So, in March of I got into a car accident that wasn't my fault. I had pretty bad neck and head trauma and pretty bad back bumper damage to the car. I started to get physical therapy for my neck and back and dealt with the other guys insurance company to fix my car.
Surprisingly, the other guy's insurance company was very nice and helpful and had my car fixed within a month from the accident. Since this was my first accident I had ever had, some people gave me the suggestion of going to a lawyer to settle the claim for the medical part of my case. I was a little hesitant because I had worked so well with the insurance company and thought I could work it out myself, however people kept telling me that the insurance company would stop being polite once I wanted my medical claims covered and would start to give me the run around.
Meantime, my husband had gotten into a minor fender bender and went with Shook and Stone to handle his accident case. Within two months of his accident, his claim was settled. I thought that was pretty impressive, so I went with them. They gave me the bells and whistles of a free consultation and everything.
First off, I didn't even meet with the lawyer that was "supposed" to be handling the case until the last 10 minutes of the meeting. I gave all my information on the case to his paralegal and after an hour of discussing all the details with her, then had to re-tell all the same information to him when he finally decided to pop in but in fast motion because he had another meeting to attend. Second, he seemed so uninterested, like I was wasting his time. But I negotiated his rate down, so I went with them.
The first couple of months I felt pretty good. I got several calls pertaining to my case. After those first two months, nothing. Oh, by the way, Shook and Stone do not have voicemails for any of their people. YOu have to leave a message with an incompotent receptionist. So, I call to find out where my paralegal is and why I haven't heard from her.
She, I find out, has gone to a different department. They don't tell you these things? ARen't you supposed to know who's on your case and if someone else takes over?
Anyway, come July and I have had now 3 paralegals come and go. What makes it worse is that everytime I get a phone call or email from Shook and Stone about my case they are asking me the same questions that they asked me in my original consultation and they are asking me, ME, to do the research for them. Isn't that why i hired them in the first place? I could've handled the entire case on my own faster and better than them.
It is now Dec. 2008 and I have not heard from either my lawyer or my paralegal since July. I have sent them several emails with "request receipts" on them, to know that they've at least opened my emails. I've also called every week since the August requesting them to contact me back. These, jerks have not once contacted me about the case. Not to tell me what's new, how anything is going, nothing.
PLEASE BE WARNED! Do not use these guys if you ever want to settle your car accident case before you die. They are rude, disrespectful and do not act in a professional manner. They do not believe in doing what their client wants, keeping their client informed or even talking with their client.
To top it all off, when all is finally said and done, I will have to give these rip-offs 25% of my settlement money for doing absolutely nothing. I did the research for them, I got them my medical information, doctors addresses, pharmacy information, prescription information, etc, etc. I can't fire them because then I have to pay them for the time they supposedly spent on my case for the last year and a half.
I can't go down to their offices because I work about 30 mintues away, they close at 5pm and I get off work at 5pm and they aren't open on the weekends. I would have to take time off work to go down their and jump start them, just to have them ignore me all over again. A victim of an accident should not have to go to these great lengths with the very people who are supposed to righting her wrong.
So, moral is, if you ever get into an accident and will be ever relying on the settlement money from said accident, do no, I REPEAT, do not use Shook and Stone as your lawyers. They will not help you one bit!
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