It is not easy to think about settlements when you or a loved one has just suffered an injury. Most people want to focus on getting back on their feet and start working again.
Personal injury may refer to medical malpractice, assault and battery, defamation, animal bites, slip and fall, and products liability. It is a type of lawsuit filed by a person who has been harmed by another person or entity due to negligence.
If this has happened to you or your loved one, the best course for you to take is to talk to a Colorado Springs personal injury lawyer so that you can get proper representation. However, before you go ahead and hire a lawyer, there are some things you need to know about.
Hire a Lawyer Who Specializes in Personal Injury
There are many types of lawyers. There are those who specialize in real estate, family, crime, corporate, or personal injury, just to name a few. If you come across a lawyer who dabbles in family law and personal injury, it could mean that his experience as a personal injury lawyer is not as extensive, and his knowledge may be limited compared to a lawyer who only specializes in personal injury.
It’s also important to note that personal injury cases vary. If the case you want to file in court is, for example, about a medical malpractice, you should find a lawyer who specializes in medical malpractice. Most law firms that specialize in personal injury have different lawyers for different types of personal injury cases. So, if you are looking for personal injury lawyer Colorado Springs, you should ask about his specialization first.
Never Hire Ambulance Chasers
There are law firms that send out solicitation letters to victims of car accidents. They get names of people recently involved in traffic accidents from police reports, and they will inform you that they know about the case and are willing to represent you as soon as you contact them. These types of lawyers are merely taking advantage of victims. They want you to make a decision immediately, which could be the worst mistake you’ll ever make. There are several states that are working to prohibit this type of practice.
Initial Consultation is Almost Always Free
When a representative of a law firm visits you, or if you have received a solicitation letter that tells you you’re going to have a free consultation and say it as if it’s something extraordinary, don’t be impressed by it. You should know that almost all personal injury lawyers do not charge their clients on their first consultation. These lawyers almost always offer a “no fee if there is no recovery” deal. This means that the lawyer will only get paid (a percentage that has been agreed upon by both parties) after the client has recovered the amount due to them.
Personal Injury Lawyers’ Ratings
Personal injury lawyers, just like everything that is on the Internet, can have online ratings. Before you hire or even meet with lawyers who have been recommended to you, you should also check out their online profiles and see what their clients have to say about them. If the bar association is big, you will find referrals online without a charge. You can then check these referrals on websites that give ratings to lawyers, such as Super Lawyers.
After you’ve narrowed down your list to three or four lawyers, that’s only the time you should call for an appointment.
Lawyers Who Graduated From Ivy League Schools are Not Always the Best Choice
It may be true that those who graduated from Ivy League schools are intelligent, but this does not mean that they’re the only ones who can get the job done. Even if a lawyer is, say, a Harvard graduate, but lacks the experience in negotiation or in a courtroom, your case may not win or you could get a bad deal. A seasoned lawyer with a good track record, no matter which school they graduated from, should be your top choice.
Remember that settlements vary depending on the severity of the injury. Your lawyer should consider the physical pain and the psychological effects the injury has caused you, and get you the settlement that you deserve, which is something only an experienced personal injury lawyer can accomplish.
Conclusion
It is not easy to think about settlements when you or a loved one has just suffered an injury. Most people want to focus on getting back on their feet and start working again. However, when someone has caused you injury because of their negligence, they need to pay the consequences of their mistake. Know that a personal injury lawyer can help you get what is rightfully due to you.
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