Selecting a competent personal injury lawyer is a critical choice that you must make wisely. If you sustained an injury, having a personal injury attorney can boost the chances of success for your personal injury case. A skilled lawyer with ample trial experience can help you claim fair compensation from the person or organization responsible for your injury.
Finding a personal injury lawyer can be a challenging process, yet there are proactive steps you can take to make the search easier. Find out what questions you need to ask a lawyer during the initial consultation before hiring an attorney. Discover which law firm offers a free consultation for potential clients who need legal assistance with a personal injury claim.
How Do I Choose a Good Personal Injury Lawyer?
Whether you got hurt because of a car accident, product defect, medical malpractice, or sexual assault, it can be an overwhelming task to pick the right personal lawyer. Nevertheless, you can find the right attorney for your case if you follow these tips:
Tip No. 1: Search for Lawyers on the Internet
You can use the internet to get an overview of the existing law firms in your city, town, or state. Many legal practices have websites summarizing their legal services, the types of cases they specialize in, and who belongs to their legal team. You can also form a general idea of attorneys’ reputations through rating websites featuring peer reviews from their fellow lawyers and competitors in the legal industry.
Tip No. 2: Request for Lawyer Recommendations From Your Social Circle
Ask for referrals from your relatives and colleagues who have previously required the services of a personal injury lawyer. A clear account of their first-hand experiences related to their personal injury claim will enlighten you on how skilled the attorneys are and how helpful they were to their clients as they handled the case. You can gauge the satisfaction level of your family members and friends based on their direct stories about the law firm.
Tip No. 3: Choose the Factors That Are Important to You
There may be plenty of good lawyers available in your area, but the one who can meet your unique legal needs will depend on the factors you prioritize. These are some of the factors you need to consider:
- The type of injury you sustained
- The kind of personal injury the lawyer specializes in
- How many years of experience the attorney has
- How many similar cases the lawyer has previously handled
- How big or small the law firm is
- The professional qualifications of the lawyer
- Whether the attorney is currently available to take on your case or not
- The track record of the lawyer
- The legal payment arrangements
Tip No. 4: Look for Attorneys That Specialize in Your Type of Personal Injury Case
Although the other factors will play a role in your decision-making, one essential aspect that should influence which attorney you hire is the kind of injury you sustained. You must narrow your search to law firms specializing in similar personal injury cases. While certain attorneys are adept at handling vehicular accidents, others focus more on sexual assault cases. In the same way that some lawyers are experts at medical malpractice claims, others concentrate more on slip and fall accidents.
Tip No. 5: Evaluate the Professional Qualifications of Lawyers
Real-world expertise is a big advantage for attorneys, yet the foundation of their career is their education and credentials. You must hire a lawyer who has completed and passed the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), studied law at a school accredited by the American Bar Association, and has passed the state bar exam. You should also confirm that the attorney has board certification in personal injury litigation.
Tip No. 6: Check the Lawyer’s Availability
Competent lawyers, especially those who have gained popularity because of their success in difficult cases, are usually in demand. Even if you find a prospect who fits the mold of your ideal attorney, you cannot automatically guarantee that the lawyer is currently free to take on your case. Find out if the attorney is available to take your case before stopping your search.
Tip No. 7: Make a Shortlist of Attorneys
Based on your type of injury, the law firm’s specialization, and other critical factors, create a shortlist of lawyers who meet most of your criteria. To avoid wasting time, make sure to perform the necessary research to trim down your list before you book a consultation with your potential choices. After all, each evaluation of your personal injury claim can be a lengthy process.
Tip No. 8: Schedule an Initial Consultation With Lawyers
Contact the lawyers on your shortlist to schedule a consultation, which may be free, depending on the law firm. The lawyer will ask you to give an overview of your case and share information about your injury. They may also ask you to provide supporting evidence and documents for analysis.
Keep in mind that this process is a two-way street. The attorney can decide to take on your personal injury case or not, based on the assessment of the likelihood of the potential success of your case. You can also choose whether or not to hire this lawyer depending on their capacity to meet your legal needs.
5 Questions To Ask Before Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney
Before hiring a personal injury lawyer, you must ask some key questions to determine if the attorney is a good match for your case:
Question No. 1: Does the Lawyer Have a Track Record of Success?
While a lawyer’s credentials are consequential, their track record will prove their ability to apply their legal knowledge in actual personal injury claims. You should pick a lawyer with an impressive success rate in winning cases similar to yours. Their record for winning other people’s cases will be a good indication of whether or not they can help you win yours.
Question No. 2: What Percentage Does the Personal Injury Lawyer Usually Take?
Different lawyers have different payment arrangements. Some legal professionals receive payment for personal injury cases based on contingency fees. Other legal professionals do not require an upfront fee, but they reserve the right to claim a portion of your claim once you receive it.
Clarify payment matters from the start by confirming what percentage the attorney typically requires. Ensure that the personal injury lawyer you are interested in hiring offers the kind of payment arrangement that is preferable to you.
Question No. 3: How Many Years of Experience Does the Attorney Have With Personal Injury Cases?
The length and depth of experience that a lawyer has with personal injury claims can have a major impact on the final results of your case. A seasoned attorney better understands the nuances of personal injury matters and how the legal system works concerning these cases. A veteran lawyer will also have more resources at their disposal, like relationships with doctors or other professionals that can offer testimonies to help strengthen your case.
Question No. 4: Does the Lawyer Have Trial Experience?
Not all personal injury attorneys regularly try cases in court. That’s why you need to verify if a lawyer has jury trial experience and how extensive this experience is. A lawyer who is adept at court lawsuits can make a difference in the insurance company’s settlement offer. The insurance company is more likely to offer you a better amount if they know the lawyer representing you is willing and prepared to go to court.
Question No. 5: Does the Attorney Belong to a Legal Organization That Represents Personal Injury Victims?
A clear sign of a lawyer’s dedication to the representation of injured persons is membership in one or more national and state organizations that focus on personal injury victims. Aside from organizing lobbying activities to promote consumer rights, such associations usually initiate or sponsor legal education programs and law publications.