As scary as it is to admit, you never know when you will desire a personal injury attorney. Nobody ever thinks they will find themselves in a scenario that requires legal counsel, and most people don’t be prepared to fall victim to a serious injury.
Unfortunately, accidents and injuries eventually people everyday – even to careful individuals who have done nothing wrong.
By nature, you can’t plan any sort of accident (whether that’s a car accident, a pedestrian accident, a slip and fall accident, or another thing), but you can plan what you is going to do in the aftermath.
One of the best things that you can do to protect yourself in the event of an accident is to get the right legal help – but that will need to you know how to choose a personal injury lawyer.
Being prepared and knowing what questions to ask can make all the difference in your case, from the amount of money you’ll be able to recover for your problems for the a higher level stress you have to deal with throughout the legal process. Make sure you choose an legal professional who will provide you with the level of support you need, as well as somebody who is qualified to get you the best outcome possible for your accident case.
To help you navigate the process of choosing the best Injury Lawyer in Tucson or elsewhere, browse the tips below.
5 Steps to Take in the Lawyer Selection Process
Below are a few steps you should take when researching and evaluating attorneys for your individual injury case.
1. Evaluate their experience.
The more experience a legal professional has in personal injury law, the more likely they are simply to succeed in your case. That’s because they’ve seen everything, so they discover how to handle even the biggest obstacles, from proving the damages of highly complex, catastrophic injuries to seeing through the tricks of manipulative insurance firms.
An accident lawyer with years of experience under their belt is likely already acquainted with the type of compensation for injuries case you’re bringing to them.
To properly determine an attorney’s level of experience, be sure to ask the next questions:
Is personal injury one of the primary practice areas they concentrate on as a lawyer and as a firm? (For some general-practice law firms, personal injury could be one of a dozen types of law they practice, meaning they only deal with these cases from time to time, and they might not have access to the right level of experience.)
How many years has the lawyer and law firm been handling these kind of cases?
Does the legal professional have intensive trial experience?
Are they well-recognized and well-respected in the non-public injury law community? (This recognition might maintain the proper execution of professional awards, membership/leadership in compensation for injuries or trial legal professional associations, etc.)
Do they have experience handling the specific type of case you’re dealing with? (For instance, if you experienced a brain injury, does their firm have experience winning compensation in brain injury cases?)
2. Ensure they have a strong track record for success.
Keep in mind that there a wide range of attorneys who’ve years of experience but still do not actually have a strong track record of success. As an illustration, they might be known for giving in to low-ball settlements from the insurance provider, or they might not have proven results for winning the toughest, most high-value cases.
As you consider an attorney, review their case results and ask these questions:
Have they regularly recovered multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts for clients?
Do they have experience winning cases involving catastrophic injuries and even wrongful death claims, not simply accidents involving minor injuries?
Have they won any awards because of their settlements and verdicts?
3. Pay attention to how they engage with you.
Trust your judgment. The attorney-client relationship is important, so make sure that you prefer how that you are being communicated with and treated by any attorney you are considering hiring.
It’s important to pay attention to the following:
Are they ready and willing to answer any questions you have?
Are they friendly and professional?
Are they strong communicators? (Do they evidently explain the legal process, call you back promptly, etc.)
Are they willing to go to you as needed?
Do they appear genuinely concerned about your well-being?
4. Understand their payment model.
Make sure to read the fine print carefully when hiring a fresh attorney to make sure that you understand fully their payment model so there are no surprises later.
A few good questions to ask include:
Do they give you a free initial consultation?
Do they work on a contingency-fee-basis? (This means you only pay the firm legal fees if indeed they win your case. Additionally, your legal fees are taken out of your settlement, or paid by the defendant, which means you don’t have any upfront fees related to your legal representation.)
Can they provide a cash advance to cover costs before your settlement or verdict?
5. Consider what additional resources they offer.
It’s important to think about the additional resources your prospective injury lawyer can provide. Some accidental injury law firms give a higher level of assistance with various elements of stages of the case, creating less hassle for you and a smoother experience overall.
Make sure to ask the following:
Do they have a network of medical professionals they can use to assist you in finding the treatment you need?
Can they help you find doctors who are willing to focus on a lien basis which means that your medical expenses can be studied out of your settlement or verdict?
Can they assist with additional services related to your case such as property damage valuation and liens negotiations (i.e., negotiating costs with your medical providers)?
Why Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in the First Place?
After being injured within an accident or another incident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be wondering if you actually need to use a personal injury lawyer. The quick answer is YES, you decide to do!
Why? Because there will be an opposing party in your case that will be working against you, either to prove you were responsible for your own injuries or even to give you the lowest settlement possible. In most cases, this opposing party would be the insurance company of the individual or company that caused your injuries.
Insurance companies deal with injury claims day in and day trip, so they’re experts at using manipulative tactics to lower their payout to injury victims. This is why you need a knowledgeable and experienced compensation for injuries legal professional on your side protecting your to fair compensation.
A good legal professional will investigate your case, prove liability by the at-fault party, and handle all negotiations with the insurance company for your benefit. They will also ensure you don’t get short-changed, fighting for the best settlement or verdict to which you are entitled.
But ensure you do your homework before choosing an attorney. Not every personal injury legal professional will be qualified to get you the best result possible in your case. Remember to choose wisely using the tips in this article!