A few years ago, I had a client who worked for one company as a tankerman for 20 years. He was ordered into a crawlhole during a storm to check the radar, and as he was getting out, the boat hit a swell. He was thrown backwards and ended up with a spine injury.

He went from being the main provider for his family to borrowing money to get a Coke and sleeping on people’s sofas.

The day of the trial, the company offered us $100,000.

The jury came back with the verdict of $1.6 million in favor of my client. He hugged me and started crying. His family cheered.

I want to know what it was like to be there during their injury… What it felt like, what it sounded like, what it smelled like. I want to know what was happening through their eyes.

I deep dive into what their life was like before their injury, and what it’s been like since.

As their attorney and advocate, it’s my job to absorb their story and be in touch with my client emotionally—not only so that they know I’m truly on their side, but also to effectively present this story to a jury of their peers.