Injuries happen every single day. Recently, the U.S. saw over 55 million of them in a single year.
If you suffer an injury at the hands of another, you may have a valid personal injury claim. If you feel like you may have a case, finding the right personal injury lawyer is critical to the success of your lawsuit.
Finding a personal injury lawyer can be challenging, as you want to try to pick the right one for you. You may find a personal injury attorney in many ways but must consider certain factors before committing to one.
What Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Do?
Personal injury claims arise when you suffer harm from another person. These cases typically arise from a person’s negligent action or inaction but may also arise from intentional wrongdoing. Filing a personal injury claim allows you to pursue justice and financial compensation for your injuries and losses.
Just like you wouldn’t go to your primary care physician for a root canal, you shouldn’t rely on any other type of lawyer for a personal injury case. While many believe a lawyer is a lawyer, handling personal injury cases requires special knowledge that another lawyer may not possess.
When Do I Need to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Ideally, you should hire a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after suffering your injury.
The law imposes a time restriction on lawsuits. Under the statute of limitations for personal injury cases, you only have a specific amount of time to file a lawsuit. If you wait too long and your time expires, you’re unlikely to recover any compensation for your injuries.
The sooner you hire your personal injury attorney and begin working on your case, the better. As soon as you suffer an injury and seek medical attention, consult with a personal injury lawyer immediately.
How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help My Case?
A personal injury lawyer can have a significant impact on the outcome of your case. In most cases, individuals with legal representation fare better than those without lawyers.
You can count on your personal injury lawyer to manage every aspect of your case, including:
- Addressing your questions and concerns
- Thoroughly investigating your accident
- Drafting and filing court documents
- Representing you throughout your case
- Calculating your damages
- Gathering evidence and documentation
- Speaking directly with the opposing party
- Handling settlement negotiations on your behalf
A personal injury attorney knows how to handle your case and represent your best interests while pursuing maximum compensation. Having a lawyer on your side can give you peace of mind while allowing you to put your time and energy into your physical recovery.
Ways to Find a Personal Injury Lawyer
There are many ways to find a personal injury lawyer that suits your needs. Below are some of the most common ways individuals find the right attorney.
Recommendations from Family and Friends
First and foremost, you can start by asking those closest to you. Perhaps you have a family member or a friend that has previously worked with a personal injury lawyer and had a good experience. You can also ask coworkers or other trusted individuals.
It is best to get recommendations from individuals with personal experience with an attorney. You’ll gain valuable insight and better understand what to expect.
Internet Searches
Internet searches can yield dozens of results for personal injury lawyers. If you choose to go this route, you can use keywords to help with your search, including “personal injury lawyer in [your city]” or “personal injury lawyers near me.”
Not every personal injury attorney handles every single type of injury case. Therefore, you can try using keywords related to your exact type of accident. For example, you can search “slip and fall lawyer near me” or “brain injury attorney in [your city].” A more specific search will give you a list of lawyers handling your type of injury case.
Lawyer Referral Services
When you go through a lawyer referral service, the service pinpoints you in the right direction, helping you find a personal injury lawyer that suits your needs and handles your type of case.
You can find lawyer referral services online by conducting a quick search, but you can also find these services locally. For instance, every state’s bar has a lawyer referral service, helping you find a lawyer in your state and city.
Ask Other Lawyers
Lawyers know lawyers. You may know a lawyer that doesn’t practice personal injury law, but they likely have friends or colleagues they can refer you to.
Asking lawyers is a great way to find the lawyer you need, as lawyers generally understand the law and one another. You’re in good hands if you can get a personal referral from another type of lawyer.
What To Look For in a Personal Injury Attorney
No two personal injury lawyers are the same. You’ll want to consider what’s important to you before consulting with personal injury attorneys, as this can assist you in finding the right lawyer for you.
Experience Handling Similar Types of Cases
As mentioned, not every personal injury lawyer handles every single type of injury case.
For example, if you need representation for a medical malpractice case, you’ll want to find a lawyer that has experience handling medical malpractice cases. These cases are very heavily involved and require special knowledge. A lawyer who has never handled one may not benefit your case as much as a lawyer with extensive experience.
Additionally, it’s helpful to find a personal injury lawyer with trial experience. While most personal injury cases do not go to trial, there is always a possibility your case may end up in the courtroom. If this happens, get an attorney confident in representing you at trial and outside the courtroom.
Record of Success
It’s helpful knowing that not only does your lawyer have experience with your type of case, but they also have a successful track record. Lawyers often post previous wins on their websites. While a specific settlement amount is never guaranteed, it indicates this lawyer and law firm have had past successes and know how to represent their clients properly.
Communication and Availability
A personal injury lawyer can’t speak with you 24/7, but you must know your lawyer will talk to you when needed.
Personal injury cases can take some time to resolve, and some periods during the case are more active than others. Your personal injury lawyer should keep you in the loop and update you periodically about the status of your case.
Your lawyer should also set clear expectations for emails and phone calls. For instance, your personal injury lawyer may have a policy indicating they respond to emails and voicemails within two business days. Knowing this information beforehand gives you a good idea of how communication will flow with your attorney, putting your mind at ease.
Positive Reviews
Not only is a successful track record vital, but so are happy clients. You can find reviews from past clients directly on a lawyer’s website or other sites, like Google.
It helps to read through reviews to get to know the lawyer and firm better, especially if you did not get a personal recommendation from someone you know.
Works on Contingency Fees
You may face financial challenges after suffering injuries in an accident and be hesitant to hire a lawyer for fear of expensive attorney’s fees. Therefore, working with a personal injury lawyer that works on a contingency fee is particularly beneficial.
You have no upfront costs when a lawyer works on a contingency fee basis. You don’t have to pay your attorney hourly and won’t receive monthly invoices for your lawyer’s services. Instead, once your attorney locks in a settlement for your case, they will take an agreed-upon percentage and give you the rest.
Contingency fees are a win-win—you get the legal representation you need without out-of-pocket costs while your lawyer gets paid fairly for their services.
Dedication to Your Case
Personal injury lawyers are busy, but you don’t want to work with a lawyer so busy and overwhelmed you doubt they’ll give your case the attention it deserves.
It’s best to work with a lawyer that maintains a manageable caseload, as this allows them to dedicate time and attention to every case.
Helpful Support Staff
Personal injury lawyers can’t do everything on their own. Strong support staff helps attorneys handle their workload and ensure every case proceeds promptly and appropriately.
In many cases, you can also establish a connection with the legal assistant or paralegal working your case and rely on them for updates and information throughout your case.
How to Hire the Right Personal Injury Lawyer for You
Hiring the right personal injury lawyer takes time and patience. Because you’ll be working with your attorney for some time, you want to help make sure you find the right attorney for you.
Make a List of Important Criteria
Before beginning your search, consider what’s important to you. You can use the list above and add your characteristics to it. Choosing a personal injury attorney is very personal, so you must select the right option to suit your wants and needs.
Research Potential Personal Injury Lawyers
Whether you get a recommendation or referral or find a lawyer on your own with an online search, research the attorneys you find. Look into their education, background, and experience—getting to know lawyers before your initial meeting can help tremendously.
Make a List of Potential Lawyers that Meet Your Criteria
Once you have a better idea of what you’re looking for in a lawyer and you’ve completed your research, narrow down your list of potential personal injury lawyers.
Contact Law Firms to Schedule Consultations
Individuals may schedule initial consultations with more than one lawyer. Meeting with multiple attorneys gives you a better understanding of what lawyer may be better for you, making you feel more confident when you make your final decision.
Go Into Your Consultations Prepared
Make the most out of your scheduled meetings. Some lawyers have limited time to meet, so going into your consultation prepared can help you feel even better once the meeting ends.
If you have any evidence or documentation regarding your accident or injuries, take that with you in case your lawyer wants to review it. Additionally, you can take a list of questions to get to know the lawyer and how they will handle your case.
Potential questions to ask can include:
- How many years of experience do you have handling my type of case?
- What is your policy for answering emails and calling clients back?
- What are your fees? If you work on a contingency basis, what percentage do you take?
- How long do you think my case may take to resolve?
- Will you be handling my case personally or another lawyer?
- Should my case go to trial, do you have trial experience?
- How involved will I need to be with my case?
Getting honest answers to your question can guide you in choosing the right personal injury lawyer.
Choose the Lawyer You Feel Most Comfortable Working With
After your initial meeting, you should feel you know the lawyer better than you did when you walked in. Choose the personal injury lawyer you think you can establish a good relationship with. Personal injury cases often take time to resolve, and you’ll need to work with your lawyer for an extended period.
Begin Your Personal Injury Lawyer Search Today
Personal Injury Attorney, Jacob D. Lawrence
As soon as possible after suffering an injury, begin your search for a personal injury lawyer. You may not find the right one overnight, and it may take a few days to decide. Therefore, the sooner you start looking, the better for you and your case.