There are probably more than 10 pages and in some larger cities maybe more than 20 pages of personal injury lawyer listings in any phone book. So how do you choose the right one for your case?
Personal injury cases are serious business. Sometimes they involve big payoffs. Victims of a personal injury will depend on the ability of their attorney to recover financial damages that will be necessary to cover medical treatments, replace lost income, and hopefully compensate for pain and suffering if the person had been involved in an injury. very serious injury, including permanent disability and even death.
Remember, insurance companies don’t want to see you happy. They don’t care about you. They are more concerned with paying dividends to their shareholders than with their welfare. The insurance company’s attorneys will seek to pay you the least amount possible. Therefore, choosing a good personal injury attorney with a good track record of successful negotiations is essential to getting the most out of your case.
Personal injury cases can include car accidents, product defects, physical workplace injuries, medical malpractice, to name just a few. To be sure that your case is valid in the eyes of the law, contact a legal professional in your city.
Here are some tips to help you find a good personal injury attorney.
Experience – Of course, a highly experienced personal injury attorney, and not just years of practice, but a track record of a favorable amount of successful negotiations, is an important benefit to your case. Most personal injury claims are resolved out of court. But a personal injury attorney with a good deal of settlements can win your case by threatening to take the case to trial. Defendants are often willing to pay plaintiffs more money to avoid negative publicity, costly lawsuits, and even the possibility of the court awarding plaintiffs more money. If your personal injury attorney never won court cases, the defendant in your lawsuit may not take the threat seriously.
Get a personal injury attorney to handle your case on a contingency fee basis – This is a fee charged at the end of the case and only if your case is successful. This means that your lawyer is not paid unless you are paid. Attorneys who primarily represent people in accidents often charge a contingency fee. Your attorney will deduct the fees from the money you receive for your injuries. You can expect your attorney to take around 30% of your final settlement. Therefore, it is essential that you clearly understand the payment structure before signing the retention agreement.
Meeting face to face with your prospective attorney – Your personal injury attorney will be your closest advisor. You should feel comfortable talking to him or her and feel that you can trust him or her. If you don’t like that particular attorney for any reason and you don’t feel comfortable talking to him or her, you should keep looking.
Martindale-Hubbell rating – With a history spanning more than 133 years, the Martindale-Hubbell Legal Network has a database of more than one million attorneys and law firms in 160 countries. This service evaluates attorneys based on peer reviews. Their website, Martindale.com, has a helpful lawyer locator service and will explain the ranking system to you.
And last but not least – Never, never, never give a recorded statement or speak on the phone (as the telephone conversation could be recorded) to a representative of the defendant or the insurance company until you first consult with your personal injury attorney. If prompted, you can simply say, “I am not prepared to provide statements at this time.” A recorded statement from you could and will be used as evidence against you in settlement negotiations and at trial if you have overlooked facts or if you have overlooked details when giving the statement.
Disclaimer: The author and publisher of this article have made every effort to provide you with useful, informative, and accurate information. This article does not represent or replace the legal advice you need to obtain from an attorney or other professional if the content of the article involves a problem you are facing. Laws vary from state to state and change from time to time. Always consult with a qualified professional before making any decisions about the problems described in this article. Thanks.
