How To Choose The Right Personal Injury Lawyer
If you’re hurt because of another person’s negligence, you probably wondered whether you should hire a personal injury lawyer. Yet, with so many choices available, another question emerges. How do you choose the right personal injury lawyer for your needs?
In this post, you’ll learn about four things you should consider before signing the retainer agreement:
- Attorney experience
- Reviews and testimonials
- Communication
- Payment options
Experienced In Your Injury Area
“Personal injury” is a broad term that includes all types of injuries. It is vital that you choose one with experience in your injury area. For example, if you’re involved in a motorcycle accident, you want to find an attorney with experience handling that sort of accident. If you’re bitten by a dog, you want to find a personal injury attorney who has extensive experience handling that sort of claim. As a car accident lawyer can tell you, hiring a lawyer who primarily handles car accidents when you were hurt in a slip and fall has the potential to be detrimental to your claim. While that isn’t always true, it’s very important to make sure that the attorney you hire has the appropriate experience to ensure that your claim is properly handled.
Good Reviews And Testimonials From Previous Clients
It’s easier than ever to find out from previous clients about their experience with the lawyer you’re interested in hiring. You should look for the lawyer’s or law firm’s Google Business account to read the reviews. You can often find attorney reviews on Facebook and other social media platforms. You could also check certain websites that house only reviews about attorneys. While you should keep an open mind and take some reviews with a grain of salt and use your best judgment, if there are more negative experiences than positive, that’s a red flag.
Great Communication Skills
Communication skills should be considered during your first consultation. When you first meet with a lawyer, consider this a time for you to get to know their personality and character.
- Do you feel heard and understood?
- Are things explained to you in a friendly way you understand or did you feel as if someone talked down to you?
- What did reviews say about the communication level? Is that something that makes you comfortable?
Easy-to-Understand Payment Options
Before signing the retainer agreement, make sure that you understand how the lawyer gets paid. Although it is common for personal injury lawyers to get paid after the matter concludes, you should understand:
- Whether you’ll owe any money to the attorney if they are unsuccessful
- The percentage paid to the attorney
- Whether you’ll be charged for certain expenses even if the attorney does not win; one example of such a cost is the cost of obtaining medical records or copy expenses
Hire Smart When Looking For A Personal Injury Lawyer
Remember, don’t hire the first attorney you find because they’re the first one. Use the tips above to do your research. The attorneys, like those at Herschensohn Law Firm, PLLC, know you’ll likely be happier with the outcome of your case and the overall relationship with your chosen legal counsel. When you are ready, set up a consultation.