how to find and work with a personal injury lawyer

by Alexie Farrell 9 min read

  • Seek an Experienced Lawyer. Lawyers tend to be specialists or generalists. Look for a lawyer who specializes in personal injury and accidents.
  • Ask About Their Success Rate. You need an attorney who has more than just the experience of taking on personal injury cases. ...
  • Ask for Referrals. Almost everyone knows someone who has had a personal injury or workers’ compensation case, so ask friends and family for referrals to find a lawyer that they ...
  • Work on Contingency. Lawyers are expensive; they charge hundreds of dollars an hour for their work. ...
  • Choose Someone You Can Get Along With. A personal injury case can be a long journey to regaining your health and getting a fair settlement.
  • A Professional Office. A personal injury case has a lot of moving parts with many deadlines that need to be met to keep settlement negotiations going or comply with court ...
  • Interview Multiple Lawyers. Talking to multiple lawyers will help you identify who you are best matched with. ...

Finding the Best Personal Injury Lawyer
  1. Seek an Experienced Lawyer. Lawyers tend to be specialists or generalists. ...
  2. Ask About Their Success Rate. ...
  3. Ask for Referrals. ...
  4. Work on Contingency. ...
  5. Choose Someone You Can Get Along With. ...
  6. A Professional Office. ...
  7. Interview Multiple Lawyers.
Mar 11, 2022

Full Answer

Who is the best personal injury lawyer?

Jan 11, 2022 · Take into account the firm’s size, availability, and experience. You should also consider the size of each firm you are considering when choosing a personal injury lawyer. In addition to more resources and experience, a larger law …

What should you look for in a personal injury lawyer?

Mar 11, 2022 · When you work with a personal injury lawyer, there will be a time (or several times) when a settlement is presented to you from the liable party. It will be up to …

What are the benefits of hiring a personal injury lawyer?

There are a few basic things to find out from the lawyer at the outset of your first interview. General Experience Find out a little bit about the lawyer's background and experience. If you're interested in where the lawyer went to school, ask that— although it isn't as important as experience in the real world. Some other questions might be:

Do you need to hire a personal injury lawyer?

Feb 28, 2022 · In addition to ensuring the lawyer you find online practices personal injury law, use the lawyer’s website to look at the types of cases they handle. For example, if you were injured in a slip and fall accident , be sure to find a lawyer with a …

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What documents do you need to bring to a personal injury lawyer?

Bring copies of all the documents you have concerning your claim: police report, medical bills, income loss information, and all correspondence with the insurance company, including your demand letter if you have reached that stage. Most personal injury lawyers don't charge for an initial consultation.

How does a lawyer's willingness to listen affect your ability to make good decisions?

A lawyer's willingness to listen and ability to understand you may affect how much you can help the lawyer and whether you can control somewhat how the lawyer does the job. A lawyer's willingness and ability to explain what is happening in your case will likewise affect your ability to make good decisions .

What is contingency fee?

(See " Managing Lawyer Costs & Expenses in a Personal Injury Case ".) This arrangement means that the lawyer's fee is a percentage of what you ultimately receive in compensation.

Can I hire a lawyer for a small claim?

However, even if your case is too small to have a lawyer take over the entire claim, it may still be possible to hire the lawyer on an hourly basis to give you advice on particular parts of your claim.

Can a personal injury lawyer work in a small law firm?

You are likely to receive more personal attention from a small law office , and many of the best personal injury lawyers choose to work in a law firm with only a few lawyers. Make sure, however, that important work on your case is not left to less experienced lawyers or staff.

Do large law offices spend money?

Also, large law offices are in the habit of freely spending money on expenses that may use up much of your potential compensation. Also, insurance companies know that large law offices often do not put as much time or concern into a typical personal injury case as do smaller law offices.

Should I choose a lawyer solely on the basis of someone else's recommendation?

But don't make any decision about a lawyer solely on the basis of someone else's recommendation. Different people will have different responses to a lawyer's style and personality.

Do Not Be Afraid to Ask Around

Many people think that between the internet and social media, word of mouth has become an archaic practice.

How To Find a Personal Injury Lawyer Conclusively: Process of Elimination

Finding a good accident lawyer is really a long process of elimination. Once you’ve made your list of priorities and received suggestions from those close to you, start hounding in on your top choices.

1. Start With the Internet

Before you talk to anyone in person, you can start by looking online. You can look on websites like Google for lawyer reviews. Even Yelp [yes, the restaurant people] offer lawyer review services.

2. Once You Lessen Your List Online, Make Some Phone Calls

The Internet is a great resource, but like previously said: never underestimate the power of the human voice. Call your state’s bar association, county’s bar association if it is available, and then begin calling law firms that have peaked your interest.

3. Make a List of Your Top Choices and See Them in Person

Make a list of five to (maximum) ten good accident lawyers that you would like to talk to in person. Initial consultations are often and should be free.

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What About Money?

  • You can usually afford the luxury of interviewing several personal injury lawyers, since you won't be charged a fee for the consultations. That's because personal injury lawyers commonly take cases on a contingency fee basis. This means the lawyer is paid from a percentage of the mone…
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Communication Is Everything

  • It happens sometimes, even if you've done your homework in selecting a personal injury lawyer. For whatever reason, you become dissatisfied with the progress or outlook for your case. Personal injury litigation can take many months or longer to settle or set for trial. (More about how long a personal injury claim might take.) During this time, financial pressures may mount on you…
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Changing Lawyers in Midstream

  • If you're having problems with your personal injury lawyer, and you think changing lawyers makes sense, your new lawyer will contact your former lawyer and arrange for the handoff. This will be accomplished without harming your case. One matter that will be addressed between the three of you is what, if anything, your former lawyer is owed for her services. This usually depends on: 1. …
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