11 minute read
Daniel Kim, The Law Offices of Daniel Kim, Orange County
Constantly Evolving
Personal Injury Law Services
by Dan Baldwin
Change is inevitable. Some attorneys and some firms fight it. Others go along with the flow of events. And some firms embrace change and grow into it, establishing a better future. The Law Offices of Daniel Kim is one of those firms. For example, they have more than doubled their size since 2020, despite the challenges presented by the Covid Pandemic.
The firm’s primary practice areas are auto accident cases, including car, motorcycle, truck, pedestrian, bicycle, and rideshare. Additionally, the firm covers serious personal injury matters like spinal injuries, traumatic head injuries, and wrongful death. Kim is the founder and Managing Partner of the firm.
A case from his early years demonstrates the commitment of Kim and his expanding team to being a client-centric firm.
Jason, a husband of 15 years and father of four minor children, worked as a mechanic during the day and as a driver at night. He worked very long hours to make sure his family was well-fed, housed, and enjoyed the basics of a good life. One night as he stopped at a red light, the driver of a large Ford F-350 traveling at nearly 50 miles an hour rear-ended his vehicle. This truck accident caused serious injuries that changed Jason’s life forever. He required multiple back surgeries throughout his recovery. He could no longer work as a mechanic or drive to bring in extra money from his second job. As the sole breadwinner of his family, Jason became depressed, as he felt he was unable to protect and provide for his family. Jason and his family came close to being homeless and they had to move into their relative’s home just to stay afloat.
As part of handling the case, Kim partnered with a videography company that produced a day-in-the-life video of Jason and his family. In this project, Kim grew close to Jason, his wife, four children, brother, sister, uncle, friends, and the former mechanic co-workers. Kim says this case taught him that the injured client is only the start of the ripple effect in such situations. Auto accidents truly affect every family member, and the ripple effect travels much further than most people imagine. After a serious accident, relationships can become strained, and oftentimes divorce can occur when the spouse no longer feels like the same person. Kim expressed, “Because of my experience in representing Jason as one of my first clients, my outlook in representing injured clients from automobile accidents thereafter became so much more meaningful and sensitive to the entire family. I try my very best to treat the client as family and give them the same advice I would give to my own mother or sister.”
Kim credits that growth in size and service to a willingness to evolve and implement changes that will benefit not only the firm, but the personal injury clients they serve, as well.
He attributes the firm’s success to constantly improving operations in every sense. They work to avoid the trap of complacency which could hinder their success. Kim says, “I don’t have that mindset at all. The moment I think that I’m on top of the hill, I stop to realize how easy it is to fall back. Therefore, I have the mentality that we’re always climbing up the hill. We’re always trying to find a way to get better. And we do.”
The Law Offices of Daniel Kim has added more than 50 new employees, including certified paralegals, case managers, investigators, and personal injury attorneys. The firm has also hired a full-time Human Resources manager and has implemented software solutions to make sure the entire team has a forum to monitor progress on cases, communicate effectively throughout the organization, and to constantly evolve client services to a higher level.
The firm has many Korean- and Spanish-speaking clients. As an additional service and incentive to prospective clients, many members of the team are fluent in Spanish and Korean. The firm is able to offer direct communication with and for injured victims throughout their personal injury cases. Kim says, “The legal system, especially the paperwork involved, is complex enough for attorneys. Imagine the impact on people and families who are not fluent in English or even remotely familiar with the system. One of those changes we made was done to simplify that complexity for people in that position.”
Feedback for Moving Forward
One of the innovations Kim has implemented is a system of collecting feedback from all employees about the challenges and opportunities found in their daily tasks. Ideas, criticisms, and comments are encouraged across the board. The program has resulted in new improvements and initiatives that have enhanced overall business operations, interactions with clients, and the success rate of the firm. “You never know just where a great idea will come from, so everyone’s feedback is welcomed and evaluated equally,” Kim says.
Those ideas automatically find their way into means of providing better service. Clients have responded well. For example, one satisfied client wrote, “Daniel Kim is a hardworking attorney who helped my family and I get settled for over $60,000. It took some time, but I am very thankful for him. We no longer need to worry about the medical bills or a totaled car. Glad that he’s provided safety for my family.”
Kim places a high value on gathering input from all levels of the organization. Talking only leadership to leadership can lead to a macro view of the operation and can miss potentially harmful challenges or potentially great opportunities that could get lost in the details of daily business.
“I listen with the same interest to someone who is a newcomer as I do to someone who has worked here for years. We then evaluate and address those concerns or issues, and then we implement them accordingly. As a result, the firm gets better, and the clients get better service.”
Clients agree on the firm’s level of personal and professional service. Another satisfied client wrote: “Daniel and his team were absolutely amazing. His staff was attentive to my case, knowledgeable and courteous. I was in a car accident at the end of last year and the first thing I thought of when it happened was ‘how am I going to fix this’ and ‘what do I do?’ Daniel’s staff took the time to go over every step with me and they were able to get me the financial support I needed. I would highly recommend this firm to anyone with personal injuries resulting from a car accident.”
The Pandemic Proved to Be a Blessing
The Covid Pandemic that hit businesses, their employees, and suppliers ultimately proved to be a blessing for the firm. They were able to continue operations at full capacity throughout the lockdowns. For a while, much of the work was done remotely for the safety and peace of mind of their employees. However, their clientele continued to grow and there was no break in service.
The uncertainty, lockdowns, and the volatility of changing rules significantly and negatively affected many businesses. However, the impact on individual persons and families suffering from traumatic accidents or injuries during this period magnified the effects. During the last two years, some people have been through more challenges than many people could possibly understand. Kim says, “Sticking by clients, understanding where they’re coming from, and understanding their situation has been and is essential to the success of their cases. The multiple of the stress has gone up exponentially. Being involved in an auto accident, trying to pull the pieces together with their family, all while dealing with major medical issues, life can become an extreme challenge. We have to be up to helping them meet those challenges.”
Pandemic challenges seemed to be ongoing, but sometimes yield unexpected benefits. One was the streamlining of operations that resulted in using computerization, online services, Skype and Zoom connections, and the expanded use of e-mail and telephone communications.
Member of the American Bar Association.
Because automobile accident victims often lack the ability or resources for personal transportation, the firm was pretty well set up to make that transition because of their previous levels of service in that area. For example, the firm’s commitment to fast and efficient client contact led them to access software that allows clients to conveniently see new developments in their case. This secured portal also gives clients the ability to constantly communicate with their respective legal team. “In steps like these, we are able to take technology and combine it with direct and personal client service,” Kim says. In a way, that was a real “silver lining” not only for the firm, but for their clients, Kim said. “We see the pandemic as a blessing in disguise. It forced us to re-evaluate every function with two goals in mind—how do we better serve our clients and how do we do it more efficiently.”
A Personal Evolution
Kim says that, like his firm, he as a person and as an attorney has also evolved. One of the big changes in the firm includes the transition from micro-management to a macro-management style.
Kim says the matters that would have fazed him at one time are no longer the challenges they once seemed to be. “When you’ve gone through a lot of ups and downs, you realize that with time there’s going to be a solution. Even if at the moment things seem problematic, there will be a solution. If I don’t come up with it, one of my team inevitably will. I don’t have to have my hands in every single aspect of the firm’s operations.”
A big part of that change is Kim’s dedication to finding, hiring, and motivating the top people for each position in the organization.
The firm’s growth includes the evolution of its workplace culture. Kim says they employ compassionate, high caliber individuals who enjoy what they do. They have become more selective during the hiring process. In doing so, they have helped build a positive and collaborative work environment filled with professionals who are passionate about personal injury law and the services they provide to each client. Kim says, “If you don’t evolve, and properly find high caliber people you can delegate work to, and trust that they can potentially do a better job, then it becomes a problem. I think having
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people who have a desire to grow within this company is one of the biggest reasons why the firm has prospered. Because now, it’s evolved to where there are very, very smart people who constantly give great suggestions knowing they will be able to run with ideas.”
Continuing to Streamline and Focus on Growth
Daniel Kim is an accomplished attorney, but he is also a businessman with a substantial organization to manage. As a businessman, he continually looks toward the future. The “two hats” he wears as attorney and owner are not incompatible. Improvements in technology, infrastructure, staffing, training, and management techniques convert directly into providing better legal services for people and families in need.
“It’s not such a bad thing to be able to look at it from a business perspective, because you really look at the nittygritty. And I’m constantly selling a service here, and a big part of the service is peace of mind for our clients. Our charge is making sure every one of our clients is properly represented, so they can focus on recovery and not have to worry about their insurance claim.” Kim says, “That’s our job, and the better we perform that job, the better we serve our clients.”
Kim has big plans for the evolution of his business. First is the goal of increasing the staff by an additional 30-40 percent within the next five years. Expansion into other states is also in the cards, as Kim is already licensed in Texas.
“Change is going to happen regardless of what people do or don’t do. In our case, we not only accept that fact, but we intend to stake out a position on the leading edge of that change,” Kim stated. n
Contact Daniel Kim The Law Offices of Daniel Kim 611 Anton Boulevard, Suite 1000 Costa Mesa, CA 92626 (800) 719-9779 www.usaccidentlawyer.com
EXPERIENCE
Daniel Kim and wife Mina Kim.
