The lawyer’s office smelled faintly of coffee and carpet cleaner, and he listened with professional patience as I described the accident. When I finished, he leaned back in his chair and folded his hands together.
“This is a very clean case,” he said calmly. “Rear impact, admitted liability, documented injury. We can pursue compensation beyond basic expenses.”
“How much?” I asked.
“Fifty thousand dollars would not be unreasonable,” he replied. “Pain, inconvenience, lost productivity.”
The number echoed in my mind long after I left the office. Fifty thousand dollars represented relief from debts that kept me awake at night and a sense of security I had not felt in years.
I agreed to move forward.
Leonard did not settle quickly. His legal representation requested extensions, filed responses, and delayed proceedings, which only strengthened my resolve. I told myself that I was owed this compensation, that fairness demanded it, and that his circumstances were not my responsibility.
The hearing was scheduled for mid June.