9 Tips To Finding The Right Personal Injury Attorney

Were you recently seriously injured?  Was this injury caused by someone else?  If it was, you can seek compensation for your medical bills and for all of your other medical related expenses.

In most situations where there is a serious injury, you will need specialized skills and knowledge of the legal system.  The party that is at fault for your injury will have their insurance company and lawyers representing them.  In order to properly represent yourself, you should be armed with the same.

You probably already have an insurance company, but need to hire a personal injury lawyer as well to represent you.  You might be wondering how to find a personal injury lawyer.  Don’t worry. Read below for 9 tips on finding the right personal injury attorney for your needs.

1 – Figure Out The Type Of Attorney You Need

The first thing you have to do is figure out the type of lawyer you need.  Of course you know you need a personal injury attorney, but this is too broad of a specialty.  You need to find a personal injury attorney in the sub-specialty of your specific type of injury.  For example if you were in a hit-and-run accident, you need to find a personal injury attorney with experience in this area.

2 – Technical Knowledge And Expertise

You will not get anywhere, if your attorney does not have a clear understanding of the whole process and expertise in the area.  It is important to make sure that the lawyer you pick is an expert in the area you need representation.

3 – Customer Service

Customer service is very important.  Your lawyer and the entire firm should provide proper client assistance and solutions.  Well-established companies understand the need for quicker resolution.  The best thing a firm can do is provide quality service and representation.  Getting in an accident is not something anyone is ever happy about.  Getting good customer service and getting constant communication with information concerning the progress of your appeal is critical so that you can make better choices.

4 – Legal Fees

The main drive attorneys have is the desire to assist someone in need; however, they also need so make a living.  They of course have to collect legal fees. It is important to understand how these legal fees will be collected.  Some lawyers charge for every hour they work on your case.  In most cases, lawyers take a portion of your settlement that is agreed upon in advance.

5 – Consult Friends And Family

Friends and family often have recommendations of injury attorneys in your area.  It is a good idea to ask them for their recommendations and to also ask them how their experience was.  Were they happy with their representation? If so why? If not, then why  not?

6 –  Interview  Attorneys

Before hiring an attorney, make sure to schedule a free consultation with them.  You can use this consultation to get to know them better.  Prepare questions ahead of time ad take them for the interview.

Make sure to interview at least a handful of attorneys.  This will help you compare their experiences and responses, which will allow you to pick the best one for your case.

7 –  Prepare a List of Questions For Attorneys 

As mentioned in number 6, make sure that you prepare questions ahead of your interview.  Some questions you should ask are:

• What is your specialty?
• What are the fees?
• Have you ever had disciplinary action or have you been suspended from practicing?
• How long do you think my case will last?
• Do you have experience with cases similar to mine?
• Will anyone else work on my case?

8 – Know What To Look For

When you choose a personal injury lawyer, you have to know what to look for.  Some things you should look for are:

• How fast their respond back when you leave a message
• How passionate they are about your case
• How competent they are
• If they can outline the entire case process and explain it to you
• How proactive they are
• If they listen and answer all your questions and needs
• If they make realistic guarantees about your case
• If they can explain complex legal matters in simple layman terms

9 – What To Avoid

There are certain red flags that you should look for when interviewing a potential personal injury attorney.  Some of these flags include:

• Gives unrealistic outcome expectations
• Does not pay court bills
• Does not return calls in a timely fashion
• Over-aggressive
• Does not explain court proceedings in a way that is easy to understand

10 – Do A Background Check

It is important to check into a personal injury attorneys background.  Learn where they went to law school and if they have any attorney complaints.  You should even look into any discipline petitions that have been filed against the attorney.

By following these ten tips, you will be able to find a personal injury attorney that fits your needs.  One last small tip is to pick an attorney that is local because they will understand how the laws in the specific area you live in works best.