It is a fact that who you choose to represent you can be one of the most important decisions you make regarding a personal injury case. While the percentages charged by personal injury attorneys are usually very uniform, how much money you end up taking home can depend greatly on the attorney you select.
Here are some tips on how to choose a top-notch personal injury attorney to help you.
ASK QUESTIONS
1. What results has the attorney achieved with the type of case that you have?
This is important because many personal injury areas, such as truck accidents or product liability, require expertise not found in other personal injury cases. It is also important that you look at the results for the type of case you have, because that is what will matter in the end.
The fact that an attorney has a huge verdict or settlement in a business dispute is not proof that they are right for your personal injury case.
The more experienced the attorney, the better. You do not need an attorney to learn on the job with your case. Generally, the longer the attorney has been in practice, the better.
If an 18-wheeler has hit you, you should look for an attorney who specializes in 18-wheeler truck accident cases.
2. If you sign up with this law firm, who will actually be doing the work on your case?
It is best to require a specific answer to this question because if you get a vague answer such as “I’ll be overseeing it” or anything other than a firm commitment that the attorney you are choosing will handle it themselves, the odds are pretty good that you’re going to get handed off to an inexperienced associate.
The key consideration is which attorney will actually handle your case. Who will take the depositions and respond to the court?
Do not make the mistake of hiring a top firm only to get a junior lawyer.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK
Investigating potential attorneys takes a bit of time upfront, but it can save you a lot of heartache later. Some of the things you will want to research through ratings or reviews of former clients include the following:
A) What kind of reputation does the attorney have?
Look at peer review ratings from other attorneys and client reviews for clues on how the law firm or attorney may handle your case.
B) Will this attorney return your telephone calls or be responsive to your questions?
One of the biggest problems with personal injury attorneys is that they are not paid by the hour. Therefore, many try to minimize their time in a file to make it as profitable as possible. If you suspect you will have a hard time getting the attorney to return your telephone calls or getting a straight answer from the office, you may want to look elsewhere.
C) Does this attorney have a volume practice?
A busy attorney can be a very good but poor choice for your case. The higher volume of cases the attorney handles, the less likely you are to be satisfied with the representation.
D) Do you feel comfortable with this attorney?
If you get a gut feeling that your attorney may not be trustworthy, honest, or straightforward, you are better off passing on this choice and looking for a different attorney. The best attorneys are ethical.
E) What does the office look like?
An attorney with an organized, efficient, and tastefully decorated office is likely to treat your case with the same respect. Likewise, if the office is a mess and paperwork is everywhere, is this really someone you want handling your case?
F) How do you feel about the staff?
How professional the staff speaks volumes about the attorney and their expectations for your case. Frequently, there is quite a bit of client interaction with the staff, and you must be comfortable with them as well as with the attorney.
By doing your due diligence before you sign paperwork engaging the attorney, you can improve the odds of selecting the best attorney for your case. The most important thing for you to feel is that you are comfortable with the attorney and the law firm.
Often, people are referred to a law firm or an attorney and hire them before doing the research, only to find out later that they made a poor choice.
Personal injury lawsuits can, in some cases, last for years, and the attorney you choose must be the one who is best for your case.