Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer can be a difficult decision. To ensure the best result possible, it is vital that you find someone you can trust who will fight hard on your behalf to obtain compensation for you.
Searching for an attorney doesn’t need to be daunting! Make your search more manageable by getting recommendations from friends or family. Online reviews of local attorneys may also prove useful in narrowing your selection process.
Do Your Research
Hiring a personal injury attorney may seem daunting, but doing your research is crucial in selecting one who will best represent your interests in court or with insurance companies.
An excellent personal injury attorney will ensure you receive the full amount of compensation due to medical bills, lost wages and other expenses related to your injury. They can also help negotiate with insurance providers to expedite receiving an insurance payout payout.
When searching for an attorney, it’s essential that you check references from past customers as well as independent review sites for more detailed reviews from past customers.
Ask for Recommendations
Word-of-mouth referrals can be an invaluable asset when searching for the ideal personal injury lawyer. Ask family, friends and coworkers who have previously worked with any particular firm for recommendations.
Make sure that you inquire about a personal injury attorney’s experience handling cases similar to your own; this will give an idea of their overall expertise.
An additional factor is whether they possess trial experience. Although most personal injury claims settle prior to trial, if you opt to go that route it’s essential that your attorney possess extensive courtroom expertise.
Prior to making a final choice of lawyer, it’s wise to arrange for a free consultation in order to gain more information about them, their approach to cases and how they collaborate with clients.
Schedule a Free Consultation
Starting your case off right can be made simpler through a complimentary consultation. Many lawyers offer this opportunity for new clients so that they can introduce themselves and discuss the services available to them.
A competent personal injury attorney will take the time to discuss your case and help you understand what to expect during the legal process, their fees and how they operate.
At your consultation, it should be easy for you to ask any necessary questions that help determine whether it’s worth pursing your case. Your lawyer should ask whether there is documentation evidencing damages.
Your attorney should give an accurate estimation of how long it will take for your case to resolve, taking into account factors like insurance companies and complexity of case. He or she should give an honest and reliable estimation that is reflective of their experience.
Consider the Fees
Hiring a personal injury lawyer is both necessary and costly. Your attorney will likely charge either a percentage of any financial settlement they secure for you or an hourly rate as their fee.
Your attorney should include court filing fees, long-distance calls, copying expenses and investigative expenses in their fees. Before entering into any agreement with them, always inquire as to these additional costs.
Most personal injury attorneys operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid when they secure a successful settlement or award for their clients. Usually this percentage ranges between 33-37% of your final settlement; however, depending on your specific case and lawyer experience level it could change dramatically.
When considering the costs associated with hiring a personal injury attorney, it’s important to remember that these are standard costs included as part of your initial written agreement between yourself and your lawyer. As such, these should not be the deciding factor when hiring one.
