If you’ve been involved in an incident that has left you seriously injured and in need of legal counsel, it’s important to find an experienced personal injury attorney that will give you their best effort. You have enough to worry about trying to recover from your injuries, so you will want to find an attorney that will handle all dealings with the insurance company and party at fault to ensure you are compensated for medical bills, emotional distress and lost wages.
However, this isn’t always as easy as it sounds. There may be advertisements for lawyers everywhere you look, but how do you know which one will benefit you and your case? Here are some pointers to get started and tips on what to look for in a personal injury attorney before you resort to flipping through all the Yellow Pages listings.
Recommendations
Just as with any service that you might seek, personal injury attorney recommendations from friends, family and co-workers are usually the best way to go. If someone you know has ever worked with one, they can tell you first-hand what their experience was like. Your insurance company may also be able to give you referrals.
Experience
There are numerous lawyers out there, and it can be overwhelming searching for the one that will do your case the most justice. First, make sure you are only considering those that specifically state they are a personal injury attorney. Only this type of lawyer will be guaranteed to be knowledgeable in personal injury laws. You should also take into account the background of a lawyer, such as how many personal injury cases they’ve represented and how many they’ve won. It’s important to choose an attorney that has trial experience, since your case could possibly head that way, and you don’t want to be represented by someone that is only interested in settling your claim if that’s not the best course of action you could be taking.
Consultations
Once you have a list of viable options to consider, it’s a good idea to call and see which ones offer free consultations. You can then set up meetings with all of them to decide who is the right fit for you and your case. Be sure to find out what their policy is regarding payment as many lawyers will only collect if they win a case.
Professionalism
Too often, you hear stories about lawyers that don’t return phone calls or an unfriendly and unhelpful staff. While attorneys do have a lot on their plates, it doesn’t take up too much of their time to give a client a quick update when needed. If you find yourself in a situation where you feel neglected or unsupported by your personal injury attorney, don’t be afraid to find a new one.
A good personal injury attorney will initially listen to your case and then decide if you have a legitimate claim or not. If it is determined that you do, they will then represent you throughout the litigation process so that you may focus on recovery without having to worry about the legal details.
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