If you’ve suffered a personal injury, you need to consider the future. You may soon become saddled with endless medical bills, time off from work, and other financial considerations. Pursuing legal compensation may be necessary, and it’s critical that you select the right attorney. Throwing a dart at the phone book is an easy way to choose, but there are much better ways to proceed.
Select a Local Attorney
Most people turn to the internet to find just about anything nowadays, so searching for legal help is likely to fall into that category. It’s important that while cyberspace knows no physical boundaries, your future attorney’s license to practice law certainly does. Your search should immediately narrow down to those who are licensed in the state in which the injury occurred.
Next, consider only those within driving distance to your place of residence. Face-to-face visits with your legal counsel will be necessary, so you don’t want to travel too far for these meetings.
Find an Attorney That Specializes in Personal Injury
Law firms practice in several different areas, including criminal law, divorce litigation, child custody, and tax law. Personal injury cases require specific knowledge, such as medical terminology and different types of injuries. Personal injury attorneys typically have ample trial experience, while others (such as real estate attorneys) may have none at all. They’re also good negotiators and can develop a fair out-of-court settlement on your behalf.
Choose a Successful Attorney
Once you’ve narrowed down your choices a bit, do research into your potential candidates. Find out how many years they’ve been practicing law. What sort of track records do they have as far as winning versus losing cases? How much trial experience can they claim?
On the other side of the coin, explore any possible negative factors that may cause you to pass on their services. Search the internet, beginning with the state bar website, to uncover any disciplinary actions against your potential attorney. Has he or she ever been suspended or disbarred? Hunt down ratings and other information online.
Extensively Interview Your Candidates
Don’t be afraid to drill your would-be attorney over the phone before even considering his or her firm. Reputable attorneys will speak extensively with you and not hassle you to meet in person (which may entail a consultation fee). Once you’ve described your situation, find out how many similar cases they’ve dealt with and what the outcomes were. Do they specialize in your sort of injury? What member (or members) of the firm will be working on your case, and how long have they been there?
Don’t be shy when asking about fees. A good attorney who believes in your case won’t be afraid to work on contingency — but be sure to find out what percentage he or she will charge. If the lawyer won’t work on contingency, obtain the hourly rate and how it’s calculated.
Finding an attorney for your personal injury case can be a daunting task, but it’s vital that you make the right decision. You’ve only got one shot to receive compensation for the damages you’ve endured, so make it count. Call 1-800-ASK-FREE (275-3733) for a free consultation with the professionals at David W. Singer & Associates, P.A.
