An injury lawyer has a critical role to play in obtaining an optimum settlement from a personal injury grievance. They help settle injury claims, file a lawsuit (if that’s what you want), and collect all relevant information before trial. They even advocate for you throughout the process!
As such, it’s vital to have an excellent attorney who can fulfill these duties and stand tall for you against big-shot insurance company lawyers. Moreso, you want a person you can wholeheartedly trust and with whom you find comfort.
Finding a lawyer that ticks all boxes may be challenging with these considerations in mind. Do you hire every lawyer that pops up on your search, or do you consider specific criteria? Keep reading to discover appropriate steps to figure out with an attorney before an agreement.
Find Out the Lawyer’s General Experience
These days, most people don’t just want an attorney when pursuing personal injury claims. They want a person too — at least an acquaintance if not a friend. Plus, people want to assess their potential plaintiff’s competence beforehand.
If you’re one such person, you might want to discuss with the lawyer over coffee before your decision. You may ask questions about the lawyer’s Alma mater, but the educational background rarely matters as much as real-time experience.
Other information to find out may include:
- The number of years the attorney has spent as a practitioner
- The percentage of the attorney’s cases that have been primarily about personal injury
- The typical clients of the lawyer: plaintiffs (petitioners) or defendants ( insurance companies)
- The relationship of the attorney with the firm you’re suing
Who Is in Charge of Your Case?
Some law firms offer you the chance to select between professional lawyers and paralegals, and for good reasons. Typically, attorneys gain more respect than their legal assistants, but they cost more, too, since they handle the actual court cases while the latter manage paperwork.
Therefore, it may be advisable to stick with paralegals (if you get to choose) if you’re only sorting out settlement papers and not a lawsuit. They ensure you don’t part with much of your claim.
Establish the Communication Lines
While you must understand that the lawyer you hire has tons of other legal duties to attend to, it’s necessary to define the means of communication that’ll be available during the trial. Tons of responsibilities to fulfill doesn’t excuse an attorney who doesn’t value communicating with you.
Therefore, observe this regard in a lawyer before hiring. Do they pay you attention? Do they accept your suggestions on how you’d prefer the case? Do they help you understand the technicalities?
Your attorney’s ability to listen and understand your opinions greatly affects how they go about the process. The ideal lawyer is willing to communicate with you when necessary, thereby helping you make the best decisions. Plus, having a listening ear during the whole process may make proceedings less stressful.
Ascertain the Settlement Objective
The settlement goal is sensitive and follows after you sort out all other aspects and are sure you’re hiring the lawyer.
To start, you share previous communiqués with the culpable insurance firm with your lawyer. You two may then fix a figure you would like as settlement from the company. Your attorney helps to determine if your settlement expectation is realistic.
Your lawyer may adopt any of these three main approaches to the settlement goal:
- They may help you to work out a feasible amount that’s obtainable with minimal costs and hassle.
- They may help secure any claim that’s better than the amount the insurance firm currently offers within a timeframe.
- Lastly, you may permit them to obtain as much settlement as possible regardless of the time it takes.
Where Can I Find an Attorney That May Meet These Criteria?
Friends, relatives, and the Internet are familiar sources to look for personal injury lawyers. However, these resources may not be beneficial, as friends and relatives may be sentimental with their referrals. At the same time, Google doesn’t review a firm’s legal competence before directing you to their webpage.
However, you don’t have to bother about these sources to find an excellent personal injury attorney to get the justice you deserve. Our reputable service offers free matching between you and your ideal legal representative. Contact us today for a free evaluation specific to your personal injury case.