Since 1911, Marks & Harrison has proudly served our community by providing excellent legal representation to each and every client who walks through our doors. We believe in the high quality of our services because we believe in the high standards maintained by our world-class team of attorneys and support staff. We are all honored to have attorney Andrea R. Carver in our ranks.
Prior to joining the firm, Andrea served as Staff Counsel for GEICO defending personal injury cases. She also studied biology, psychology, and medical science before earning her law degree from the University of Richmond School of Law. Her diverse educational background and previous experience on the defense side of personal injury make her uniquely qualified to help accident victims secure compensation for injuries sustained at little to no fault of their own.
At our firm, we are on a mission to provide compassionate and personalized attention to all of our clients. We also feel that clients have a better experience when they get to know their legal representatives. So, we sat Andrea down to answer some questions about her career and perspective as an advocate for injury victims. Read on to learn more.
What made you want to be a lawyer?
I came to law for a career change after teaching high school chemistry, biology, and physics. Being a lawyer gives me the opportunity to use analytical and persuasive skills that I did not get to use often as a teacher.
Also, I have always been a natural problem solver. Each personal injury case is unique, and I enjoy strategizing the best approach for each one.
That said, I still get to use my teaching skills. For example, I help my clients understand how the law applies in their cases, as well as explain and clarify the law and facts of each case in court.
Why is personal injury an important area of the law?
All areas of the law are important, especially at a societal level. However, I think personal injury touches regular people in the community more directly and concretely than most other areas.
Most people will never even hear about, say, a case discussing some nuance of civil procedure or the interpretation of a multi-million (or billion) dollar contract. On the other hand, the results in a personal injury case can be life-changing for the individuals involved.
I enjoy securing results for my clients that help them overcome and move past the difficult situations they often face. It is also a fun area because I get to spend a good amount of time in courtrooms trying cases instead of sitting in an office.
Prior to law school, you studied biology, psychology, and medical science. How does this background influence your perspective as a personal injury attorney?
My background definitely gives me an advantage in understanding and explaining injuries. Personal injury cases rely heavily on medical treatment records as a key source of evidence. My educational background helps me work through this kind of evidence and clarify the underlying causes of injuries. It also helps me to ask doctors the right questions when they serve as expert witnesses in a case.
As for my psychology background, I think it gives me some insight when it comes to understanding and explaining the mental trauma some clients deal with after an accident. Believe it or not, law is actually a very interpersonal profession. A background in psychology comes in handy.
How does your experience on the defense side of personal injury influence your work today?
It is very influential. It gives me pretty good instincts about the issues that are going to be used by the defense to fight a claim. Since I have been on the other side, I am rarely surprised by defense strategies in court.
My experience also allows me to give my clients honest feedback about the strengths and weaknesses of their cases, which helps them begin to wrap their minds around possible outcomes. More often than not, they prefer to know. Eliminating some of the uncertainty can be comforting.
What is the most meaningful part of your work?
I love my job. I get a lot of joy from dissecting fact patterns, medical records, and the law. However, helping my clients overcome their challenges is, of course, the best part. At the end of the day, the law is about people.
What is your approach when first interacting with a seriously injured client?
My approach with any client is always to listen first and teach second. Maybe my instincts from my past life as a teacher kick back in, but it is important to understand where your client is coming from and how they feel about their situation.
To understand the facts of each case and the nuance of the client’s injuries and experience, I first listen closely to what they each have to say. Once I feel I have a good grasp of their perspective — including their worries and expectations — I then try to make sure they understand the legal process, obstacles, and path going forward.
What advice do you have for injury victims when picking a personal injury attorney?
Pick someone who listens to you. That said, it is important to stay clear-eyed about the possibilities in your case, both positive and negative. Therefore, avoid lawyers who always tell you what they think you want to hear. It is better to have an honest assessment from your lawyer on the front end than to learn about weaknesses in your case on the back end, especially if your case is a strong candidate for trial.
Why pick Marks & Harrison?
There are good reasons the firm has been in business for over a century — reputation and experience. More generally, our team is also great to work with. We always treat our clients with the respect, compassion, and case-by-case attention they deserve.
Call Us Today for a Free Consultation
If you have been injured in an accident at little to no fault of your own, do not wait to speak to a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Marks & Harrison is a phone call away and ready to help you secure the legal compensation you deserve. Call us today for a free consultation.
