@steigerlaw

June 9th, 2009

ls_20081 Lowell Steiger

Personal injury lawyer at the Law Offices of Lowell Steiger

Author of Lowell Steiger’s Personal Injury Law Blog

Today we’re tweeting with Los Angeles personal injury lawyer @steigerlaw, who treats his clients with the respect they deserve

Hi How are you today?

@steigerlaw, thank you for joining us today on Twitter. Tell us: who is @steigerlaw?
A lawyer who loves representing injured people, caretaker by nature. Fighting the good fight for my clients :-)
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Tell us about your law practice.
I represent people who were hurt by vehicles (cars, motorcycles, buses, etc.) defective products, slip/trip & fall accidents.
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Can you tell us a little bit more about the clients you represent?
Anyone who has been physically hurt by someone else’s negligence (fault). Also rep workers who haven’t been paid OT, meal breaks
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What is the single most important legal issue affecting those clients?
There are 2 important legal issues/Q’s for injured people: (1) Who was at fault and (2) did this event actually cause the injuries?
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What do you tell every new client before you start working for them?
I care what happened 2u, UR not a number. Your job is to get better, I’ll handle the legal part & guide you thru the entire process
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I’m sure that is reassuring to hear. Tell us about one of the more significant client representations you’ve had.
Yng motorcycle rider paralyzed when car turned left. We settled 4 just under $8 million 4 lifetime care BUT it was heartbreaking
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Why do your clients hire you?
Other than the bowl of candy on my desk? Zealous representation, thorough explanations, no BS, respect 4 client as a person in pain
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People do seem to gravitate toward the desks with candy…. How has your practice evolved since you became a lawyer?
At 1st it was just me. Now I have lawyers & staff working on cases so that clients get all the attention that their cases require
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What would you say is the most difficult aspect of being a personal injury lawyer?
Insurance companies denying fault or that my client is actually injured! That attitude infuriates me and I FIGHT them to the end.
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I’m sure your clients appreciate that. How do you market your practice?
Nontraditional marketing. Clients come thru referrals, social media, my blog, word of mouth. I do what I love, that brings clients
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You blog at Lowell Steiger’s Los Angeles Law Blog (http://bit.ly/3VNJRy). Who do you write for? Why should they read it?
An eclectic group who read it because they’re interested in the topics at hand. I include other points of view, relevant links, etc
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You’ve been blogging since 2006. What led you to start blogging about personal injury law?
Blogging is #1 way to start a dialogue w/that great big world out there. Personal injury law is my passion, that’s what I blog about
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Why did you decide to join Twitter? Has it proven to be a valuable effort?
I joined Twitter without a clue and found idea and resource exchanges, professional connections. Twitter is an incredible tool.
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It certainly is (& you clearly have a clue now). Beyond Twitter and your blog, what other Web 2.0 tools do you use? Why?
I subscribe to a lot of legal and medical blogs and newsletters to keep me current and give me ideas that help me advise my clients.
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What specific impact on referrals and/or client engagements (if any) have your Web 2.0 activities provided?
My clients’ cases benefit from my access to so many incredible people whose ideas and experience help me think & act outside the box
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That’s an interesting perspective. How much time do you spend each day developing / enhancing your brand?
Tweet for about an hour with my morning cup of Joe & throughout the day. I guess it’s branding but I think of it as communication
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It’s both, isn’t it? Let’s switch gears: what is the most significant issue currently facing the legal profession?
Big business trying to block consumers’ access to the courts through “tort reform” under myth of frivolous lawsuits (see next Tweet)
Frivolous lawsuits are, in my opinion, a myth and the forces stating otherwise must be addressed http://tr.im/nVXi
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What will the legal landscape look like in 10 years?
Hard to say (no crystal ball). We have to fight to maintain current rights & restore those lost during the last administration
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What would you do if you weren’t a lawyer?
That’s tough – I’d write about law (Grisham doesn’t need to worry too much yet) & work w/animal rescue organizations.
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How do you want to be remembered?
As a loving partner, son and friend, someone who did good for others
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What do you do when you’re not working?
Spend time with family, friends and dog, write, watch movies, go to open houses, drive around beautiful L.A. (I love L.A.)
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Our last question for you is: what advice do you have for people going to law school today?
Find the passion in what you do. If you love what you do, good will follow. Law is a wonderful profession.