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3 Tips for Choosing a Personal Injury Lawyer

When you have been injured in an accident and you are seeking compensation, the experience can be overwhelming and stressful. That’s why it is important to have someone guide you through the process.

A personal injury lawyer can be that guide for you. One of the first things you need to do after an accident is contact a lawyer. If you have been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence you deserve to be compensated and a lawyer will help you get what you deserve.

But how do you pick a lawyer that is experienced and a good fit for your case?

Fortunately, there are many personal injury lawyers available to hire. Unfortunately, not all lawyers have the experience or expertise that you will need and some law offices will not even have you meet with the lawyer who will be personally handling your case. You should meet personally with the lawyer.

Whether you choose us to represent you or not, we want to make sure you know what to look for when choosing a personal injury lawyer.

How to Choose a Personal Injury Lawyer

Hiring a personal injury lawyer does not have to be a stressful process. Consider these tips when choosing your personal injury lawyer.

1. Meet face-to-face with the lawyer.

Some law offices will only have you meet with a paralegal or legal assistant on your first visit and you will never see the lawyer. This is not ideal. You should always be able to meet with the lawyer directly.

This allows you to ask questions to determine the lawyer’s expertise and to ensure you will be a good fit. You will be working closely together and you want to make sure you like each other!

2. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

A good lawyer is knowledgeable and wants to ease your fears about your case. Here are a few good questions to consider:

• Do you handle this type of case?
• Have you tried cases like this before?
• How many jury trials have you personally tried to a verdict?
• Are you familiar with the law in this type of case?

While not all cases result in a jury trial, asking about trial experience gains insight into the lawyer’s expertise and ability to gauge the value of your case. Just because a lawyer says that he handles personal injury cases does not mean he or she has significant experience litigating these matters in court. Courtroom experience and courtroom skills matter a lot. You can be sure that the insurance companies know the difference between experienced, skillful lawyers and all of the others.

3. Leave with clarity.

A good personal injury lawyer acts as a guide and a teacher so you understand the process and are not left in the dark. Ask as many questions as it takes for you to understand your case and what will be involved. Make sure you leave the initial meeting informed and equipped to begin the process.

It can be an intimidating process to determine who you will choose to represent you, but it doesn’t have to be. A personal injury lawyer is a guide and an advocate and you should leave your first meeting with them with that understanding reinforced.