Kansas City, MO personal injury attorney Michael Waddell talks about his most common piece of advice for clients and his background & experience. He emphasizes that one of the most important pieces of advice he gives clients is to be mindful of their social media activity. Once a claim is initiated, anything a client posts or shares online can potentially be used against them, as it effectively broadcasts personal information to the world.

He attributes his ability to guide clients effectively to his extensive background in insurance defense. Unlike many plaintiff’s lawyers, he began his career in 1990 as a private practice insurance defense attorney in Kansas City, Missouri, where he advised and defended insurance companies and their clients. He then spent 21 years in-house at a large insurance company, working closely with claims departments and defending insured clients in a variety of claims. Afterward, he joined another insurance company for an additional three years.

Over the course of his defense career, he participated in approximately 50 jury trials and accumulated 30 years of experience representing insurers. This extensive background allows him, now as a plaintiff’s attorney, to provide clients with a unique perspective on how insurance companies evaluate claims and to develop strategies that maximize their recovery following accidents and injuries.