New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-09
NOW FOR THE DAMAGE SUITS
ONE RESULT OF THE ATLANTIC CITY
DISASTER
LAWYERS WHO MAKE BUSINESS OF 1R1No1Nc
ACTIONS AGAINST RAILROAD COMPANIES
IN BEHALF OF PERSONS INJURED OR
THE FAMILIES OF THOSE
KILLED IN ACCIDENTS
KILLED IN ACCIDENTS.

KILLED IN ACCIDENTS.
The railway accident which occurred near At
lantc City recently will bring mourning to many
homes. and will long be remembered as one of the
most serious disasters OF recent years II will
have other results which few readers Of the ac-
counts of the accident will have in mind but
"hloh quickly occur 10 railway officials and to a
certain class OF lawyers. The accident will lead
as other similar disasters have to a long list of
SUITS Tor damages which will occupy much time
In the courts for several years
1t is an unpleasant fact to record but il Is nev
ertheless true. that the first published reports Ct
the accident were eagerly scanned by representa-
yves Oh accident lawyers" who hoped to reap Pc
cuniary benefit from the loss Of life and the in
mcuoh OF serious injuries upon the passengers.
Inc business Of obtaining clients for lawyers who
make a specially of accident cases on contingent
fees has become we!l-recognized one and many
persons make their living from that occupation
AS soon as they hear of any serious disaster they
10 promptly TO the scene and by conversations with
the injured persons and interviews with the repre-
sentatives of those who have been killed they seek
10 OBTAIN FOR those who employ them The prosecu-
ton of claims resulting from the accident
sufncient livelihood is made by many OF these run
hers TOT lawyers so that they able TO dress
well and support their families from an occupation
winch would seem TO most persons most precari-
Gus one. Their enterprise Is greater even than
that Of the undertakers who send their cards
10 the relatives of persons whose deaths have been
announced in the newspapers.
10 meet these claims against the company. which
begin In court Immediately after every great acct
dent, the railroad corporations employ suave and
keen-witted attorneys. who have a reputation as
settlers OF cases. 1t Is the business of these men
to have interviews with persons likely to begin
suits against the company. and persuade them
that their real injuries are slight and that small
payment OF money is sufficient TO satisfy their Just
demands When one Of these attractive takers
secures the attention Of poor widow. he often
obtains a settlement Of the for much less
amount than would have been obtained on trial.
A corporation which has many accident cases re-
Gently had occasion to change its local attorney.
The first secured to fill the vacancy had
good reputation a lawyer, but the company
found that he seemd to think II part OF his
business contest every at great length and
insist upon taking every TO court. In con-
sequence several heavy verdcts were obtained and
II was necessary 10 make another change. The at
orney last selected was not possessed of brilliant
qualities. but he had attractive appearance.
and a manner which invited trust and confidence.
He was able to talk in persuasive way TO those
who sought him with claims against the COM
pany and succeeded In settling at reduction al
most every claim against the company. Few cases
were taken to court. and the railroad company
found that the amount which was paid out In the
settlement of the cases much less than had
been obi aimed before by strongly conteSung each
claim in the courts.
The lawyers who take accident In large
numbers invariably accept contingent fees They
agree to carry on case on an understanding that
they will receive one-third or one hall ana III some
covered from the company me LAWYERS VINO maze
in the profession It's only by the employment of
runners or personal application to the injured
killed that it is possible to obtain large amount
of business in accident cases. LAWYERS engaged In
general practice usually have only few OF such
cases. at least until they obtain high reputation
The amount of damages" which is obtained
the trial of cases against railroad companies Is
occurred near Atlantic city would probably cost
the railroad company hundreds of thousands OF
TO make the amount of loss little as possible
In some States limit is set upon the amount
this restriction has been taken away in New-York
State and the tendency in most of the States Is 10
result of the trial in many cases is 70 show that
their passengers Killed rather than manned, and
this fact, though IL Of course does not affect the
an argument against limiting the amount recover
Several large verdicts have been recovered in this
State since the Limitation was taken away by the
Constitution of 1894 fair basis for the measure
the cost of annuity which would furnish the
same support to his family In some recent Sss
than would secure an annual amount such as NE
deceased person has been dissolute and IDLE those
who bring the action can recover less than II ne
had been sober ana 1nuuStr1OuS NO amount VI
money of course would be sufficient compensation
for injuries of great severity, and Wisconsin
Judge said in one case "If this courtroom were
filled with gold. rational human being would
change places with this crippled boy and accept
the gold compensation
The amount of money TO be paid is therefore
reckoned largely by persons capacity 10 earn a
livelihood in the future. Among the amounts re-
covered within recent years were $1,000 for the
loss Of an eye and other Disagreement OF the face;
$4,000 for the loss of of boy. $1,000 for per-
manent injury to the right arm and other painful
wounds to q boy Of seventeen years, and $500 Tor
injury the of boy OF ten years. A verdict
of s1 500 has been sustained where man Of eighty
years had his leg of. Twelve thousand dol
lars for the loss of boys leg has not been con
sidered by the courts excessive. Eighteen thou
sand dollars has been received for the loss of two
legs of boy. and verdict OF $4,000 for the loss
Of a leg was recovered in another case in which
a boy was the plaintiff. Injuries 10 the spine are
frequent and In case $4,000 was recovered by a
California man who ncapacitated for attend
ing to active business. Nerdicts of from sl5ce TO
$4,000 have been obtained in other cases OF serious
N