If you or someone you know is suffering from the consequences of malpractice, accidents, lost wages, and injuries, you require an attorney to support you and compensate for your loss. But you can only get compensation if you hire the right lawyer for your case—someone who has your best interests at heart. Choosing a personal injury lawyer might seem difficult, but in this post, we will provide ten tips on hiring a personal injury lawyer to make this whole process a little easier for you.
Look for recommendations:
The first and most essential step is to get recommendations from your family and loved ones or from people you know who have been in a similar situation. You can ask them and make a list of lawyers and take reviews of how their experience was and the services of the lawyers.
The goal is to search for patterns in previous clients who expressed their experiences. Here are some questions that client reviews can answer:
- Are they good at communicating?
- Do they dedicate sufficient time to cases?
- Did previous clients feel valued?
Ask about their experience:
It would be best if you browsed through law firm websites to get a view of their experiences and reviews. It is better to find an attorney who works for the type of personal injury you require. You can find reviews and testimonials, including all the results of success rates and settlements, which will give you an overall idea and make the decision-making process easier for you. You can inquire about how many types of cases they have dealt with similar to yours. For instance, if you’re looking for a lawyer for a birth injury case, you can ask them if they’ve handled a case like this before. Also, you can visit http://www.childbirthinjuries.com to find the best lawyer who can handle your case and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Check their qualifications:
After you’ve made the list of potential lawyers, it is best that you make a personal inquiry. Check their qualifications and credentials. As mentioned earlier, make sure that the lawyer specializes in your type of case and has dealt with cases similar to yours. It will give you a sense of security that you are working with an experienced lawyer who can best handle your situation.
Ask your gut:
You should always pick a lawyer who aligns with your values and someone you can trust to represent you in court. Their professionalism will guide your instincts and help you choose the right one. If you feel comfortable collaborating with and trusting the attorney, this is a positive sign.
Above all, pay attention to your level of understanding with the attorney when you explain your claims and when they answer your inquiries. If you detect hesitancy or don’t think they are being completely honest, trust your instincts and proceed to another lawyer. However, if you think you haven’t made the right choice or feel dissatisfied even after the representation has started, do not hesitate to switch to another lawyer.
Inquire about fees:
Most lawyers provide their clients with a free consultation and charge only a contingency fee. The lawyer can avail of this fee only if there’s a recovery in your case. The majority of lawyers also charge fees based on time spent on their cases. See what suits you best. It is much more convenient to hire a lawyer who takes a percentage of the compensation you receive (aka contingency fees). Opting for a lawyer who charges by the hour could cost you more than you might be able to recover, and you might not even win the case, so basically, you’ll be in a weaker financial position at the end of it all! This option might only be viable if the lawyer charging you on an hourly basis is a renowned expert and has a high percentage of wins.
Make a list of questions:
Typically, attorneys offer a free consultation to examine the specifics of your claim. During the consultation, you have the right to ask questions that will help determine whether you want to proceed or if you should contact the other attorneys on your list. Here are examples of some questions you should ask:
- How long does it often take to complete a personal injury lawsuit like mine?
- In a personal injury claim, what are your primary priorities?
- Can you tell me about a situation similar to mine that you handled?
- What was the outcome?
- What would your approach be in this case?
- What are the possibilities for a win?
- How often will you be available?
Check their workload:
An attorney is your backbone in the personal injury process. You should ensure the attorney has a manageable workload to avoid mistakes in your claims. Many attorneys are handling multiple clients, which hinders the thorough investigation of evidence and prompt communication, making your case suffer. For example, your attorney could make errors in legal documents when unfocused.
Look for a professional network:
Most personal injury cases require the testimony of witnesses. You want to ensure the lawyer has a professional network suited for your case. For example, if you are suing your doctor for misdiagnosis, the lawyer might call another doctor as a witness who is a specialist in your case and who can explain the consequences of the misdiagnosis in court. Hence, it is crucial to choose a lawyer who can bring experts in extensive fields for a smoother case win.
Ethical standards:
Ethical standards are human principles and laws of right and wrong; this includes confidentiality, client care, fees, and conflicts of interest. You want to make sure the law firms adhere to high ethical standards to avoid any potential losses. A few examples of high ethical standards are:
- Lawyers must respect the confidentiality of their client
- Deal the case with empathy
- Communicate all consequences with utter honesty
- Lawyers should provide advice using their expertise.
Researching and inquiring beforehand can give you an idea of a firm’s reputation.
Conclusion
It is important that you start finding a lawyer before the statute of limitations or the time limit for filing a case ends. However, this is a major step after probably experiencing a traumatized event like your child not being able to live a normal life due to a birth injury. Hence, don’t rush in choosing lawyers, and make sure you select the right one. Take your time and do your research to save yourself from regret.