Shawn Simms on Personal Injury Law and Empowering Clients

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I chat with Shawn Simms, a personal injury attorney who also dabbles in stock trading. Shawn shares that his passion for personal injury law stems from a deeply personal experience. His mother suffered a serious foot injury during a 12-hour reconstructive surgery. The injury was caused by a lack of circulation due to an anesthesiologist’s error. This incident, and the challenges his family faced in seeking representation, motivated him to focus on helping others navigate similar situations.

Shawn explains that personal injury law is unique because it exclusively represents individuals injured through no fault of their own—or at least less than 50% at fault. He describes the barriers plaintiffs face due to tort reform, such as the costly requirement of obtaining a screening certificate of merit before filing a medical malpractice suit. This, he says, can discourage many from pursuing justice.

Shawn joined the West Virginia Association for Justice even before starting his legal career. He emphasizes the organization’s commitment to access to justice and its opposition to tort reform and other barriers that hinder plaintiffs from having their day in court.

We also talk about the broader landscape of law. Shawn outlines the main distinctions between litigation and transactional law, as well as civil and criminal law. He notes that while his firm focuses exclusively on personal injury cases, it avoids worker’s compensation due to the complexities and challenges in that field.

When asked about the complexities of legal work, Shawn likens both law school and practicing law to “drinking from a fire hose.” He explains that while law school teaches critical thinking and argumentation, practical experience is where attorneys truly learn the intricacies of client representation.

As our conversation wraps up, Shawn reflects on his first Meet Up 64 event and the energy of young professionals collaborating to make West Virginia a better place. His dedication to his work and the community shines through, leaving listeners inspired to hustle smart and with purpose.