Have you recently been injured in an accident? Do you need help finding a personal injury lawyer who can assist you with your case?
There are more than 130,000 personal injury lawyers working throughout the country, and it can be hard to know which one is the best to hire for your specific case.
If you need help sorting through all the different accident lawyers out there and finding someone who’s a good fit for you, keep reading. Everything you need to know is listed below.
1. Ask for Personal Referrals
When you’re looking for a personal injury or accident lawyer, a great place to start is with your own network.
Do you have a friend or family member who was also in an accident recently? Did they hire a lawyer to help them?
If so, reach out to them and ask about their experience. Find out if they would recommend their lawyer to you. If they would, then go ahead and give them a call.
This doesn’t mean you have to hire the same lawyer as them. It’s a good starting point, though.
2. Do Your Own Research
Once you have a list of a few candidates, it’s time to dig deeper and do a little more research into them. Spend some time online learning more about each lawyer and what they bring to the table.
Where did they go to school? How long have they been practicing?
Is their license up to date? Are they in good standing with your state’s bar association?
Learning the answers to all of these questions can help you narrow down your choices and weed out anyone who may be problematic.
3. Consider Their Specialty
There are lots of different types of accident lawyers out there. Try to find one who has experience and specializes in working with people who have dealt with an accident similar to yours.
The more experience they have in a particular area, the better they’ll likely be able to handle your specific case. For example, a lawyer who specializes in dog bite injuries might not be your best option if you were injured in a car accident.
4. Schedule a Consultation
It’s always a good idea to schedule a consultation with a lawyer before you agree to hire them. Most lawyers actually offer free in-person or phone consultation to allow you to get a sense of how they work and who they are.
When you’re setting up a consultation, pay attention to the service you receive.
Is it easy to get ahold of the lawyer’s assistant or receptionist? Are they polite and professional when you ask to set up an appointment?
This is an indicator of what your future will be like if you decide to work with them.
5. Talk About Fees First
Be sure to get the money discussion out of the way up front. Find out what each lawyer charges for their services and how they charge.
For example, do they require a retainer before they get started? Do they bill hourly? Do they work on a contingency basis?
6. Find Out Who Will Handle Your Case
It’s not always the person with whom you meet who will handle your case for you. Always ask who, specifically, will work on your case if you decide to go with a particular firm.
If someone else who’s not in the meeting will be helping or handling your case, ask to meet with them, too, before you sign any contracts. This will help you avoid any unpleasant surprises later.
7. Consider Their Communication
Pay attention to the way each lawyer communicates with you during your consultations.
Are they polite and professional? Do they seem genuinely interested in your case and concerned about the outcome? Are they focused on you and only you?
Remember, how they communicate during the consultation is likely how they’ll communicate throughout the course of your case.
8. Ask About Their Professional Network
Find out if the lawyer has any professional connections that may be beneficial to you. For example, do they have connections with medical professionals in the area who can help explain the extent of your injuries?
These kinds of connections can be very useful when it comes to making a strong case for yourself.
9. Look for Red Flags
Among all lawyers, including accident lawyers, there are some red flags of which you ought to be aware.
The following are some common red flags that you ought to watch out for as you begin your search:
- They don’t have experience trying cases
- They have lots of negative client reviews
- They seem to be guessing or making things up when asked specific questions about your case
- They over-promise or make grandiose claims
- They don’t have their fee agreements listed in their contract
If you notice any of these red flags when you’re researching or meeting with a lawyer, it’s best to avoid working with them.
10. Trust Your Gut
It doesn’t matter if you’re hiring a motorcycle accident attorney, a slip and fall attorney, or any other kind of personal injury attorney. At the end of the day, you need to trust your gut.
Even if someone looks great on paper, if something seems off about them in person, that’s worth keeping in mind.
You’re going to be working very closely with this individual on your case, and you need to be able to trust them to advocate for you and have your best interests at heart.
If you don’t feel that this is the case for them, go with your gut and work with someone else.
Find Accident Lawyers in Your Area Today
As you can see, there’s a lot you need to remember when you begin sorting through the different accident lawyers in your area.
If you remember these guidelines, though, it’ll be less of a challenge for you to find a lawyer who has the qualifications needed to get you through your case and help you get the compensation you deserve.
Do you want to learn more about hiring a good lawyer? Head to the Law section of our site today for additional resources.
