what to look for when hiring a personal injury lawyer

by Casandra Gutmann 8 min read

How to find a good personal injury lawyer?

Apr 12, 2022 · 4 Tips for Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer. Hemant Kumar April 12, 2022 No tags. Personal Injury Law book and a black desk. Did you suffer an injury that requires additional medical treatment? If so, you aren’t alone. Reports show that over 57 million injuries happen every year that require medical care.

Why should you hire a personal injury lawyer?

Jun 15, 2021 · A personal injury lawyer is someone you can trust to handle your case with professionalism. Look for someone who is highly regarded within the community, has plenty of experience, and is transparent about their policies.

What personality traits should you look for in a personal injury lawyer?

Dec 31, 2020 · Choosing a personal injury lawyer who is competent and has a good legal reputation would make it easy for you to win your case in court. It is essential to seek referrals and conduct some research on different lawyers who offer personal injury services before hiring one. Objectivity, trustworthiness, and consistency are also key personality traits to look out for in a …

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What is a personal injury lawyer?

A personal injury lawyer is someone you can trust to handle your case with professionalism. Look for someone who is highly regarded within the community, has plenty of experience, and is transparent about their policies. By spending a bit of time doing some extra research, you’ll find a personal injury lawyer who can properly advocate ...

What is the last thing you want to do when you have a personal injury?

Between dealing with a personal injury’s physical and emotional effects, the last thing you want to do is spend time researching a personal injury lawyer.

How long does it take to resolve a personal injury case?

Personal injury cases can take years to resolve, so make sure you look for a lawyer you can build a good rapport with. This means you should meet them personally. In some law firms, the lawyer you’re meeting will not be the lawyer you ultimately end up working with. After the initial meeting, your case is turned over to a team ...

Who handles medical malpractice cases?

Car accident cases and medical malpractice cases have their own nuances and should be handled by lawyers who have handled these cases in the past. A lawyer who routinely handles the same types of cases will build up the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to advocate for you properly.

Do personal injury cases go to trial?

Only a very small percentage of personal injury cases go to trial. Still, if they do, you need a lawyer who has the experience and resources to take your case to trial or arbitration. Insurers generally know which lawyers can take your claim to trial, which will impact how the insurers handle your claim. Ask the law firm about their history and ...

What to consider when choosing a personal injury lawyer?

Consider choosing a personal injury attorney who’s financially stable and able to pay for the costs of pursuing your case. This would be very applicable if you choose the no win no fee lawyers, or in other words, lawyers who’d be willing to work on a contingency basis. The lawyer should be ready to facilitate your case to the end after which you will pay him once you win your case and are fairly compensated.

Do personal injury lawyers go to trial?

Your personal injury lawyer must be willing to go to a trial without any hesitation when the need arises. Insurance companies are experienced in telling whether an attorney has the guts to go to trial or not and they will leverage on this one weakness to deny you fair compensation. Hiring a personal injury lawyer who’s experienced and is willing to go to a trial will influence the insurance company involved in your case to compensate you adequately and timely.

Experience and Certifications

First, you need to make sure that your chosen personal injury lawyer has the necessary licenses to practice law as well as several years of experience. The legal system is incredibly complex, and it takes years of specialized schooling to properly represent clients in a litigation arena.

A Thorough Knowledge Base

The lawyer you pick should know how to handle a series of different personal injury cases. From third-party worker’s comp filings to car accidents and mechanical malfunctions, personal injury is a broad area of law. A professional who specializes in one specific type of case might not necessarily be a good pick for yours.

An Array of Professional Resources

Another thing to look for when hiring a personal injury lawyer is their access to evidence gathering and research resources. Part of an attorney’s role is to collect evidence related to your case. This requires a series of certain tools like drones for bird’s-eye imaging and access to police accident records.

Friendly and Professional Attitude

Above all, you want your personal injury lawyer to have a friendly and professional attitude around you and your case. Undergoing treatment for your injuries and gathering paperwork for your filing is difficult enough on an individual. Hire someone who cares about your position and legitimately wants to help.

Do personal injury cases go to trial?

Most personal injury claims are settled before they go to trial, but there is always a risk of lengthy or complicated litigation. The more complex or serious your case, the more resources your lawyer should have at their disposal to gather evidence and fight for you.

Is it important to choose a personal injury lawyer?

While past results should never be considered a guarantee or promise of future results, it’s important to choose a law firm that has a successful track record. Keep in mind most personal injury claims are settled outside of court, but some cases spend long months or even years in court. You should ideally choose a personal injury lawyer who has an excellent reputation inside and outside of the courtroom.

Is personal injury the same as medical malpractice?

The laws and procedures surrounding medical malpractice, for example, are very different than those related to dog bites or car accidents.

Should I consult a personal injury lawyer?

You should treat a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer as an interview. It’s important to choose the right injury lawyer to handle your claim as they will be responsible for not only gathering and presenting evidence but defending you against claims you caused your accident. They will also negotiate on your behalf.

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Relevant Experience and Reputation

  • Perhaps the most indispensable criteria to consider while searching for a personal injury lawyer is their experience in handling personal injury cases. Many law firms accept a wide range of legal cases; however, you must choose a legal counsel equipped with a wealth of experience in a case similar to yours. So if you got hurt in a car accident, you must consider law firms with vast experi…
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Accessibility and Commitment

  • You and your family will likely have a plethora of questions throughout the proceedings. A good lawyer will be easily accessible to their clients. Being readily available and taking the time to answer all questions promptly, regardless of how busy they are, is one hallmark of an excellent attorney. The attorney must understand that the legal process after an accident can often be dis…
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Empathy and Compassion

  • The attorney-client relationship is critical at each step of the legal process. You must evaluate how compassionately the attorney communicates with you and if they seem genuinely concerned about your well-being. It is imperative to choose a lawyer you feel comfortable with and who treats you rightfrom the onset. There are many lawyers out there who are in the business just to …
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Success Rate

  • It is important to note that while an attorney may have a breadth of experience in dealing with personal injury cases, they might not have a strong track record of success. A lawyer can have years of litigation experience but still struggle to win your case. For example, they may tend to give in to low-ball settlements from insurance companies or may not have a proven record of wi…
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Resources

  • Personal injury cases are usually complex and expensive to prepare, and your claim would require a comprehensive investigation for it to be successful. A personal injury attorney will require ample time, effort, and resources to handle the case effectively. They may need to arrange expert or eyewitness testimonies, mobile records, surveillance footage, and other crucial evidence to prov…
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Client Satisfaction

  • Is there a better way to learn more about an attorney than from the words of previous clients? Clients are not required to write reviewsor testimonials for their lawyers, but they often choose to do so because they are highly satisfied and appreciate the help they received from the lawyer. Reading through client feedback will give you a better idea of the experience you might have wit…
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