What to Look for in a Personal Injury Attorney

If you find yourself hurt due to a car accident, truck accident, dog bite, slip and fall accident, or any number of other personal injury incidents, you need a lawyer. But with so many to choose from, how do you select the right person for the job?

Why Hire a Personal Injury Attorney?

Nobody is going to make you hire an attorney. You’re legally entitled to represent yourself, should you please. You’re also completely within your rights to hire any kind of attorney, whether they specialize in personal injury or not. But when it comes down to it, hiring anyone other than a personal injury attorney is a major mistake. Here’s why:

• Personal injury attorneys have experience working with cases just like yours. This is what they do all day, every day. Just like a Japanese mechanic shop is going to do a better job working on Japanese vehicles than an American mechanic shop, a personal injury attorney is going to do a superior job of working on personal injury cases (compared to some other type of lawyer or legal professional).

• Personal injury cases come with thick bands of red tape. A good attorney will cut through the confusing terms, jargon, and processes to ensure you file the necessary paperwork to preserve your claim.

• An experienced personal injury attorney knows how to negotiate. They understand when insurance companies are bluffing and are skilled at presenting the perfect counter offers at just the right moments.

• Good personal injury attorneys have connections with the right professionals. And if they don’t personally know someone who can help, they’re only a couple of phone calls away from the answer.

 Factors to Look For

There are thousands of personal injury attorneys in the country. Unfortunately, not all are created equal. As you look for the best attorney for your claim, here are some factors to carefully consider:

Experience 

Consider how long the personal injury attorney has been in practice. They can look the part, drive the nice car, and give a firm handshake – but have they cut their teeth?

It’s one thing to have a theoretical understanding of personal injury law. But law school is no match for the courtroom. If you’re letting a newbie lawyer gain their experience at your expense, don’t be surprised if you’re let down. Go for the lawyer that’s been there and done that. 

Track Record 

The best personal injury attorneys don’t just have experience – they have good experience. In other words, they have an impressive track record that consists of past successful claims and happy clients.

How do you evaluate an attorney’s track record? The easiest option is to visit their website. Take Boohoff Law as an example. Their website includes client testimonials, past results, and proof of membership in various organizations and groups. When you see all of this proof, it’s easy to trust them with your case. 

Responsiveness 

One of the biggest concerns with hiring a big law firm is that you’ll be just another sheet of paper on someone’s desk. You want to know that, whether it’s a large law firm or a boutique practice, your case matters.

You can judge a lot based on how responsive an attorney is during your initial outreach. If people pick up the phone and quickly follow up on their promises, this is a good sign. If you find it difficult to get in touch with someone on the front end, you’ll almost certainly regret your decision to work with them.  

Fee Structure 

Personal injury attorneys can work on any sort of fee structure they like. The question is, what structure makes the most sense for you?

In most cases, plaintiffs find it most beneficial to work with attorneys who operate on a  contingency fee basis. This means the lawyer only gets paid if and when there’s a successful payout. This prevents you from overpaying for an attorney and not getting anything in exchange. 

Free Consultations 

Any good personal injury attorney worth their salt will offer a free initial consultation to hear about your case. If someone tries to charge you for this first meeting, you’re better off finding someone else. 

Select the Right Attorney 

No two attorneys are created equal. As you look for a personal injury attorney, remember to keep these factors in mind. In doing so, you’ll dramatically improve your chances of obtaining a successful verdict or settlement. Good luck!