5 Tips for Choosing an Attorney to Personal Accident Injury Compensation

 

How scary is it to admit, you never know when you will need a personal injury lawyer? No one thinks they will find themselves in a situation where a lawyer is needed, and most people do not expect to be seriously injured.

Unfortunately, accidents and injuries happen to people every day - even too cautious individuals who make no mistake.

Naturally, you may not be ready for an accident (be it a car accident, a pedestrian accident, a slip, and fall accident, or anything else), but you can plan what you will do after that.

One of the best things you can do to protect yourself in the event of an accident is to find the right legal help - but you need to know how to choose a personal injury lawyer.

Being prepared and knowing what questions to ask will make all the difference in your case so you can recover from your injury, up to the level of stress you have to deal with throughout the legal process. Make sure you choose a lawyer who will provide you with the support you need, as well as someone who is qualified to get the best outcome in your accident case.

Read the tips below to help you continue the process of choosing the best personal injury lawyer.

5 Steps to Take in the Lawyer Selection Process

Below are some steps you can take when researching and evaluating your personal injury-related attorneys.

1. Evaluate their experience.

The more experience a lawyer has in personal injury law, the more likely they are to succeed in your case. That’s why they’ve seen it all, so they know how to deal with even the biggest hurdles, from proving the damage of the most complex, catastrophic injuries, to look at the tricks of handling insurance companies.

An accident lawyer with many years of experience under their belt may already know the personal injury case you bring to them.

To accurately assess a lawyer's level of experience, be sure to ask the following questions:

• Is personal injury one of the key practices they focus on as a lawyer and as a company? (For some public-practice law firms, personal injury may be one of a dozen types of laws they follow, meaning they only deal with these cases from time to time, and they may not have the right amount of experience.)

• For how many years have lawyers and law firms been handling these types of cases?

• Does the lawyer have extensive testing experience?

• Are they well recognized and respected in the personal injury legal community? (This recognition may be in the form of membership/leadership in professional awards, personal injury or trial bar associations, etc.)

• Do they have the experience to handle the specific type of case you are handling? (For example, if you have suffered a brain injury, does their company have experience winning compensation in brain injury cases?)

2. Make sure they have a strong track record of success.

Keep in mind that there are many lawyers with many years of experience, but don’t really have a strong track record of success. For example, they may be known to offer low ball settlements from the insurance company, or they may not have proven results to win difficult high-value cases.

When you are considering a lawyer, review their case results and ask these questions:

• Do they continue to recoup millions of dollars in settlements and judgments for customers?

• Do they have cases that have won experiences involving not only accidents involving minor injuries but also catastrophic injuries and false death claims?

• Have they won any awards for settlements and judgments?

3. Focus on how they interact with you.

Trust your judgment. The lawyer-client relationship is important, so make sure you want to be contacted and treated by any lawyer you are considering hiring.

It is important to focus on the following:

• Are they ready to answer any questions you may have?

• Are they friendly and professional?

• Are they strong communicators? (Do they clearly explain the legal process, will call you back immediately, etc.)

• Are they willing to travel with you as needed?

• Do they really care about your well-being?

4. Understand their payment model.

When hiring a new lawyer be sure to read the print carefully when making sure you fully understand their fee model, so no surprises later.

   Here are some good questions to ask:

• Do they offer free initial consultation?

• Do they work on a contingency fee basis? (This means you only have to pay legal fees if they win your case. In addition, your legal fees are deducted from your settlement, or paid by the defendant, so you have no upfront fees related to your legal representation.)

• Can they provide a cash advance to cover the costs before your settlement or judgment?

5. Notice what additional resources they provide.

It is important to think about the additional resources that your prospective injury lawyer can provide. Some personal injury law firms offer a high level of assistance with the various stages of the case, making it less hassle-free for you and the overall smooth experience.

Be sure to ask the following:

• Is there a network of medical professionals they can use to help you find the treatment you need?

• Can they help you find doctors who want to work on an owner basis where your medical expenses can be deducted from your settlement or judgment?

• Can they assist with additional services related to your cases, such as property damage assessment and owner negotiations (i.e., negotiating costs with your medical provider)?

Why hire a personal injury lawyer first?

After being injured in an accident or after another incident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be wondering if you should actually hire a personal injury lawyer. Quick answer Yes, you do!

Why? Because in your case an opposition will act against you, to prove that you were at fault for your own injuries or to offer you a very minimal solution. In most cases, this opposition will be the insurance company of the person or company that caused your injuries.

Insurance companies handle injury claims on a day-to-day basis, so they specialize in using manipulation tactics to reduce compensation to the injured. This is why you need an intelligent and experienced personal injury lawyer to defend your right to fair compensation.

A good lawyer will investigate your case, prove liability by the wrongdoer, and handle all negotiations with the insurance company on your behalf. They will ensure that you do not get short-term change and fight for the highest solution or judgment you deserve.

But do your homework before choosing a lawyer. Not every personal injury lawyer is qualified to get the best possible result in your case. Remember to choose wisely using the tips in this article!