A Conversation with Andy Bottinick
Attorney
What was your background before joining Carter Mario Injury Lawyers?
Before joining the firm, I had just finished up a career in the Merchant Marines. I graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at King’s Point, New York. For a number of years, I sailed on merchant marine ships around the world, obtaining my master’s license along the way. If you go into my office, I have a large wall map that is marked with all of the areas I have sailed to. I also spent 10 years in the U.S. Navy Reserves and achieved the rank of lieutenant. Afterward, I got my law degree and came on board with Carter Mario Injury Lawyers.
I understand you have been with Carter Mario Injury Lawyers the longest of any employee—since 1993. Tell us how the firm has grown and changed from when you first started.
When I first arrived, CMIL was a small, full-service law firm with seven employees overall. What attracted me originally was the vision that Carter had for the firm’s future. I knew from the beginning that he was passionate about creating a law firm like no other in the state, one supported by strong oversight and management systems that create value in our clients’ files, as well as a strong focus on customer service, which was unheard of from law firms at the time. Instead of general practice, we concentrate on personal injury, workers’ compensation, Social Security Disability, and medical malpractice. We felt it was better to specialize and become experienced in a few specific areas of the law than to try and do it all. After all, you wouldn’t go to your family doctor for brain surgery! By concentrating our efforts on personal injury, our success has made us one of the top injury law firms in the state. Today we have close to 60 employees and we recently opened our fifth office.
Do you think the size of the firm scares people away?
The fact that our firm continues to grow and that we represent people from every demographic in Connecticut would lead me to believe it does not. Originally, because we do a lot of TV advertising, we appealed more to the average citizen, meaning people who don’t belong to a social network where they might know an attorney. They would see our commercials on TV and feel like we were someone they could trust. Now, because of our excellent work product, our emphasis on customer service, and our growing reputation as the top injury law firm in the state, we have clients from every walk of life. Many of the doctors we work with refer not only their clients, but their friends and family members as well. A large number of our new clients come from past client referrals, which is a testament in itself.
What one thing are you most proud of at Carter Mario Injury Lawyers?
Definitely the customer service we offer our clients. We are blessed here with a culture that allows us to go beyond the call of duty to help out a person in need without having to get permission from management. For instance, recently a case manager went to sign up a new client at his home and discovered his girlfriend (who was also involved in the accident) had a job interview in just 30 minutes. Unfortunately, something had happened with her car, and she had no way of getting there. Our staff member drove her to the job interview (which she would have missed), waited for her, and then brought her back home. He even followed up a few days later to find out that she had gotten the job! That is the kind of “above and beyond” customer service that clients experience at Carter Mario Injury Lawyers.
It sounds like you enjoy work. Tell us a bit about your personal life. What gets you motivated?
My family. I enjoy spending time with my kids and being involved in their lives. I have three children who keep me very busy. My youngest daughter has a physical disability that makes daily activity difficult, but you would never know it by speaking to her. Her personality is extraordinary. My two older children are great students and great soccer players, which fills me with pride. I have coached both their teams in soccer for the last 10 years. A lot of people look at me and don’t see my “athletic” side, since to look at me, I am not perceived as “fleet of foot.” However, a few years ago when I coached my daughter’s team to a state championship, the crowd changed their minds. As everyone knows, it is a tradition to douse the winning coach with whatever fluid is on hand at the end of the game. I was able to outrun my team of thirteen-year-old girls to their chagrin and the amusement of the spectators!
I heard you are also very involved in your local community.
Currently, I am chairman of the Naugatuck Police Commission. We are basically the watchdogs of the police department. It is my job to review civilian complaints, hire and fire officers, prepare and review the budget, etc. Knowing the law is helpful in my duties and it has been an honor to help my community. I also have had the pleasure of playing Santa Claus for the last two years for our town. Growing up in the Jewish faith, this was not something I never dreamed of doing, but it has been a lot of fun wearing the big red suit.
What is the most important thing you have learned at Carter Mario Injury Lawyers?
Every client deserves the best you can offer. It is an easy thing to say, but a hard thing to accomplish. However, with the training and support our staff receives, we not only deliver a top result on the legal end, but we treat our clients like family, with the respect and attention they deserve. Too many times over the years I have received a call from a person who is currently represented by another attorney, but who wants to switch to us. During these conversations, I determine that the attorney has done a good technical job on the file, but has failed to communicate this to the client or connect on a personal level. The client has no idea what is going on and feels disconnected with the process. Our clients are part of the process and understand what is going on in their case the entire time. From the case manager who calls the client every two weeks to my monthly update, they know what is happening. It is a wonderful feeling to meet with the clients at the end of their settlement and have them thank me and our staff for being there for them and making them feel like they matter. They do matter. Without them, we wouldn’t be here.
Free Case Evaluation
At Carter Mario, we are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We guarantee your phone calls will be returned that day, or lunch is on us! Clients come first for all of our Connecticut personal injury lawyers, and we strive to provide excellent representation to injury victims throughout the state, including Bridgeport, Hartford, Milford, New Britain, and Waterbury. Call us at (800) 900-6700 or fill out a free online consultation form.
The Connecticut injury lawyers at Carter Mario represent clients with injuries stemming from auto accidents, dog bites, drug injuries, fire and burn injuries, medical malpractice, Social Security Disability denials, slip and fall accidents, truck accidents, workers’ compensation denials, as well as the families of wrongful death victims.
