Most people never anticipate ever needing a personal injury lawyer. Unfortunately, accidents take place every day, and the victims are often people who have done nothing wrong. An accident is, by definition, something you can’t prepare for. However, you can plan what you will do after the fact. One of the smartest things you can do to ensure that your rights are protected after being injured in an accident through no fault of your own is to partner with the right legal representative for your situation. Before you can do that though, you need to know what to look for when choosing a personal injury lawyer.
Doing your due diligence and knowing what questions you should ask can make a huge difference in the outcome of your case; from the amount of stress you will face to how much compensation you will be able to recover from your damages. It is essential to select a lawyer who has the skill, knowledge, experience, and resources to achieve a successful resolution to your personal injury case.
If you were harmed in a personal injury accident caused by someone else’s negligence, our nationwide personal injury lawyers can help you prove fault, and pursue the financial compensation you need for your medical expenses and other damages. Call us today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
How Do I Choose the Best Personal Injury Lawyer for My Case?
There are several things that you should look for when evaluating and researching lawyers for your personal injury case. They are:
How Much Experience Do You Have?
The lawyer who has the best chance of getting you the outcome you are seeking is the one with the most experience. An experienced attorney will know how to overcome common roadblocks, from proving the total amount of damages you incurred to knowing how to circumvent the manipulative tactics used by insurance companies to minimize your payout. A personal injury lawyer who has years or even decades of experience has likely handled other cases similar to yours and knows the most effective way to see it through.
Some questions that can help you determine your potential lawyer’s level of experience are:
- Do you specialize in personal injury cases or do you practice more than one type of law?
- How long have you been practicing personal injury law?
- What percentage of your cases go to trial?
- Have you won any professional or leadership awards in trial lawyer or personal injury associations?
- Do you have prior experience handling my specific type of case? For instance, if your case involves a traumatic brain injury, do they have a track record of winning traumatic brain injury cases?
What is Your Win/Loss Ratio?
Just because a lawyer has been practicing personal injury law for years does not mean they are necessarily successful. For example, they might have a reputation for accepting lowball settlement offers from insurance adjusters, or they could have made a name for themselves by winning extremely challenging, high-value cases.
When you are considering a specific lawyer, be sure to look at their case results and don’t be afraid to ask questions, such as:
- How many multi-million-dollar verdicts or settlements have you recovered for your clients?
- How much experience do you have winning cases involving wrongful deaths and catastrophic injuries? If all of their case wins involve minor injuries and you are dealing with something major, that may not be the best lawyer for you.
- Have you won any awards for your verdicts or settlements?
Be Aware of How They Interact With You
Trust your instincts. Attorney/client relationships are important, so make sure that the way they treat you and how they tell you they will handle your case are both something you’re okay with.
Pay attention to things like:
- Are they willing and able to answer your questions?
- How quickly do they return your calls and emails?
- Are they professional and friendly?
- Are they good at communicating? For example, do they explain legal concepts in a way you can understand?
- Are they willing to meet you at home or in the hospital to accommodate your injuries?
- Are they genuinely concerned about your well-being?
What Payment Model Do You Use?
Most personal injury attorneys operate on a contingency fee. This means that their fee is contingent upon them winning your case. Before you sign anything, make sure that this is the case because although a contingency arrangement is common, there are other payment structures used by many lawyers.
Some questions to ask are:
- Do they offer potential clients a free case evaluation?
- Do they operate on a contingency fee? This is sometimes called a no-win, no-fee arrangement.
What Additional Resources Do You Have Available?
Do not overlook whether or not your prospective attorney has additional resources available to them. Many personal injury lawyers offer a high degree of outside assistance through the different stages of a case, which makes the experience less stressful and gives you a greater chance of success.
You can ask questions such as:
- Do you have a personal network of healthcare professionals who can help me get the treatment I need?
- Do they have a personal network of expert witnesses, such as medical experts and accident reconstruction experts, who can substantiate your claim?
- Are they willing to help you find a doctor who will work on a lien? This allows your medical bills to be taken out of your verdict or settlement rather than going to collections.
- Can they help you with additional services associated with your case, like property damage valuation?
Talk to a Personal Injury Lawyer Today
After being injured due to someone else’s negligence, you might find yourself wondering if you really need a personal injury attorney. The answer is yes, you do. The opposing party in your case, the person who caused your injuries or their insurer, is going to do everything in their power to either prove you were at fault for the accident or pay out the smallest settlement possible.
Insurance adjusters are highly trained in numerous underhanded tactics designed to save their employers as much money as possible. In order to get the financial compensation to which you are entitled, you are going to need a personal injury attorney with experience and skill; one who can thoroughly investigate your case, establish fault, and fight for maximum compensation on your behalf through settlement negotiations or in court.
If you were injured through no fault of your own and are seeking qualified legal representation, contact the nationwide personal injury lawyers at Local Accident Reports as soon as possible. Call us at (888) 657-1460 to schedule your free consultation.