When pursuing a reasonable settlement, having the right personal injury lawyers to handle your case is critical. It doesn’t matter if you received injuries in a car wreck or something went wrong during surgery—the strength of your lawsuit is only as good as your legal representative.
It’s easy enough for an attorney to flash some cash to get a professional-looking website. As the client, how do you know that a particular personal injury attorney has the experience to back up the claims on that flashy site? In this post, we examine that question to help you narrow down your options.
Ask Trusted Friends Who Their Personal Injury Lawyers Are
Word of mouth recommendations are among the most reliable forms of advertising. Speak to someone whom you know well and whom you trust about their experiences with lawyers. Ask for a referral to an attorney with whom they’ve had success and find out their perspectives about how the attorney did on the case.
If you’re unsure whom to ask, speak to someone you know who is well-connected in your community, such as the pastor at your church or a local business owner. People who are involved in the community usually know and hear much that is good or bad about the reputations of various firms.
Do Your Research
Once you have a short-list of names, take your search online. Look for reviews of each firm, both glowing and negative ones. You may expect some negative comments, but the good should always outweigh the bad.
Head over to the bar association for the state in which you had the accident. Attorneys must register with these agencies. Check that your chosen candidate is in good standing and fully licensed to operate in the state in question.
The association will provide details of bar status and any disciplinary actions it has taken against the firm.
Have a look at the lawyer’s website and see what kinds of cases they take on. Don’t be swayed by the verdict numbers they display on their site, as your case might not be a close match to any of them.
When you’re ready, contact the office for an initial consultation.
What Training and Experience do They Have?
Research the attorney’s training and how long they’ve been in practice. Which cases do they deal with most often? Have they handled issues similar to yours or for the same kinds of settlements?
Who Will Deal With Your Case?
It often comes as a nasty shock to clients when they learn that their attorney won’t handle their cases personally. During the initial consultation, establish who’ll be doing the legwork and who’ll represent you.
Some firms hire out litigation work. Should they start off by not talking to you personally, it’s a bad sign. Reputable lawyers take the time to meet their clients.
Ensure that the person in the firm you meet will be the one to see the case through to the end.
Talk About Fees Before You Sign a Contract
A reputable firm will provide a written list of the fees and encourage you to review the contract thoroughly. Understanding what the attorney will charge you upfront is essential.
Most lawyers in this field work on a contingency basis. That means they’ll do the work based upon the premise that they will win the settlement and will receive a percentage of it. But don’t assume that no recovery means no legal fees. Less reputable firms will have loopholes in contracts allowing them to bill you for unexpected expenses. Find out the details ahead of time to prevent any surprises.
How Will You Measure the Progress and Decide When to End It?
Some firms pay more attention to closing quickly than tending to the best interests of their clients. Some attorneys promise to fight for you and then opt to settle because a juicier case has come along. In the very beginning, hash out what will determine the “win.”
Do You Get Along?
Spending so much time together means the two of you must get along. Speaking to the attorney, do you like and trust them? If you don’t, how will the jury react if the case goes to litigation?
The law is open to interpretation in many cases. Personal injury suits don’t always come down to the strictest interpretation of the facts, but rather how your attorney presents them. Choose a personable lawyer who has the confidence and charisma to convince a jury that your cause is fair and just.
Heed Your Instincts
Such cases can entail a long journey together. An attorney that genuinely cares about you will give you an accurate rundown of the case’s strong and weak points. Firms with their client’s best interests at heart provide the customer with all the facts without guaranteeing a win.
If what the lawyer says sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Heed your instincts and keep looking.
Do You Require the Services of Experienced Personal Injury Lawyers?
We can help you, so please be sure to consider us when doing your research. Please speak to us today and schedule your appointment. Our team will evaluate the merits of your case and give you an honest assessment of its potential. Call (510) 328-3238.
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