How to Choose the Best Personal Injury Lawyer For You
If you have been injured in an accident or due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. However, choosing the right personal injury lawyer can be a daunting task. Here are some tips to help you choose the best personal injury lawyer for your case:
Look for Experience
When it comes to personal injury cases, experience matters. Look for a lawyer who has experience handling cases similar to yours. Ask about their success rate and the outcomes of similar cases they have handled.
Many lawyers handle all types of cases, from divorce cases, to criminal cases, to injury cases. However, if you have suffered a severe injury, it is usually best to hire a lawyer who solely handles injury cases. Lawyers who solely practice personal injury law have a deep understanding of the applicable laws and their law firms have systems in place to effectively and efficiently handle your injury case.
Check Their Reputation
A lawyer’s reputation can give you a good idea of their abilities and track record. Check online reviews, testimonials, and ratings from previous clients. Ask friends, family, and other attorneys for their recommendations.
There are several sources to verify a lawyer’s reputation. Websites such as Avvo, Justia, and Expertise provide reliable information about attorneys, including client reviews, peer reviews, and other trustworthy information. In addition, the most coveted award for lawyers is being selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America. Check to see whether the lawyer has this mark of distinction.
Evaluate Their Communication Skills
A good personal injury lawyer should be a good communicator. They should be able to explain the legal process to you in plain language and keep you informed about the progress of your case. Look for a lawyer who is responsive to your calls and emails.
Communication is imperative to a healthy attorney-client relationship. While personal injury lawyers are extremely busy, they should always take the time to return your call or reply to your email within 48 hours unless they are in a trial.
Are They Local?
It’s important that your attorney be familiar with the “venue” in which your accident occurred. Insurance companies routinely make unreasonably low settlement offers. If that happens with your claim, then your case may have to be litigated in the court system. In the vast majority of those cases, the case will be litigated in the court system of the county in which the accident occurred.
Therefore, the lawyer you choose should preferably have experience litigating cases in the county in which your accident occurred. Familiarity with the local rules, procedures, defense counsel, and judges is an important factor when considering how to choose the best personal injury lawyer for your case.
Consider Their Resources
Personal injury cases can be complex and require a significant amount of resources to investigate and prepare. Look for a lawyer who has the resources necessary to handle your case effectively, including access to medical experts, accident investigators, and other professionals.
In addition, evaluate their support staff, including paralegals and legal assistants. A healthy personal injury law firm requires a significant amount of work by trained support staff to properly handle a client’s case.
Schedule a Free Consultation
Many personal injury lawyers offer free consultations. Take advantage of this opportunity to meet with the lawyer and ask questions about your case. Use this time to evaluate the lawyer’s communication skills, experience, and overall fit for your case.
In other words, you should be “interviewing” the lawyer and his or her law firm. You have the right to choose the best personal injury lawyer for you. If something doesn’t feel right, then move on and keep searching.
Discuss Fees
Personal injury lawyers typically work on a contingency fee basis, which means they only get paid if you win your case. However, it’s important to discuss the lawyer’s fees upfront and understand what percentage of your settlement or award they will take. Review our blog post about contingency fees to better understand legal fees in personal injury cases.
Choosing the right personal injury lawyer can make all the difference in the outcome of your case. By following these tips, you can find a lawyer who has the experience, reputation, resources, and communication skills necessary to help you get the compensation you deserve.