A trial attorney is a lawyer who’s ready to take a case to court when a dispute can’t be resolved through negotiation. In serious personal injury cases, that readiness matters and affects how compensation is pursued. Knowing what makes a good trial attorney helps injured people understand what to look for when choosing legal representation.
At Langdon & Emison, our Kansas City personal injury lawyers represent people across Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois in car accidents, workplace injuries, nursing home abuse, and other complex injury cases. Trial preparation is a core part of our practice, particularly when a case may require courtroom advocacy.
What makes a good trial attorney?
A good trial attorney combines legal knowledge with courtroom skill and disciplined preparation. At its core, trial advocacy requires the ability to present facts clearly and apply the law in a way a judge or jury can understand.
Good trial attorneys know how to examine witnesses and frame legal arguments within applicable civil rules and jury instructions. In Missouri, for example, attorneys have to prepare cases with the Missouri Approved Instructions (Civil) in mind, so legal standards are accurately reflected at trial.
High-stakes civil cases often involve multiple expert witnesses, professionals in narrow fields, such as internal medicine, chemistry, or accident reconstruction, whose sworn testimony adds credibility to a lawyer’s position. However, much of an expert witness’s testimony is technical and complex. Good trial lawyers know how to ask questions of these experts in a manner so that the answers are easily understood by the jury.
It’s not unusual for a jury trial to have at least one surprise. Good trial lawyers know how to mitigate any damage to their case and how to respond quickly, yet effectively, to an unexpected answer from a witness or the presentation of evidence whose importance may have been overlooked during discovery.
When do you need a trial attorney instead of a general lawyer?
If your case is complex, involves a considerable amount of money, or if the outcome will affect the lives of many people, and there’s a good chance it will go to trial, then you need a skilled litigator. Serious personal injury cases, in which the plaintiff isn’t expected to fully recover or has sustained permanent, disabling injuries, are one such case. Personal injury claims with multiple defendants, as you’d see in a semi-truck accident case, are another.
If your personal injury claim involves multiple plaintiffs, as is the case with many product liability claims, then you may need more than one trial lawyer, especially if the case is a mass tort (a lawsuit involving many individuals against one or a few defendants) or class action (a lawsuit filed by one or more people on behalf of a larger group with similar claims).
If liability in your case is clear and undisputed, and its value is relatively low, a general lawyer may be capable of negotiating a settlement on your behalf, without the need for a trial to settle the matter. But if there’s a chance your case will go to trial, you want a trial attorney.
How do I choose a good trial attorney?
Consider the following factors in choosing the right litigator:
- A strong track record of wins in your type of case (personal injury, criminal, class action, etc.)
- High success rate in securing favorable jury verdicts
- Access to sufficient resources to properly try the case, including collaboration with expert witnesses and the funds to litigate the trial (most personal injury lawyers only get paid after they win, and front the costs of your trial)
- Board-certification in the type of legal matter you’re facing, which demonstrates advanced knowledge and expertise
- Strong professional reputation and respect in the legal industry
Get the skilled legal help you need for your personal injury case
The attorneys at Langdon & Emison have a demonstrated ability to win trials, with record-setting jury awards in several types of personal injury claims. If you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence, let us fight for the full and fair compensation you deserve. Call our firm today at (866) 931-2115 or contact us online for your free, no-obligation consultation and take the first step toward justice.
