Reagan Sahadi is a tenacious, hardworking personal injury attorney who represents clients in wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases throughout Texas and the nation. Reagan Sahadi was raised in South Texas and comes from a family of entrepreneurs.
He received his bachelor’s in business administration from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas graduating Summa Cum Laude in 2001. He then attended the University of Houston Law Center graduating in 2005. Reagan returned home to Corpus Christi, Texas and began his law practice.
Reagan Sahadi has recovered millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients, including a $124 Million judgement against a negligent bus company in El Paso, Texas. Reagan is married to Dr. Mary Margaret Ara, M.D. and has three beautiful children. He enjoys family time, sports, working on his ranch and fishing.
We recently had an opportunity to talk to Reagan Sahadi and learn a little more about his background and how he built a successful personal injury law practice.
How did you get started?
I started out my law career in an insurance defense firm representing businesses and individuals who were sued but backed by big corporate insurance companies. However, it just didn’t “fit” my personality. I was mentally lost, not knowing if I even wanted to continue practicing law.
One Friday morning, my uncle, who is a dentist, was playing golf in Houston, Texas. He hit the golf ball and was walking back to the cart when the earth suddenly swallowed him up in a giant sinkhole. The only thing preventing him from dying in the sinkhole was that he extended out his right arm and shoulder to stop the fall. In doing so, he tore the ligaments in his arm and shoulder to the point where he could no longer practice dentistry. He tried to settle the claim with the golf course’s insurance company but to no avail. He asked me if I could help.
It was my first personal injury plaintiff’s case. It was at that point I had found my calling. I vigorously worked up the case against the golf course and discovered that a drainage pipe had become detached below the surface where the sinkhole began. I argued that that the golf course had actual knowledge of the beginnings of the sinkhole.
After more than eight months of hard work and effort, the golf course and its insurance company settled the lawsuit. My uncle was elated, and I knew that I was destined to practice personal injury law. I left the insurance defense business and went to work for a high-powered plaintiff’s firm.
What inspired you to start this business?
I worked for a really great plaintiff’s firm in Corpus Christi, Texas. The partners were young, eager, aggressive, and successful. I wanted to do what they did but on my own.
They inspired me to help the little guy and dream big.
How do you make money?
My firm works 100% on contingency fees in catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases. In other words, we agree to accept a percentage of what the client ultimately receives in the litigation.
However, if the client does not recover anything, we also do not take a fee. The better the client does, the better we do. It is a symbiotic partnership. The contingency fee model is also a great equalizer. It allows individuals to be represented by highly skilled attorneys without having to pay any money upfront or pay an hourly fee to the lawyer. The lawyer only gets paid in a contingency fee case at the end of the case and if he or she is successful and the client approves of the settlement and is satisfied.
How long did it take for you to become profitable?
Since personal injury lawsuits take roughly a year to work up and either become tried or settled, it took roughly a year to become profitable. Thank God for banks.
When you were starting out, was there ever a time you doubted it would work? If so, how did you handle that?
There is always the notion of self-doubt when starting a business venture. The key is to stay positive and always look forward. If you keep a positive attitude and work hard, typically, things will work out just fine.
How did you get your first client?
Roughly a month after I opened my doors, I received a call from a lady whose husband was traveling home on a motorcycle on highway 185 near Bloomington, Texas. A company pickup truck had pulled out of a side road from a nearby plant attempting to merge onto highway 185. However, the truck failed to yield to the motorcycle. The motorcyclist slammed into the back of the bed of the pickup truck and was thrown 60 feet. He sustained massive injuries and eventually had his leg amputated.
I diligently worked on this case and refused multiple settlement offers from the company. I wanted my client to have justice. On the eve of trial, the case settled. The clients were overjoyed. Although my client lost his leg, he and his wife were able to retire.
We remain very close to this day.
What is the toughest decision you’ve had to make in the last few months?
Whether or not to settle a case or continue jury selection. The client was tired and ready to go home. Although I didn’t want to settle the case, I listened to the client. The client’s interests are always paramount to what the attorney wants to do.
What do you think it is that makes you successful?
I work very well under pressure. Fear motivates me. Being second or being unsuccessful motivates me.
What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Obtaining a good settlement on behalf of my clients and seeing their satisfaction and happiness is the ultimate satisfaction.
I receive cards and letters from clients, and I frame them and place them in the conference room on a large wall. Often, if I am having a rough day, I will go and read those cards and letters to remind me of what our purpose is and what we try to accomplish for all of our clients. It is also satisfying to run a business and employ individuals who are just as motivated as I am to accomplish the task at hand.
What does the future hold for your business?
The personal injury and wrongful death business are changing. Tort reform and other regulations are squeezing out an individual’s opportunity to get to the courthouse. Recently, the Texas legislature passed House Bill 19, limiting the rights of victims of trucking negligence. Texas leads the nation in truck accidents. I can only hope that laws such as these don’t cause more negligence on Texas roads.
Connect with Reagan Sahadi
Website: https://reagansahadi.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reagan-sahadi/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reagan.sahadi
