3 years ago
I came to Andrew Leonard after I had been rear-end...
I came to Andrew Leonard after I had been rear-ended by a distracted driver talking on their cell phone, just 2 weeks after I'd gotten married. My physical injuries weren't significantly substantial (no bone breaks) however I did end up in the ER with whiplash and long-term effects as the accident triggered chronic health issues like fibromyalgia. Upon our first meeting Mr. Leonard was polite and helpful, but after having to move out of state when I could no longer work or finish college due to the accident (moved to a new duty station, husband is military) I saw a very different side of the firm. To make a very long story short, despite counseling, years of physical therapy and neurology appointments for pain management directly stemming from the accident--which I documented--and just general inability to work, Mr. Leonard informed me my case was worth no more than $5,000.00.
Tens of thousands in medical bills that detailed how the car accident caused my pain. I lost my career as an EMT because I could no longer lift heavy items. I suffered from migraines 28 days a month and was on heavy doses of pain medications because I couldn't function through the crippling and debilitating after-effects of my accident. But Mr. Leonard didn't want to fight for my case because it was difficult to "prove" fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome despite having NONE of these issues prior to the accident. I had a full-time job as a nanny and was a student with no physical health issues. None of my documentation was good enough, and it would be difficult and costly to fly in my doctors from out of state. I spent almost 5 years recording everything I could and eventually having to file for disability (SSDI) because I could not work. But to this firm, I was simply a number and he urged me repeatedly to take the small settlement I would get and repeatedly told me how much his firm had already spent to recover my medical records and that he wouldn't get paid unless I took the paltry sum.
Contact over the past 4 years was sporadic at best with his team, and almost never with him directly. I flew in specifically to meet with him about my case and he showed little concern other than being a number on a page and a dollar amount in his checkbook. I have never felt more dehumanized by another person. My pain and suffering meant nothing, his professionalism was nothing more than reiterating to me that it's better than nothing that he could get me $5k (before his fees) because he didn't want to fight on my behalf. He dismissed my injuries because he could not prove them and made no effort to continue my case because it wasn't cut and dry. He recommended a friend of his to take the case, but urged me to just settle. Over and over, he has urged me to settle because it would be better than nothing.
It is not better than nothing. I am not a dollar sign so someone else can get their 33% of the pathetic settlement I would be left with because one attorney didn't want to do his job and fight for my case after a rear-end collision took away the future I'd spent years building.
I am appalled with this law firm, and encourage others to seek representation who will value you and fight for what you deserve. I am lucky that my husband is military and the majority of our bills were covered, however I know that will not be the case for many others. Do not choose a firm that puts a dollar sign on you and wastes years of your life gathering your information only to tell you that you're not worth enough to them to fight for what you deserve. I hope no one makes the mistake of hiring this firm in the future given the circumstances and poor treatment I received simply because my case was not so simple. There are better firms out there with attorneys who value others as human beings and not just another check to cash at the bank.