A personal injury claim can apply to various situations and types of accidents.
You may file a personal injury claim if you're injured by a slip and fall on someone's property, in a car accident, or by being bitten by someone else's dog.
If you have severe injuries requiring medical treatment, you should hire a personal injury lawyer to handle your claim.
After you've received medical care, you will need to find the best personal injury attorneys in your area.
Before hiring a law firm to represent you, you should know some dos and don'ts about finding the right personal injury lawyer.
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If you're seeking legal representation, finding a personal injury attorney who knows what they're doing is essential.
But finding a great lawyer can prove to be a difficult time.
Plenty of lawyers claim to be able to take care of everything from a simple motor vehicle accident, to product liability cases, to complex medical malpractice claims.
Unfortunately, many lawyers won't have the skills needed for a successful claim.
Many people end up paying too much for subpar representation.
Here are some questions to weed out the bottom feeders from the real deal.
1. How long have you been practicing law?
The best way to judge a lawyer's experience is to look at their experience with the specific legal process you're seeking.
Someone who's practiced for a while has had the opportunity to gain practical knowledge and has trial experience.
A newer accident lawyer will be less experienced and knowledgeable, which makes them more likely to make mistakes.
Make sure that your prospective personal injury attorney is a respected member of the legal community and a member of your state's bar association.
2. What types of cases do you typically handle?
A good lawyer or legal team should be familiar with every type of case that might come across their desk and have a proven track record.
They should be willing to tackle personal injury litigation for whatever legal issue you're facing. And if they aren't an expert in it, they should know to refer to another lawyer with the extensive experience you're looking for.
For example, if you're looking for legal assistance after being injured in a car accident, the prospective lawyer should be able to explain the types of damages that might be involved with auto accidents, the potential compensation, and the wide range of ways they can help you.
3. Do you accept insurance settlements?
Insurance adjusters will often settle an accident claim without taking the matter to court.
They'll pay you a certain amount to avoid going through a drawn-out trial process.
Insurance companies prefer settling cases rather than litigating them since they save money on both sides.
However, if you decide to sue an insurance company, you'll need a trial attorney who understands the ins and outs of settlement litigation.
During your first interview with each personal injury law firm, be sure to ask the critical questions that can help you establish if they are the right fit for your case.
Ask about their background, strategy, experience, and the expected outcome of the case.
The following are some important questions you should ask:
You want to work with an accident attorney with a clean track record.
The easiest way to find if they have a bad history is to check their discipline history.
You can visit your state bar website to search for public record information regarding your attorney.
Accident victims should avoid attorneys who have had disciplinary actions taken against them.
Past client reviews are an excellent opportunity to get a feel of the attorney's personability and to see if they have a good rapport of satisfied clients or not.
When you look for reviews, you will know if past clients recommend them or if there were ever any issues coming to agreements on critical aspects of the case.
The attorney-client relationship is a personal one.
Potential clients must see that past clients have felt comfortable with the attorney and felt reassured and confident in their skills.
Client reviews will also give you insight into an attorney's negotiation ability and experience handling cases similar to yours.
Online reviews are the new word of mouth.
If you can, you should also look for any peer review ratings from respected sources to make sure that they're the correct teammate for you.
Even if you know of a great attorney, that might not mean they are qualified to handle your personal injury case.
Lawyers specialize in different areas, and typically have concentrated practices, so as a prospective client, you need to be sure your lawyer has experience in the area that you need.
Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis.
When you enter a contingency fee agreement with a lawyer, you won't pay anything upfront; they will get a percentage of your settlement.
The typical contingency fee that you will be charged is between 33-40% of your personal injury award.
Contingency fees are negotiable.
Legal matters that settle quickly will have smaller fees than cases that go to court.
Cases that settle quickly will have smaller fees than cases that go to court.
Pre-trial costs for expert witnesses, court reporters, preparation, and filing of legal pleadings, are commonly advanced by the lawyer.
They will be reimbursed for these costs when you receive your settlement.
Attorneys with experience will generally not charge you for costs if you don't win your case. However, you should ask if there's required compensation for losses incurred.
Make sure your lawyer explains their fee arrangement before you sign any agreements.
Once you've met with several lawyers, take the time to review your choices.
You don't want to spend too much time weighing your options, but you should at least sleep on the decision.
Consider what you've learned in your initial consultation.
Do they have any relevant experience in the specialty you're looking for? Do they have a good reputation? Do they have a record of success? What about their previous clients' experiences? Will they take your legal challenges in stride while upholding ethical standards?
Before making any decisions about your potential lawyer, take everything you've learned into consideration.
Every state has a statute of limitations limiting the time you can take legal action after a personal injury accident.
Often the relevant deadline for personal injury claims is two years, starting at the date of the accident.
The deadline can vary between states and types of claims, or it could start running from a later date depending on the circumstances of the accident and the injury.
After the deadline passes, you no longer have the right to sue for any injuries or losses resulting from the accident.
You must seek sound legal advice as quickly as possible after an accident.
It's crucial to find a potential attorney to get the job done. In almost every situation, securing legal representation before pursuing a serious personal injury lawsuit is necessary.
It's tough to take on the insurance companies and their lawyers on your own, especially when your health, finances, and emotional well-being are on the line.
But you don't want to hire the first lawyer that pops up on Google. You need to do your research.
If you are searching for a personal injury lawyer, contact an experienced attorney at Helping The Hurt.
They will do everything in their power to make sure you get the settlement you deserve in your personal injury lawsuit.
Click the button below to get started with a free consultation.
References:
https://walkerlawsd.com/7-things-consider-hiring-personal-injury-lawyer/
https://www.weinsteininjurylawyer.com/personal-injury/resources/hiring-a-lawyer/
https://mnlordlaw.com/blog/524/dos-and-donts-of-hiring-an-accident-attorney
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/when-should-you-hire-a-lawyer-for-a-car-6909963/