Texas author and attorney Clayton Rawlings, a partner at Hampton & Rawlings, pens two books on personal injury pertaining to lawsuits and mediation.

Attorney Rawlings, who represents individuals who have been injured due to the negligence of corporations or individuals for 28 years, recently released “Personal Injury Lawsuits: A Victim’s Guide To Victory,” and “Mediation In A Personal Injury Case,” both of which are available on Amazon.

In “Personal Injury Lawsuits: A Victim’s Guide To Victory,” Rawlings educates readers on measures to take if involved in an accident and what to do afterward. “This book reads as an introduction to civil litigation for actual litigants,” noted Rawlings, a member of the State Bar of Texas and American Trial Lawyers Association. “In this book, as well as in ‘Mediation In A Personal Injury Case,’ I avoid ‘legalese’ so people with little or no legal training can understand it.”

Rawlings’ goal with this book is to “pull back the curtain” so accident victims will not be intimidated if they find themselves thrust into the frequently hostile environment of litigation. He takes the mystery out of civil litigation in the personal injury arena so the injured can approach it in such a way as to maximize their recovery. “Remember, the right to trial by jury is protected by the Constitution of the United States,” added Rawlings.

Chapters include Definition Of A Tort, What Should I Do At The Scene Of A Serious Collision?, Importance Of Evidence In A Personal Injury Case, Damages That You Can Recover In A Personal Injury Case and more.

“The term ‘tort’ means a wrongful act or infringement of a right, leading to civil liability,” writes Rawlings. “There are four elements that must exist for a tort to be actionable: duty, breach of duty, causation, and injury. In order to claim damages, there must be a breach of the duty of the defendant towards the plaintiff, which results in an injury.”

In “Mediation In A Personal Injury Case,” Rawlings discusses how to mediate a personal injury case and what's involved in mediation and why it works. “Most cases are settled before trial, which is why mediation has become a critical aspect of the litigation environment,” stated Rawlings. “The beauty of mediation is, if you do not like the final offer, you can always walk away and go to trial.”

Chapters include What Is Mediation?, How Do You Determine Whether To Mediate Or Take A Personal Injury Case To Trial?, Tactics That The Defense Uses During Mediation, Tips For A Favorable Outcome and more.

“Mediation is a cooperative process. If each side is at war with the other, then each side will be more concerned about winning than about settling the case,” says Rawlings in the book. “When preparing for mediation, I always create a mediation brochure for the mediator, although the other side seldom does. I have had a number of mediators tell me that plaintiffs seldom do either. I do not understand this lack of preparation, given that 96 percent of cases will settle at mediation.”

Both books also include testimonials. Said Stephen K. Leatherman, attorney at law in Houston, “I have referred all my personal injury cases to Clay Rawlings for over 25 years and he never let me down. Clay is the most tenacious personal injury attorney I know, and what a superb, brilliant legal mind he has. There are very few attorneys that ever reach his caliber ... It is a true honor and privilege to work with him, and watch him work his magic in a courtroom.”