing a claim on your own. 

When do you need a personal injury lawyer?

Victims may not need a personal injury lawyer if their case involves only property damage or a few minor bumps and bruises. The payout for these types of cases has become pretty standardized and a lawyer won’t be able to help you get a lot more. When injuries are more serious or when fault is in question, a Southern California personal injury lawyer may be of much more help.

What type of pitfalls do victims need to watch out for when dealing with insurance companies?

Car insurance companies, commercial business insurers, and homeowners insurance companies all try similar tactics to limit the compensation they must pay out to victims. They often start by delaying their response to a victim’s claim. This leaves the victim sitting longer with their building medical bills. The victim feels more and more pressure to pay them. The insurance companies then offer less than what an injury claim is worth hoping desperate victims will accept anything at that point. Insurance companies also like to try to pin some of the blame for an accident on the victim so they can get away with denying a claim. They could also question how bad an injury is. At Quirk Accident & Injury Attorneys, we don’t put up with this type of unfair treatment. We immediately fight back for our clients.

How can you help families who have experienced the tragedy of a wrongful death?

A serious personal injury accident can be severe enough to become life-threatening. Families may lose a loved one and, understandably, be at a loss about what to do. If someone’s negligence was responsible for the death, families will need to file a wrongful death personal injury accident claim to protect themselves from some of the financial difficulties that follow. Families will need time to mourn, but they’ll also have to worry over leftover medical bills, funeral costs, and the income the deceased can no longer provide. Quirk Wrongful Death Attorneys compassionately represent families who have lost a loved one to a careless accident. We allow loved ones the time to mourn while we handle the filing of a wrongful death claim with as little disruption to the family as possible.

What types of things can personal injury victims ask an insurance company to compensate?

Victims should know that every hardship they and their families endure after an accident can be listed in an insurance claim. It’s then up to your personal injury lawyer to make sure your insurance settlement check includes all of these factors. The totals on medical bills should be a starting point, but that compensation must also involve estimates on care that could be needed in the future. The wages and benefits a victim loses while having to miss work with an injury should be included in a settlement. The pain and emotional trauma victims go through must also be part of the negotiations when deciding how much victims should receive in support.

What would you recommend a person do after a personal injury accident?

Evidence is always the foundation of a strong case against an insurance company. Some of the most effective proof of who was at fault for an accident will be found on the scene. Call 911. Get checked out by paramedics and give officers a full description of what happened so they can prepare an accident report.  If you left strong enough after your accident, try to take photos of everything around you. In a car accident, snap photos of vehicle damage and street signs. Show your injuries. If you are hurt on someone’s property or at a store or work, get a picture of the obstacle or machine that injured you. Get witness contact information. Contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as you can. Allow your attorney to begin immediately gathering other evidence for your case.

To talk with us, visit our page about personal injuries in Thousand Oaks or just visit us online at https://quirkwins.com/.