Getting injured is never easy whether it was at a work setting, a slip, and fall, or something else entirely. And finding the right personal injury lawyer to help you with your case is extremely important because that can be a determining factor in whether you get the proper compensation or not. With so many options out there, it can be hard knowing where to begin. Fortunately, we have put together a guide for you that helps lay out some expert tips on what to look for when hiring a personal injury lawyer.
1. The Bigger Picture
As if sustaining an injury isn’t enough in itself, it usually brings other negative factors with it. Depending on the extent of your injuries, you might be unable to work for a prolonged period, which can result in lost wages. The medical bills could be piling up, and you might even need professional home care, which presents an additional drain on your finances. Unfortunately, as the attorneys at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon explain, sometimes the financial consequences can be so drastic that they could lead to bankruptcy. The lawyer you choose needs to be aware of just how much the injury has changed the quality of your life, and the lasting effects it has on you. Personal injury cases are pretty common, and while it’s important to find a lawyer who has experience in dealing with them, it’s even more important to ensure that it isn’t someone that has become desensitized to the reality of what they mean to the injured party.
2. Experience
After you’ve ensured that the attorney you’re considering doesn’t see your case as just another one to close, it’s time to assess their qualifications and experience. If you are looking for a good lawyer to handle your case, finding someone who specializes in personal injury cases is important. If you already have a family lawyer you trust, for example, you might want to present your case to them and ask them to direct you to a colleague of theirs that handles similar cases. You might feel more comfortable going with someone you already know, however, that’s not always the best option. While a good lawyer will know a thing or two about similar branches of the law, the best way to ensure you get properly compensated is to find one that specializes in cases as similar to your own as possible. As an example, let’s say you found two personal injury lawyers you consider to be good and can’t really decide on who to go with. If you suffered an injury in a car crash, and one of them has plenty of experience in dealing with traffic accidents while the other deals more with medical malpractice, it would likely be better to go with the first option.
3. Availability
You’ll often find that good lawyers have a lot of clients and cases they’re working on. Generally speaking, that’s a good sign. However, you also want to make sure the attorney you choose will have adequate time to dedicate to your case as well. It’s always a good idea to have a set of questions to ask a lawyer you’re considering in order to ensure they’re the right one for you. The following questions should be at the top of that list:
- How many cases are they currently working on – if the lawyer already has multiple cases on his hands, it might be better to look elsewhere since they might not be able to focus on yours as much as they need to, and that might lead to mistakes being made.
- Are they going to handle your case personally – some lawyers take up cases, but let someone else in their firm handle them. While this might be better for you in terms of costs, it’s important to ensure that you’re happy with the person they delegate your case to.
- How much time can they set aside for your case – if they do have other clients they’re working for at the moment, and you still want to hire them, it’s important to know approximately how much time they have to focus on your case, so you can make the right decision.
4. Communication
Becoming a lawyer isn’t easy. There are a lot of things one has to learn – both through formal education as well as experience – that’s why not anyone can call themselves an attorney. That said, it’s important that they are able to communicate with you in a clear way. If a person’s really an expert in their field, they will be able to explain difficult concepts to their client in a way that’s easy to understand. Of course, some people prefer to just have the lawyers do their thing, but if you’re among those that want to understand your case on a deeper level, look for someone that’s able and willing to do more than just tell you the bottom line.
Finding a good personal injury lawyer can be a real challenge, but if you follow the right steps, it’ll go a lot smoother. One of the main things to remember when hiring one is that you should always feel comfortable with them – otherwise, they won’t be able to do their job properly in representing your interests in court.