7 Steps to Select a Suitable Personal Injury Attorney

The world is fast changing, and the legal industry is not left out. The legal world has many dynamics and innovations, including how clients choose attorneys. However, unaware of these innovations, you may end up with the wrong attorney. 

When someone injures you negligently, you must hold them accountable for their action. You need a highly competent personal injury attorney to help you with the legal battle. However, with over 400,000 personal injury matters filed annually in the United States, you may end up with the wrong attorney. 

“You need to strategically choose who represents you. You need a local personal injury attorney who understands local laws and has handled similar issues. You need someone who will prioritize your interests and go the extra mile to help you achieve a favorable outcome,” says personal injury attorney David Gordon of The Law Offices of David E. Gordon.

This article explains the steps you can take to choose the most suitable personal injury attorney for your case:

Be Attentive to their Specialty in Personal Injury

The personal injury legal subsector is huge. Just because an individual is a personal injury attorney does not automatically mean they will be suitable for all cases. 

For instance, while some specialize in dog bite issues, others may specialize in medical malpractice. So, choosing an auto crash personal injury attorney for your workplace injury case will be a misnomer. If you desire the best result, you must put a round peg in a round hole. 

When you engage an attorney with specialized experience related to your case, they will help you achieve the desired outcome. They know how to prosecute your case and the strategies and laws involved.

Assess Their Record of Success

Even if your shortlisted attorney has handled several of your case types, you must also consider their success rate. Beyond their experience in your case types, how many such cases did they win? Your case may also go the same way if you fail constantly!

You can also ask for leads from establishments and past clients. This will give you an insight into your shortlisted attorney’s win rates in cases similar to yours. If you want to work with a skilled or reputable attorney, you must thoroughly research the background of your preferred lawyer before engaging them. 

Check Reviews and Testimonials

A practical way to evaluate a lawyer’s success record is by reading client reviews and testimonials. When you read reviews and testimonials about your preferred attorney, you will know how much they satisfy their clients. 

Through these reviews, you will learn how transparent the attorney is. They will also reveal their communication style and rate of wins. Knowing all these will help you make an informed decision about them. 

Google Reviews, Avvo, and Martindale-Hubbell are incredible platforms for fact-checking attorneys’ reputations, credentials, and ratings. It is often advisable to check these independent third-party sites because you will get objective assessments there.

Inquire About Their Fee Structure

When you engage a personal injury attorney, you do not want a situation where you will have issues with their fees. It can ruin your entire case if you fail to proactively address it. 

Fortunately, most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency.  That is, they will take a pre-agreed percentage from your compensation. So, if the case fails, you don’t need to bother yourself about legal fees. 

The percentage they charge ranges from 25 percent to 40 percent. However, clarifying everything with your attorney before commencing your case is advisable. You must also ask about hidden charges, such as filing and expert witness fees. 

Document everything in your fee agreement and let it be your guide. Some attorneys are fond of changing the goalpost in the middle of the match. However, it will be your shield once you have a formal agreement.

Schedule an Initial Appointment

Most personal injury attorneys offer an initial free consultation with prospective clients. Take this advantage to gauge the attorney’s professionalism and willingness to handle your case. You must be attentive to their verbal and non-verbal cues. 

Before the appointment, prepare a list of questions that will guide your interactions. The questions should focus on their experience, case timelines, and potential strategies for prosecuting your case.

You should be attentive to their response. An ideal personal injury attorney will seize the opportunity to market themselves. They will demonstrate an in-depth understanding of your case and thoroughly analyze it, showing you why it will thrive at trial. 

They will also outline your case’s uniqueness and offer custom suggestions. Thus, stick with a local attorney who demonstrates these attributes and shows readiness to walk you through the legal terrain. 

Evaluate Their Communication Fluency

Fluent communication is indispensable to a reputable attorney. During the initial consultation, you must be attentive to your shortlisted attorney’s communication skills. They must be able to simplify complex concepts for you.

Their answers should also be encompassing, understandable, and solution-centered. They must also show positive body language; their non-verbal cues must draw you to them. You must be highly sensitive during the initial consultation and trust your gut feelings.

You should also clarify the medium of communication and who your primary contact within the firm will be. For instance, some lawyers will delegate your case to an associate. You must also know how regularly you will get an update on your case. 

Assess Their Network and Resources

Depending on the complexity of your case, a personal injury attorney alone may not be sufficient for a positive outcome. For example, you might need an accident reconstructionist to offer a detailed analysis of your accident’s circumstances.

You may also need an economist to help calculate your non-economic losses.

Furthermore, you need an independent medical professional to understand the severity and implications of your injuries. Your preferred attorney must demonstrate their ability to assemble all these resources. They should demonstrate their strong network and how they will deploy it to your advantage. 

They must be financially strong to get all the required resources for your case. If your attorney demonstrates financial constraints from the beginning, it will affect the outcome of your case. Your preferred law firm must be willing to harness its resources for a favorable outcome.

You must prioritize your well-being in any given case. Hence, you must never allow sentiments to allow you to engage an incompetent attorney for your case.

Concluding Remarks

Choosing the wrong attorney for your personal injury case is like intentionally throwing away a golden opportunity. You lose the chance to get maximum compensation and may live with regrets. 

However, when you work with a reputable and resourceful attorney, your case will get the deserved attention. They will deploy all their resources for your case. They understand what is at stake and will go all out for you.

Thus, use the tips in this essay to choose an outstanding local personal injury attorney for your case.