How Do I Choose the Best Personal Injury Lawyer in My Local Area?
According to previous research, there are over 681,000 lawyers in the US. So, with a myriad of options, how do you choose the best firm? How do you know who is going to produce the best results?
Not all lawyers are created equal. In reality, the personal injury lawyer you choose can make or break the success of your case.
When you’ve been hurt or lost a family member in a tragic accident, you would like to know that your case is being handled properly.
Keep reading to know how to choose the best personal injury attorney.
Table of Contents
Specialization
You should know if the attorney you are contracting specializes in personal injury. Like doctors specialize in their medical fields, lawyers specialize in their law fields.
A family doctor can’t handle a hip replacement. In the same way, a general attorney can’t handle your personal injury case.
On top of having experience in personal injury law, such lawyers are more likely to have a better reputation with insurance companies.
Your case will hold more weight in the negotiation stage when your attorney has a proven track record among insurance providers.
Do Your Due Diligence
When hiring a personal injury lawyer, you must first do your part. From the moment you’re in an accident, you must take steps to set yourself up for success later.
At the accident scene, ensure you take pictures, gather enough evidence, and talk to various witnesses at the scene of the accident. If you can’t take evidence due to catastrophic injuries, do so as soon as possible.
Then, ensure you file the needed paperwork, I.e., an accident report with the police. After completing this step, examine your case from an objective standpoint.
According to your findings, do you have a case? Is there enough evidence backing up your personal injury claim?
If so, you will need a personal injury lawyer, and your search for the best attorney has just begun.
Consider Their Law Firm
Note that not every law firm is the same. Some are small, some are large, and others do business in many states while others don’t.
Different law firms have different lawyers with varying experiences. By checking on a law firm, you will know about each lawyer working there.
Large law firms will have the resources to find expert witnesses. But, large law firms will often have larger workloads than smaller law firms.
Smaller law firms will have more individual time to cater to your personal injury case. But, they may not have the required resources for your case.
Nevertheless, the best law firm should handle and track your case records. Also, your lawyer has to be in a happy environment to offer the best service to you.
Check Their Fees
Often, a car accident attorney does not charge an hourly fee. Instead, they will charge you a percentage of the cash settlement or a contingency fee.
The lawyers will charge an average of 33-40%. So, in case you are in a bad car accident, consider finding an attorney within that range.
You should term any higher fees as a red flag.
Does the Attorney Litigate?
Any lawyer can stand in front of the judge and jury. But, if your case goes to court, you need an attorney with court experience.
Only a small percentage of accidents end up in court. But, if you experience a personal injury keeping you away from work, you need to prepare if the case goes to court.
You require a lawyer experienced in case litigation on your side. The lawyer will not back down from negotiating your settlement and will take further action if needed.
The Lawyer’s Aggressiveness to Represent Clients
Lawyers usually come head to head during personal injury cases with insurance companies’ legal teams. Such teams have the experience, and their main aim is to ensure you won’t receive your compensation.
Personal injury lawyers have to represent you aggressively to ensure that does not happen. If your lawyer doesn’t usually fight tooth and nail for justice, they may not win your case.
So, ensure you gauge your potential lawyer’s tenacity and commitment level before committing.
Lawyer Credentials
Your personal injury lawyer should have a legal training degree. But, besides the normal degree, what other credentials does your personal injury lawyer has?
Do they have any awards in their bag? Has your lawyer received any recognition in their field in the recent past?
The Lawyer’s Fee Structure
Always understand a lawyer’s fee structure before committing. Different firms and lawyers have varying fee schedules. Be clear about them so that you can:
- Avoid any unwanted fee-related surprises
- Compare lawyer fees
Most personal injury lawyers often work on a contingency basis. You will only pay when the lawyer wins the case.
In such cases, fees come out of the settlement you receive. But, remember that there are lawyer’s fees that you will need to cater for even though you lost the case.
Such expenses may include availing expert witnesses, court-related expenses, and many more. Always ensure you understand your responsibility before signing a contingency agreement.
Reading Reviews
When browsing the web for personal injury lawyers, ensure you read their client reviews. Due to the prevalence of online website reviews, it’s now easier to know if a lawyer has good experience in their field.
Often, you will get reviews under business listings on various search engines.
Pay close attention to star ratings, but ensure you read individual reviews to see if they apply to your situation.
Also, you can consult with family or friends who engaged in personal injury lawyers in the past.
Find the Best Personal Injury Lawyer
The above points will help you find the best personal injury lawyer. Act fast to have the best chance of receiving your compensation.
Though it seems overwhelming, finding a good lawyer won’t be hard once you know what to look for and where.
We hope you’ve learned something helpful. Check the other blog posts for more useful tips.