Before you sign any contract with a personal injury lawyer, discuss the attorney’s fees.
Hiring the best personal injury lawyer can be the difference between securing a fair settlement or agonizing under the weight of lost wages and medical bills. Finding the right lawyer is critical, whether you suffer from a fall or are involved in a car accident.
While it might seem complex and daunting, it is vital to find and hire the best attorney to file and represent you in your personal injury claim. Working with an experienced personal injury lawyer maximizes your chances of a positive outcome.
So, how do you get the best personal injury lawyer for your case? Here are some tips for you.
Start with referrals
The easiest and quickest way to find a good personal injury lawyer is through a referral, perhaps from family or friends. Ask them if they know of an excellent personal injury lawyer who can help you process your claim.
It’s a plus if the family member or friend has worked with the lawyer. This way, they’ll share their experiences, and you can decide if the lawyer is a good fit for your case.
Furthermore, someone close to you will always recommend a good lawyer to help you without bias.
Choose a lawyer that has experience in your type of case
Experience is crucial when looking for an attorney. Lawyers specialize in different areas of the law. While you may find some who claim to be experts in every field, working with an attorney specializing in personal injury cases can make a difference.
You want a personal injury lawyer with substantial knowledge, resources, and skills in personal injury law.
“An attorney can be a great advocate in representing you in a personal injury case,” says Emmanuel Olawale, a personal injury attorney based in Westerville, OH. “However, you should find an injury lawyer with extensive experience and consistent success in handling personal injury cases.”
Taking specialization further, you want a personal injury lawyer who deals with your particular type of personal injury claim. For instance, your personal injury may be related to a slip and fall accident, car accident, medical malpractice, and construction accidents, among others.
You should ask the lawyer if and how they’ve handled similar cases in the past and success stories.
Expand your search
Don’t limit your search to referrals or a single source to find a good lawyer for your personal injury case. Instead, create a list of good lawyers and filter through it until you find the right attorney for your case.
You can find good lawyers from Google search or lawyer directories, then narrow down the list to the most suitable for your case. When conducting your research, check for essential information, including;
- Education level
- Accolades
- Practice areas
- Professional memberships
- Licenses
- Bar affiliations
Then create a shortlist of 3-5 suitable attorneys to contact.
Consider local personal injury lawyers
Personal injury laws vary by state. Therefore, you want a personal injury lawyer who is conversant with your state’s laws and legal processes.
Moreover, a lawyer with established credibility and reputation in your area will be a better fit to handle your case.
Working with a personal injury lawyer near you gives you peace of mind because you know where to find them when needed.
Go through past client reviews
The only way to understand the lawyer-client relationships is through reviews. In this day and age, a good lawyer should have a website where clients can leave reviews about their services and experiences.
Go through almost all the reviews to understand how it feels like working with the lawyer. However, take note of filtered reviews, although it’s a rare encounter these days.
Consider personal injury lawyers with more positive reviews from past clients. However, don’t forget to pay attention to the negative reviews as well.
Schedule consultations
While you’ll find more than enough information about a particular personal injury lawyer, organize to meet them in person and ask a few questions.
Most lawyers offer free consultations, so meeting with them to ask a few questions won’t cost you anything other than your time. Before walking into their office, give them a call and book an appointment.
During the consultation, you get to know each other well. Your lawyer will also inquire about your case and offer some legal advice.
After the consultation, you should rate the personal injury lawyer on various aspects, including;
- Effective communication
- Honesty and openness — do you feel comfortable opening up to them about everything concerning your claim?
- Listening skills — the lawyer needs to listen to you before offering advice or services.
- Respect and compassion
Be clear with the fees and costs
Before you sign any contract with a personal injury lawyer, discuss the attorney’s fees.
Personal injury lawyers often work on contingency, meaning they receive a certain percentage of the settlement. Consequently, you won’t have to pay any upfront fees until the lawyer wins the case.
Sometimes the fee percentages may change if your case ends up in court. So make sure your personal injury attorney is transparent with the fees.
Additionally, try to negotiate the fee percentages with the lawyer before entering into an agreement. Some attorneys will be willing to lower their rates slightly depending on your negotiation skills. Most importantly, get everything in writing to avoid future misunderstandings.
Final thoughts on hiring the best personal injury lawyer
Hiring a personal injury lawyer can seem easy, but finding the best attorney to work on your case is challenging. You want a knowledgeable, skillful, experienced lawyer with the right resources to handle your personal injury case.
Family or friend referrals are good starting points before expanding to online searches and reviews. Pick a personal injury lawyer experienced in dealing with your specific circumstances. Schedule consultations and ask questions about their past experiences, process, and how they’ll help you secure a settlement. Finally, agree on fee percentages before signing a contract with the lawyer.
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