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<p>Do you have any specific facts to back that up? Because it’s not consistent with my experience.</p>
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<p>Why not? History is replete with examples of people risking – or even sacraficing – their lives and health in order to realize their legal rights.</p>
<p>What if you had been at the Old North Bridge back on April 19, 1775? Would you have said “Hey boys, let’s not risk our lives and health to stand up for our rights.”</p>
<p>Anyway, I encourage you to look around your house, car, and workplace for all the wonderful safety devices in place. And then thank a lawyer for building codes, worker’s compensation laws, and auto industry regulation.</p>
<p>Just last night, I met a client at a local hotel to give her a settlement check. While I was waiting, I noticed workers installing panic bars on the doors to the main banquet hall. Simple devices that ensure the hall can be evacuated quickly and safely if there is a fire or other emergency. Why do hotels install such devices? Because of building codes, and also because their insurance companies make them pay attention to these things in order to avoid big payouts on lawsuits.</p>
<p>I drove my car home. It is equipped with multiple airbags, anti-lock brakes, a steering collumn and foot controls that are designed to collapse in the event of a serious collision, and numerous other safety features. The gas tank is located so as to reduce the chance it will be punctured if somebody runs in to me. Why do car manufacturers do all this stuff? Because of safety regulations and because of fear of lawsuits.</p>
<p>Watch the news and look at some third word ****-hole that doesn’t have rule of law. In such countries, disputes are settled not with lawyers but with AK-47’s. A minor earthquake can kill thousands of people because building codes are weak, non-existent, or unenforced. Since contracts cannot be adequately enforced, nobody will invest significant resources and the economies of these places are poor. A side effect is that medical care in poor countries tends to be a lot worse than in wealthy countries.</p>
<p>So when you ask me how many lives have been saved by lawyers, I am proud to tell you that we have saved millions.</p>
<p>Just my humble opinion, of course.</p>