Choosing a Personal Injury Lawyer: What Matters Most
Are you looking to maximize recovery on your personal injury case?
Finding the right personal injury law firm to handle your claim is a decision that should not be taken lightly. The wrong choice could cost you thousands of dollars… if not your entire case.
Let's shed some light on this…
Every year there are 39.5 million personal injury cases filed that require medical attention in the United States alone. That is an extremely large number of individuals seeking legal representation.
However… the average person does not know what they should be looking for.
Working with a knowledgeable injury attorney at an established personal injury law firm greatly improves your chances of getting a fair settlement. But with over 64,000 personal injury law firms currently operating in the United States, how exactly do you weed out the bad apples?
That is what we are here to help you figure out.
You'll Discover:
How The Right Personal Injury Law Firm Makes All The Difference
3 Qualities To Look For In A Personal Injury Law Firm
5 RED FLAGS You Should Steer Clear Of
6 Questions To Ask Before You Sign Any Contracts
How The Right Personal Injury Law Firm Makes All The Difference
Not all personal injury law firms are created equal.
Some handle as many clients at one time as possible, and treat you as another file number. Other firms are lean, mean negotiating machines that study every aspect of a case and fight tooth-and-nail for every dollar they can win.
Here's the kicker…
Approximately 95% of personal injury lawsuits are settled before they ever see trial. The attorney's skill at the negotiation table — not in the courtroom — is what will dictate your payout.
The right personal injury law firm will know how to build an ironclad case, apply pressure on insurance companies, and negotiate the best settlement possible. The wrong law firm will push you to settle for the first offer.
That level of experience can literally translate to tens of thousands of dollars.
3 Qualities To Look For In A Personal Injury Law Firm
When reviewing potential personal injury law firms to represent you, there are a few qualities that stand out from the rest.
Here are the three things that matter the most…
Experienced With Your Specific Case Type
Personal injury law covers many different situations such as:
Motor vehicle accidents
Slip and fall accidents
Workers compensation claims
Medical negligence
Product liability claims
Not all personal injury lawyers specialise in each area of personal injury law. Look for law firms that have verifiable experience handling cases just like yours. Ask them directly about how many cases they've handled that are similar to yours — and what the outcomes were.
Familiarity with your exact situation will allow the firm to identify obstacles, know realistic value, and utilise strategies that have worked in the past.
Works On A Contingency Fee Basis
Personal injury law firms should work on a contingency fee basis. What this means is that they will only get paid if you win your case.
Why does this matter?
When a firm works on contingency, it means they have skin in the game. The financial well-being of their firm hinges on the outcome of your case. It also allows you — the client — to not worry about any upfront costs.
Simply put, if a personal injury law firm asks you to pay them up front… find someone else.
Communication Is Open And Easy
One of the most common complaints about law firms in general is communication.
Personal injury cases can take anywhere from a few months to a few years to settle. In that time, you deserve to have a peace of mind about what is going on with your case. Your firm should assign a specific person to you that returns phone calls in a timely manner and provides consistent updates without you having to constantly follow up.
Keep this in mind: If you struggle to get ahold of them now… it will not get better later once they have your case.
Check Out Their Track Record
Past results are the best indicator of future success.
When you find a personal injury law firm that catches your interest, see if they can provide past client's settlement amounts and honest reviews. You can learn a lot about a firm's day-to-day operations by reading reviews on 3rd party sites.
Don't just look at the star rating. Read the reviews, and look for trends surrounding response times, transparency, and case results.
5 RED FLAGS You Should Steer Clear Of
Like anything else, there are law firms out there that try to focus on quantity over quality. While you're looking for the following qualities, here are some red flags to avoid:
Pushing you to sign a contract immediately. Take your time. If they are anxious to get you to sign their contract, that is not a good sign.
Anything that is not a contingency fee agreement. As stated above, make sure they don't require any upfront payment. Get the entire fee agreement in writing before you agree to it.
Law firms that handle all types of law. You want a firm that specialises in personal injury law. If they advertise they do everything, chances are they only have 1 or 2 attorneys that handle everything and your case won't have dedicated focus.
Not being able to speak to the actual attorney who will handle your case is another huge red flag.
Guaranteeing you a specific outcome before they review your case. No reputable law firm can predict the outcome of your case before facts are gathered.
Straightforward enough, right?
Trust your gut. If you meet with a law firm and something doesn't feel right, take notice.
6 Questions To Ask Before You Sign Anything
Knowing what to ask a potential personal injury law firm can make all the difference in your consultation with them.
Take notes, write these questions down, and ask them during your consultation.
How many cases like mine have you handled?
What were the results in those cases?
Who will be my main point of contact?
Can you explain your fee structure in detail?
How will you keep me updated on my case?
What is your honest assessment of my case?
Any reputable law firm will have no problem answering all of these questions. If they give you vague responses, avoid firms that seem too positive.
The Bottom Line:
Selecting a personal injury law firm should not be something you rush through.
Take your time, do your homework, and choose a law firm that you can trust to handle your case. Here are the main points we covered:
Ensure they have experience with your specific type of injury claim
Confirm their fee structure is contingency based
Make sure they have excellent communication skills
Research their track record and read what other clients have to say
Come prepared with questions to ask
The personal injury lawyer services industry is expected to generate 61.7 billion dollars by 2025. There are plenty of firms out there competing for you as a client. Let them compete by withholding your business until you find a law firm that proves they are worth your business.
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