One of the challenges in obtaining the full value of a client’s case is getting the defense, the insurance company, and/or trucking company to truly understand all the harm that has been caused by the wreck or negligent act. The defense will want to see documentation concerning medical expenses, lost wages and future earnings, and medical reports that explain the nature and extent of the injuries. Additionally, the defense will have access to the depositions that they took prior to settling the case.
The problem is that just reviewing the documents outlined above does not fully explain a client’s losses and harms. Board-Certified Truck Accident Attorney David W. Craig has said, “Every client’s case involves a story that is unique to them and their family. There is no way to properly value a case without knowing that story. That is why settlement videos are necessary in significant injury or wrongful death cases.”
What is a Settlement Video?
A settlement video is a short video that tells the client’s story through the eyes of those who have seen the impact firsthand. The video will have interviews with the family, neighbors, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances of the victim. They describe the client’s life before the tragedy and what it is like now. It also includes clips from treating doctors, surgeons, therapists, psychologists, or other medical practitioners who can explain not only the injuries sustained, but more importantly how the injuries affect and may continue to affect the client in the future. The video might also include footage of the typical day in the life of the client.
If liability is in dispute, the settlement video will feature information about the incident that caused harm to the client. It is typical to include clips of the accident and footage of the reconstructionists, mechanics, or other experts who can shed light on how and why the crash or neglectful act occurred. In a truck case, an expert from the trucking industry may be interviewed about the industry standards that were violated.
Many settlement videos also include a tour of a client’s house to show what adjustments were made to accommodate their injuries, like a chair lift, hospital bed, shower chair and bars, and more. Some videos follow clients to their physical therapy appointments, allowing the defense to see the amount of work that goes into regaining mobility or to see the fact that victims of catastrophic injuries will sometimes never move like they once did. Others display how difficult it is for victims to care for their children, or how hard it is to provide for an entire family after a wrongful death took away a family’s primary caregiver. These are all things the defense may not be privy to if not for the settlement video. Moreover, some of these documentaries also include family pictures and videos from before, in addition to crash or injury photos.
Ultimately, settlement videos can humanize the victims of personal injury and wrongful death cases, allowing everyone involved in the case to become familiar with these people and how their lives will never be the same after a catastrophic event. Such a powerful statement can truly help resolve a case for a fair value.
Settlement videos are provided to the defense before mediation or a settlement conference. They are also shared with the mediator, who helps both sides reach a settlement. These videos, if done properly, are extremely powerful tools to tell your client’s story. It gives the defense a preview of the story that will be presented to the jury at trial if the case does not settle.
Both sides want to determine the true value of a case. Anything that can be provided by the injured party’s attorney to help the defense properly evaluate the value of the claim should be used. There is no greater tool to do that than a good settlement video.
After the Crash Podcast: A Legal Resource for Truck Wreck Victims
After the Crash is currently ranked No. 4 in personal injury podcasts on FeedSpot. It is the highest-ranked podcast focusing on personal injury resulting from commercial vehicle and truck wrecks.
The podcast was launched over five years ago, in the fall of 2020, by attorney David W. Craig. It educates and empowers listeners in a digestible format. It is primarily aimed at the victims and the families of victims of semi or other large truck accidents.
It is David’s goal to equip listeners with the knowledge necessary to navigate this tough time in their lives. Anyone — truck wreck survivors, legal professionals, healthcare workers, and anyone in between — can tune into After the Crash for free.
A new episode is released monthly, featuring a guest with an important perspective. In each episode, David interviews individuals involved in commercial motor vehicle cases, or experts whose skills are crucial to understanding trucking cases.
Episodes are posted on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon and Apple Podcasts, and the Craig, Kelley & Faultless website.
Get to Know the Guest: A Compassionate Storyteller
Bobby Craig is the co-owner of Impact Video, a video production company that is focused on creating tailored, high-impact videos for law firms. The company offers content marketing, commercial production, bio videos for attorneys, and settlement videos. Bobby’s career began at Craig, Kelley & Faultless, where he worked alongside attorney David W. Craig and learned how to approach a client’s story in a way that can fundamentally shift how cases are evaluated by insurance adjusters, defense attorneys, and claims decision-makers. Since Impact Video was founded, Bobby and his co-owner, Aaron Sherman, have produced hundreds of settlement videos for law firms throughout the United States.
Watch his appearance on episode 86 of After the Crash on YouTube.
Injured After a Truck Wreck? Craig, Kelley & Faultless Can Help
Attorneys at Craig, Kelley & Faultless are prepared and have the experience to help victims and their loved ones involved in commercial vehicle wrecks through every aspect of their case. Both attorneys David W. Craig and Scott A. Faultless are board-certified in truck accident law by the NBTA, accredited by the American Bar Association. The firm also has a rapid response team that works with investigators, reconstructionists and mechanics who immediately collect evidence as soon as the firm is hired. Additionally, two of the firm’s litigation paralegals are board-certified in truck accident law by the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys. As David has said, “We don’t just handle truck accident cases. We specialize in these cases.”
Their team-centered approach puts client needs at the forefront, and several attorneys will work on your case to achieve the best possible outcome.
Reach out for a free case consultation today at (888) 253-5198 or online.
David W. Craig is board-certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, accredited by the American Bar Association in Truck Accident Law. He sits on the Board of Regents of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (which requires the board certification in truck accident law). He is the managing partner and one of the founding partners of Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC. He is recognized as a Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyer and Top 100 Trial Lawyer in Indiana by the National Trial Lawyers, as well as a Top 50 Indiana lawyer by Super Lawyers. David is the author of Semitruck Wreck, A Guide for Victims and Their Families and It’s Never Been Easier to Hire the Wrong Attorney, both written to help people navigate what comes next after a tragic wreck. He also hosts the podcast After the Crash, where you can gain valuable information about the dangers involving semis and large trucks that do not follow safety protocol regarding speed, weather conditions, maintenance upkeep, etc.
Email
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin