Interview with Attorney Matthew D. Meyerkord
#1: What made you want to become a personal injury lawyer?
I became a personal injury lawyer because of a genuine desire to help people. There are plenty of other professions in which you can help people, but in the personal injury field, thanks to the contingency fee arrangement, you can help people but earn a decent living at the same time.
#2: What sets Meyerkord, Russell & Hergott apart from other firms?
Attention to detail. We do things that most other personal injury firms overlook, like getting 911 recordings in motor vehicle accident cases. We also try cases, which means that we aren't afraid to go the distance and insurance companies know this.
#3: What advice do you most often give your clients?
Be honest about your injuries and losses. Exaggerating or inflating your injuries doesn't get you more money; it gets you less money.
#4: Tell us about a case that you are particularly proud of:
It might seem simple, but I am really proud of a trip and fall case I settled a couple of years ago. My client tripped in a hole in a grassy median in a parking lot. Grass had grown over the hole making it impossible to see. She broke her ankle really badly and needed surgery. The best part of the case was not the monetary recovery I made for my client, but the fact that our lawsuit prompted the people who own the parking lot to fill in the hole so that no one else ever gets hurt on it.
#5: You were selected for inclusion on the Super Lawyers® list – why is this important?
I am incredibly honored by this selection and I appreciate the votes of confidence my colleagues gave me. I think it's important because it conveys to people that I know what I'm doing and am good at what I do.
#6: What steps do you take to prepare for a difficult case?
We recently started doing focus groups on our difficult cases. This gives us a tremendous insight into what a potential jury will think of our case. It also allows us to spot issues in a case that we might have overlooked.
#7: In your opinion, what is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
I love the David-versus-Goliath aspect of it. We're a small firm and we represent individuals. We go up against insurance companies and large businesses that hire big defense law firms, and we still win.
#8: How do you view your role in the attorney-client relationship?
I view my role as a partner to my client. We're in this together. I'm investing my time and money in a case and my clients are entrusting me with the fate of their claims. We both have skin in the game, so I like to walk side-by-side with my clients as we work their cases up.
#9: What types of injury claims do you specifically handle?
I handle almost any kind of personal injury claim, and have specialized experience with motor vehicle accident cases, premises liability (slip or trip and fall) cases, and workers' compensation. I've also developed some specific knowledge and experience with inadequate security cases where someone is hurt by a criminal at a business.
#10: Tell us about a turning point in your career:
Going out on my own in 2008 was the biggest turning point in my career. What an eye opener. Failure was not (and still is not) an option back then. Once I tasted the sweet freedom and bitter difficulty of owning my own business, there was no going back. So I worked my tail off to ensure I made it. This experience made me what I am today.