When you’ve been injured in an accident, you need a personal injury lawyer who will fight for you and get you the compensation you deserve.
Most people don’t know how to choose a personal injury lawyer, but there are a few things you can keep in mind that will help you make the best decision.
Table of Contents
- 1. Know What a Personal Injury Lawyer will Do for you
- 2. Choosing a Lawyer Who Handles Your Type of Case
- 3. Verify the Attorney is Licensed to Practice Law
- 4. Choose a Lawyer Who Works on Contingency
- 5. Get a Free Consultation
- 6. Ask About Their Success Rate
- 7. Ask Questions as Many as You can
- 8. Interview Multiple Lawyers
- 9. Choose Someone You Feel Comfortable With
- 10. Don’t Wait Too Long
- Final Thought
1. Know What a Personal Injury Lawyer will Do for you
A personal injury lawyer will begin by listening to you describe your story in its entirety before deciding whether or not you have a case, and if so, how strong your case is. While you’re deciding whether or not to engage a lawyer, they’re deciding whether or not to accept your case.
If you both want to go further, the lawyer will likely do some research to find out more about your story and the facts surrounding it. Once they know all they can, they’ll give you an idea of how much your case is worth and what you can expect in terms of a settlement or jury verdict.
One of the most important things a personal injury lawyer will do for you is to negotiate with the insurance company. Insurance companies have a team of adjusters and lawyers whose job is to minimize the amount they pay out on claims, and they’re good at it.
A personal injury lawyer knows how to deal with insurance companies, and will fight to get you the full compensation you deserve.
Another important thing a personal injury lawyer will do for you is to handle all the paperwork and red tape that comes with an accident claim. There’s a lot of it, and it can be confusing. Your lawyer will take care of it so you can focus on healing.
2. Choosing a Lawyer Who Handles Your Type of Case
You should always seek an experienced lawyer to handle your personal injury claim.
A lawyer who has been handling these types of cases for many years will know the ins and outs of the legal system and will be able to get you the best possible outcome.
There are many different types of personal injury cases, and not all lawyers handle all types of cases.
If you’ve been in a car accident, you’ll want to find a lawyer who specializes in car accidents. The same goes for other types of accidents, such as slip and fall accidents or medical malpractice.
Make sure you find a lawyer who has experience handling the type of accident you’ve been in.
3. Verify the Attorney is Licensed to Practice Law
You should always verify that the attorney you’re considering is licensed to practice law in your state. You can do this by contacting your state’s bar association.
You can also check the attorney’s record to see if he or she has been disciplined by the state bar association.
You should also take some time to research the lawyer’s background and experience. You can do this by checking out their website or looking for online reviews.
4. Choose a Lawyer Who Works on Contingency
You should also choose a lawyer who works on contingency. This means that the lawyer will only get paid if you win your case. If you lose, you won’t owe the lawyer anything.
Contingency fees are typically a percentage of the final settlement, so you’ll want to make sure you understand how this works before hiring a lawyer.
5. Get a Free Consultation
Most personal injury lawyers offer free consultations, so take advantage of this. This is your chance to sit down with the lawyer and get to know them. You can ask them questions about their experience and how they would handle your case. You should also use this opportunity to see if you feel comfortable with the lawyer. If you don’t, then you can move on to someone else.
6. Ask About Their Success Rate
It’s important to choose a personal injury lawyer who has the experience and a good success rate. Ask the lawyer about their success rate to get an idea of how likely you are to win your case.
The higher the success rate, the better chance you have of winning your case and getting the compensation you deserve.
7. Ask Questions as Many as You can
You need to know the lawyer’s experience, fees, personality, and success rate…by asking questions and communicating. These are all important factors that will help you decide if the lawyer is right for you.
Don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you need to in order to make an informed decision. Your case is important, so you need to make sure you have the best possible representation.
For example, you can ask:
- How much do you charge?
- What is your success rate?
- How many cases like mine have you handled?
- What are the deadlines for filing a claim?
- What are the next steps?
Make sure you understand everything about the lawyer before making your final decision.
8. Interview Multiple Lawyers
You should interview multiple lawyers before choosing one to represent you. This will give you a chance to compare different options and find the best lawyer for your case.
When you’re ready to take the next step, contact a personal injury lawyer to get started on your claim.
9. Choose Someone You Feel Comfortable With
The most important thing is that you feel comfortable with the lawyer and believe they will fight for you and get you the compensation you deserve. If you have any doubts, then it’s best to move on to someone else.
You’ll be working closely with this person, so you need to make sure you have a good rapport.
You should also make sure the lawyer is someone you can trust. They should be honest with you about your case and give you realistic expectations.
10. Don’t Wait Too Long
Once you’ve been in an accident, you should contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.
There are deadlines for filing a claim, so if you wait too long, you may miss your chance to get the compensation you deserve. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask your lawyer. They should be able to put your mind at ease and help you through this process.
Final Thought
The first thing you want to do is find a lawyer who has experience handling personal injury cases. You can ask friends or family for recommendations, or you can look online for reviews. Once you’ve found a few potential lawyers, you should set up consultations with each one.
Take your time, do your research, and ask plenty of questions. This way, you can be sure you’re choosing the best possible personal injury lawyer for your case.