December 19, 2024
Why would you need to hire a personal injury attorney, or what kind of accident cases do they handle?
Personal injury attorneys are experts in the area of personal injury law and can assist you with any type of accident or incident that resulted in personal injury, including
- car accidents,
- slip and falls,
- medical malpractice,
- defective products,
- dog bites,
among others.
Each personal injury case differs in its specific details, which means you’ll want to find an attorney who specializes in your particular area of need.
A personal injury attorney helps those injured in an accident seek compensation from the responsible party or parties.
If you’ve been in an accident and seek legal help, make sure you choose the best personal injury attorney for your case to get everything you deserve, including money to cover any medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering that the accident caused you.
Here are a few things you need to know while hiring a personal injury case lawyer.
How do I find the best personal injury lawyer?
There are many personal injury law firms to choose from, but finding a personal injury attorney you can trust is more important than you might think.
That’s because, when it comes to personal injury law, there are few guarantees.
Most people turn to an attorney as a last resort and face financial pressures that often force them to settle quickly and cut corners to save money.
They may have problems building their case, which means they may not receive any compensation at all—even if they win their case in court!
So how do you find an attorney who’s truly working for your best interests? Read more.
How do I interview a personal injury lawyer?
Most personal injury lawyers will offer a free consultation; use it to find out if you can work with them and make sure they’re in your area. If they’re not, they might be able to recommend an attorney who is.
Alternatively, you can ask your doctor or a friend who has been through something similar if they have an attorney recommendation.
You can also check with local bar associations (you can find them through Google) or do a free consultation search on sites like FindLaw.
These searches will bring up ads from attorneys looking for clients, which is helpful if you want a quick referral but generally won’t give you quality advice on whether they’re good attorneys or not.
What factors should I consider when choosing an attorney?
While there’s no way to tell you exactly which attorney will be best suited to your case, we can help get you started by breaking down some of these decisions.
When choosing a personal injury attorney, make sure they have experience handling cases similar to yours.
You should also make sure they know and understand your state’s laws—that is why most attorneys specialize in one area or another.
Finally, it’s important that you feel comfortable with an attorney; communication is key in these relationships. A good personal injury lawyer will communicate openly and honestly, so you both know what to expect during your case.
Now that we’ve covered a few factors—let’s look at how to find someone who might be best suited for your case.
Is it better to choose a local, international, or national law firm?
A big personal injury law firm might have more resources to dedicate to your case, but a local attorney can sometimes work harder and faster.
Also, smaller personal injury law firms often offer better prices.
The larger firms sometimes charge contingency fees, which means you pay nothing upfront and take a percentage of whatever money is awarded.
While a large firm might be better able to negotiate with an insurance company—or get your claim settled more quickly—smaller firms are usually more nimble and able to travel farther distances (if necessary).
In general, you should focus on finding attorneys who work in an area that specializes in personal injury law.
Being a specialist in personal injury increases their level of knowledge about your claim’s special circumstances.
How do I know if they will take my case?
Personal injury law firm take on cases involving your personal safety and health.
That means they typically won’t represent you if you’re suing over a contract dispute or damage to property, but they will if you were hurt as a result of someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing.
This important distinction could save you time by steering you toward an attorney who doesn’t have experience with your type of case.
You can start by looking online, but make sure to take some time to consult with friends and family members who have used a personal injury attorney in your area before committing to one.
What happens after I hire an attorney?
Personal injury law firms are in a category of their own, but it’s still important to understand how your attorney works.
It is in both parties best interest to know what you can expect from your lawyer and what they expect from you, especially because personal injury cases may be years-long processes.
For example, although most people don’t think about it beforehand, sometimes an attorney needs more information or evidence before proceeding with a case; sometimes, lawyers also require compensation upfront before starting a case so that you’re not on either side risking too much.
Most importantly, though, remember that hiring an attorney is just like making any other kind of investment: Before doing so, do your research and pick someone whose style fits yours.
Attorneys and fees – what you need to know before hiring one
By law, personal injury attorneys must publish their fee schedules and be upfront about what you can expect to pay.
Before choosing an attorney, compare their fees with those of other lawyers in your area. You may find that a lawyer willing to work on a contingency basis will end up being less expensive than one charging by the hour.
However, contingency fees do not always make sense. If your case is complicated and requires extensive research and investigation by an expert, you may end up paying more in fees than if you had hired an hourly-based attorney who could devote all their time to your case.
And finally, what are my chances of winning my lawsuit?
Obviously, how much you get paid in a personal injury case depends mainly on two things: whether or not you win your lawsuit and what kinds of damages your claim is for.
It’s hard to predict with any certainty exactly how a court will rule, but there are some basics you can use to gauge your chances.
For instance, if your injuries were pretty serious (for example brain damage from a car accident), it’s unlikely that you would be offered more than $250,000 without winning a settlement.
On top of that, it’s even rarer that someone would be awarded more than half a million dollars unless they had permanent disabilities as a result of their accident.