You should know by now that you can hire a personal injury attorney if you’ve been injured in an accident. But the big question is: “What qualifications and experience should I look for when choosing my personal injury lawyer?” Here we will present some things you should look for in a personal injury attorney and how they can help you.
1. Personal Injury Experience
You should hire a personal injury attorney who has worked on cases like yours in the past. There are lots of personal injury attorneys out there, but not all of them work on car accidents or slip and fall cases, for instance. You’ll want to make sure you find an attorney who works regularly on similar claims before hiring him/her. The professionals at The 702 Firm believe that if your lawyer is experienced in these types of claims, he’ll be much better equipped to handle your own case against the defendant. You should always choose carefully and do your research.
2. Fee Structure
Personal injury attorneys have different fee structures, so it’s important that you get one who will work within your budget. Attorneys charge either through a contingency fee or flat fee basis structure. A contingency fee means that you will pay your attorney a certain percentage of the money you receive from your claim after he/she has won. A flat fee means that the lawyer will charge you for his/her services whether he wins, and there will be no additional fees involved beyond what’s already been agreed upon.
3. Communication Skills
When hiring an attorney, communication skills are very important. You want to make sure that the person is easy to work with and always available when you need him/her to answer questions and give advice. The last thing you want is someone who isn’t returning phone calls or professional emails in a timely manner. Your personal injury attorney should take pride in servicing clients and building relationships through communicating well with them over time, even if it doesn’t end in a win.
4. Track Record vs. How Long They’ve Been Practicing
You want to find out how long the lawyer has been practicing before you hire him/her to work on your claim. You also want to know their track record, so ask about any previous settlements or verdicts they may have won for cases similar to yours in terms of facts and circumstances. If you’re looking for someone who will win your case, this is crucial information that you’ll need when hiring them.
5. Location
If possible, try to get an attorney who’s located near where your accident took place or the defendant’s location if that’s not too far from where you live or work. It sometimes helps that a personal injury attorney knows the area well, and it also helps if he/she has good relationships with local law enforcement, medical facilities, and other resources. Remember to always check their website for all the information you need about the lawyer, including his/her qualifications.
6. Other Skills
Your personal injury lawyer should be well versed in all aspects of your claim, including insurance companies, medical records, and the law. A good attorney has working relationships with doctors, investigators, and others involved with your claim. One last thing to keep in mind is that your personal injury lawyer should only be devoting a certain percentage of his/her attention to your case while simultaneously managing other cases as well. This will help you ensure he/she won’t neglect your needs or become overwhelmed by trying to do it all himself/herself, which only slows down the process for everyone involved.
How Can You Stay Calm During This Stressful Time?
No one ever expects to get into a car accident, and when it happens it can be extremely stressful. If you’ve been hurt in an accident that wasn’t your fault, hiring a personal injury attorney might be helpful for you. An attorney can act on your behalf, so you don’t have to deal with the insurance company yourself. A lawyer will give you support and advice on how to proceed with your claim.
How Can You Be Helpful To Your Lawyer?
Keep all the details about the accident organized in one place, so your lawyer can access them quickly. You should also give him/her any names and contact information for anyone else involved in the accident, including police officers, witnesses, passengers, and any doctors that treated you. You should also keep copies of all medical records related to your accident in one place.
Finding a personal injury lawyer can be difficult at times, mostly because there are so many unscrupulous attorneys who only want your business in order to make money off of you. If you’re looking for the right attorney to work on your case, then you should keep these four things in mind.
