If you’ve been injured in an accident, knowing how to choose the right personal injury lawyer for your case is crucial. But because accidents are stressful, it can sometimes be hard to focus on what you need to look for.
Below, you’ll find out how to find the best lawyer for your case through a series of simple steps.
Know Your Case
When you visit a lawyer for a free consultation, you are evaluating them to see if they’re the right fit for your case. But it’s important to keep in mind that they’re also deciding whether your case is strong and whether taking it is a good decision for them.
Before you get in touch with a lawyer to schedule a consultation, quickly gather as much information about your case as you can. As soon as possible after your accident, make notes about the details of what happened so you can recall it clearly when speaking to a lawyer. Also, gather documentation including medical bills, citations and photos from the accident scene, as well as written statements from witnesses.
Seek Out a Personal Injury Specialist
If you’ve suffered injuries in an accident, working with a lawyer who is experienced in personal injury law is essential. By choosing a specialist who has worked in personal injury law for a long period of time, you’ll know that the lawyer has worked on cases similar to yours, has enough trial and negotiation expertise, and understands the medical issues that accidents can cause. They will also have a deep understanding of torts and negligence law, which will be crucial to your case.
In addition to personal injury expertise, choose a lawyer with a strong reputation, a clean disciplinary record, a winning track record, and trial experience. Before visiting a lawyer for a consultation, make sure they meet all of these criteria.
Utilize Referrals from Friends and Family
Referrals from people you know and trust are excellent ways to find a trustworthy and experienced lawyer. Ask your friends, family and coworkers for referrals and keep a list. While referrals are good starting points, you’ll still want to do more research before choosing a lawyer to handle your case.
Conduct Thorough Research
There are many ways to research a lawyer. The internet is a good starting point because you can easily use keywords to generate a list of lawyers that specialize in cases like yours. As you move through the list, read biographical information on the lawyer’s website to gain a sense of their experience level, track record and personality. Note how large the firm is and whether the entire firm focuses on cases like yours.
There are also specific websites you can visit that provide listings of lawyers. Be forewarned that some of these sites will feature any lawyer who pays for a listing, so investigate whether the site has criteria for selecting the lawyers they feature. You can also look for web services that include ratings for lawyers.
If you feel like you haven’t gotten quite enough information through these methods, call your local bar association or the firm itself. Local bar associations often provide referral services for nearby lawyers, and calling the firm is a great way to get your specific questions answered.
Based on your research, narrow your list to ten or fewer lawyers that seem like the right fit for your case. Depending on how much time you have to meet with lawyers, your list may be shorter or longer.
Gather Your Questions
Before meeting with a lawyer, make a list of questions. During your consultation, you’ll want to cover a wide variety of areas including:
• Experience with your type of case
• Fee structures and payment
• Who will work on your case in addition to your lawyer
• Statutes of limitation
• The lawyer’s success rate
Schedule a Consultation
Bring all of your evidence, documentation, and questions to each consultation you schedule. While most consultations are free, it’s a good idea to make sure when you call the firm. During your meeting, you’ll discuss your case and look over the evidence you’ve brought. You’ll also have time to ask questions.
Take notes during the consultation to ensure that you remember all of your thoughts and impressions. This will make it easier to make a decision later.
Review Your Notes
As you review the notes you made during your consultation, your goal is to determine which lawyer is the right fit for your case. If a lawyer has experience and a great track record, these are good signs, but you should also make sure your personalities and goals are in sync, that your lawyer will be available throughout your case, and that they are passionate about winning your case.
Also keep the fee structure in mind and make sure you’re comfortable with it. All fee structures are not the same, but most personal injury lawyers use a contingent fee basis rather than charging an hourly rate. That means the lawyer will not get paid unless they win your case. These fees are usually around 1/3 of your winnings. If you do not have a lot of money to pay a lawyer up front, a contingency fee basis is a good idea.
Make the Choice
Now that you’ve undergone a thorough process for choosing a lawyer that is the right fit for your case, it’s time to make the hire. When you sign paperwork, make sure to get the fee agreement in writing in the form of a list of services and how much they cost.
Now that you’ve learned about how to choose a personal injury lawyer, find out more by downloading our free personal injury recovery kit or contact us for a free consultation.
