If you’re injured in a car accident and need a personal injury lawyer, it goes without saying that you need a legal professional who has represented clients in your shoes.
While you might want to work with the insurance company directly, that’s never the right move. Insurers aren’t in the business of handing out checks. And if they do, the offer will be of the bargain-basement variety that barely meets your needs.
After an accident, you may have to take time off work, endure surgery, go for physiotherapy, and more. You’ll want enough money for medical care, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
That’s why you need a personal injury lawyer. But one lawyer isn’t necessarily as good as another.
Here are some tips for finding the right legal professional for your case.
1. Look at Reputation
When seeking the right personal injury lawyer, you should focus on reputation. One way to find a reputable service provider is to get recommendations from anyone you know who has filed a personal injury claim.
You can get the nitty-gritty from people who you know and whose opinions you trust. Otherwise, you can check out online reviews and read lawyer websites.
It’s been said that the best indicator of how a service provider will treat you is how they’ve treated others in the past. After getting feedback, whether from those you know or from online reviews and testimonials, you can make an informed decision.
2. Look at Experience
Find a lawyer with relevant personal injury experience. A lawyer who dabbles in various areas of the law isn’t what you should be looking for. As the saying goes, a jack of all trades is a master of none. What you want is a personal injury lawyer who helps clients in that area of the law every day.
It also makes sense to find one specializing in helping clients in your shoes. If you are injured in a car accident, find a lawyer who helps car accident victims. Your odds of a successful claim will increase if you have the help of an experienced pro.
3. Look for Someone Who’ll Honestly Appraise Your Claim
Before hiring a personal injury lawyer, you should get an honest assessment of your claim. You need to know what you’re up against, the possible hurdles to scale, and your odds of success. A reputable personal injury lawyer will be honest with you. If the odds of a successful claim are slim to none, a good service provider will say so.
4. Look for Someone Local
It pays to stay local. If you hire a lawyer too far away, you’ll be limited mostly to phone calls or teleconferencing. Those methods of communication are essential, but there are times you’ll want to meet with your lawyer face-to-face. That’ll be easier if they’re local.
5. Look for Someone With Trial and Settlement Talks Experience
Before hiring a personal injury lawyer, ensure the legal professional has trial and settlement talk experience. Both are vital. If your lawyer gets nowhere negotiating with the insurance company, the next step is to take the claim to court. A good lawyer might be able to compel the insurer to make a good offer. But that’s not always the case.
If the two sides continue to butt heads, a good lawyer will know what to do. Don’t be shy about asking lawyers you’re considering about their trial and settlement talk experience and expertise. Get the right answers to make intelligent choices.
Knowing what to look for in a good personal injury lawyer will help you make the right choice. Considering how much is at stake, you’ll want a legal professional in your corner who’ll increase your chances of a favorable outcome.
