Pick the right lawyer for your case
When it comes to personal injury lawyers, it’s not always a “one size fits all” scenario. Finding a lawyer is easy, but finding the right lawyer for your case can be a challenge at times. The information in this article should help you choose the lawyer who will best represent you.
Find Out What Kind of Case You Have
Personal injury lawyers handle a wide range of cases. Your goal should be to choose a lawyer with significant experience handling cases similar to yours. Consider lawyers who have represented other clients with similar injuries or whose injuries were caused in similar ways to yours. For example, if you slipped and fell inside of a grocery store, you would want to hire a lawyer who has handled cases involving people injured on a business premises. Personal injury cases can be complex, which is why many lawyers focus their practices on particular types of cases, such as auto injury, product liability, premises liability, defamation, etc.
Find Reviews for Potential Lawyers
There are numerous online review sites that can help you find a reputable lawyer. Just to name a few, AVVO, Martindale-Hubbell, Yelp, and PersonalInjury.com are all websites that offer ratings or reviews for lawyers in your area. Review the directory profiles for each lawyer that you are considering to find out as much as you can about him or her before your consultation. If the lawyer that you may want to hire has a website (or a website provided by his firm), review the credentials outlined on his bio and search the website for any client reviews or testimonials. Many lawyers will also provide you with testimonials from happy clients should you ask them in person, but it’s better to research them on your own for a more complete picture.
Give a Potential Lawyer a Thorough Interview
You will only have one chance to pursue your case, so make sure you are confident in the lawyer who is handling it. Personal injury consultations are free, and lawyers who want to represent you should be open to any questions you have. The following questions will help you assess which lawyer is right for you:
- How long have you been practicing law?
- Have you been subject to any disciplinary action in the past? If so, ask to see the ruling.
- How many cases have you taken to trial in the past one year/two years? What were the results?
- How many cases have you handled in the past two years that were similar to my own? What were the results of those cases?
- Will you be handling my case yourself or will an associate handle it? If an associate, ask to meet the associate.
- How often will you update me on the status and progress of my case? Will you email me, call me, or text me?
- What other staff and resources will be working on my case?
- How will I pay for attorney fees and expenses?
- What makes you the most qualified attorney to represent my case?
- What kind of compensation should I expect to receive if my case is successful?
Note that some senior partners will interview you in the initial consultation, then hand your case off to an associate once you hire the firm. This is not necessarily a bad thing if the associate has experience and the resources to get a great result for you. Make sure you meet the associate before you retain the law firm.
Don’t wait. Find an accident attorney that’s right for you.
