Choosing a personal injury lawyer can be daunting, especially if it’s your first time. Most will have to do it only once anyway – if at all – but in any case, you have to make a few essential considerations. After all, not all lawyers are the same. You have to take time choosing the right one if you want to make the best out of your case.
Focus on Personal Injury
Personal injury law is a vast discipline within the scope of legal practice, and choosing a non-specialist can compromise the outcome you’re looking for. If you’re suing your doctor for medical malpractice, for example, choose a lawyer who spends most of his practice handling medical malpractice cases. You want a lawyer who knows all the intricacies of cases like yours.
Taking Your Case to Trial
A lot of personal injury attorneys would rather settle instead of taking your case to the courtroom, which is very complicated. If you must settle, don’t do so for a pittance. Insurance companies will move hell and high water to reduce their payout, so find a lawyer who is willing and capable of protecting your best interest.
Experience
An experienced personal injury lawyer will have valuable insight into case assessment, investigation and negotiation. They know exactly what to look for, where and how. They are also experts when it comes to the legal ramifications of any action you might take, and are well-versed regarding such technical matters as statutes of limitation, negligence, assumption of risk and liability, and the rest. With an experienced personal injury lawyer, you can proceed with your case and get the best possible outcome with the least complications.
Reputation, Track Record and Personality
The lawyer’s track record will be the ultimate proof of their abilities. If their win rate is high, that means they are an excellent choice to consider. However, you should also balance this with the lawyer’s personality. After all, if you’re not connecting as lawyer and client, there is no way you can achieve your goals. Find a balance between legal prowess and character.
Even after considering the above, the basic procedures should still apply. Once you have a list of prospects, check their profiles and review similar cases that they have handled. And most importantly, make sure you meet them for an initial consultation and take advantage of this time to ask questions. This is also a great opportunity to see whether or not you will get along with the lawyer. In most cases, this first consultation will be free, but do call them beforehand just to be absolutely sure. Also, don’t forget to ask them if they can work on the case immediately or if they have other engagements to prioritize.
Finally, take time to compare at least two or three different lawyers before choosing one. You want to hire the best one available, and that is something you can only do with comparison.