If you need an injury lawyer, it may seem to be complex and confusing making the right choice. Thousands of lawyers deal with injury cases, but how would you know you opted for the best? We have a list of tips that can help you figure out how to make the right choice in finding a personal injury lawyer, so let’s get right into it.
Ask around
You can ask your family and friends about lawyers. They might already have some experience with them and are able to recommend a certain law firm that helped them or their close ones with a personal injury case.
Search online for a personal injury lawyer
It will be a good idea to search online for your injury lawyer. If you search online for a lawyer in your city or hometown, it would be a good idea to schedule a face-to-face consultation and get all the questions answered about your case. It is recommended that you look for reviews and rankings of the potential personal injury law firm to ensure you make the right choice.
Enlist the essential criteria for you
When you hire a personal injury lawyer, make sure to list what kind of experiences you are looking for in his profile. The list that you make will help you figure out more about which type of lawyer is best for you.
This criteria list could include your thoughts about the contingency fee that the lawyer charges, their experience in the field, or simply the personality that best matches yours for the purpose of smooth cooperation and understanding. For example, if you want a lawyer who will handle your car accident case, you might want to make sure you look into this specific category and the success rates they have in resolving these types of cases. You should be able to find this information on the attorney’s profile page displayed on the official website.
Firm experience
When making a decision on a personal injury attorney, the experience of a law firm you choose can be critical for your case. Larger law firms usually have a higher volume of cases and may not be able to take your case on right away, even though they may be more qualified and experienced to handle your case in comparison to newer or smaller law firms.
Call the law firm
If you are doubtful about any of the steps above, you might have to call the law firm and talk to the lawyer who might be handling your case. Calling them would be a good idea as they would make sure you get brief, general information about your case and would allow you to schedule a free initial consultation appointment to further discuss your case.
When you go to the attorney’s office for the free initial consultation, you will need to bring all the documents related to your case. After reviewing it, the lawyer will be able to decide whether or not they are taking your case. After learning preliminary facts about your case, the personal injury lawyer will tell you whether or not they will take your case. You will definitely get a hint of their professionalism and experience during this visit.
Choose the lawyer
After looking, meeting and consulting different lawyers, you now have to shortlist the candidates and choose the best one for you. Pay attention to your criteria list and how well they match what you are looking for.
Questions to ask a personal injury lawyer
What type of cases do you handle?
Asking this question can eliminate a pool of potential lawyers fairly quickly because they need to specialize in a certain practice area to be able to help you, and not all of them do.
What is your fee?
Personal injury lawyers usually work under contingency fees which means if they do not get you the amount of the claim, you do not owe them anything. In other words, the lawyer does not get paid unless you recover something from the insurance company or other party. However, not all personal injury law firms operate like this.
Furthermore, what happens if your case goes to trial and lasts longer than expected - does your attorney fee increase or not? You need to inquire about this information beforehand, so you are well-informed on the attorney’s fee.
Percentage of the case settling
If you decide to hire a good personal injury lawyer who is experienced with negotiations, mediations, and the trial process, she might settle the case with the insurance company. If not, then the case will go to trial. If the other party is interested in settling and paying, you and your lawyer have to decide what is the appropriate amount for the settlement.
On the other hand, if the case is not appropriate for settlement, because the insurance company is not willing to pay a fair amount for your injuries, then you need a lawyer who is not afraid to try the case in court.
Frequently asked questions to a personal injury lawyer
If I don't win the case, do I owe you any case-related fee?
How much time can you spend on my case?
How much time will it take to resolve the case?
Can this case go to trial?
How much involvement will I have in the process?
Our firm
Here at the Law Office of Gaynell Williams LLC, we have experienced lawyers who have dealt with all kinds of injury cases. If you are doubtful or have any queries, call us to make a free appointment, and we will make sure to answer all your questions.
With the experience of over 30 years dealing with injury cases, we know how to develop effective communication and deep understanding of your case, and will try to help you in any possible way we can.
Contact Us Today
Gaynell Williams LLC Attorney at Law offers a free initial consultation to discuss your case. The first consultation can be in person or it can be virtual, on the Internet. Call Gaynell Williams today at (504) 302-2462 for a free consultation as soon as possible. We will work around your schedule. New Orleans lawyers Gaynell Williams LLC Attorney at Law have offices in Gretna and Downtown New Orleans by appointment only.
This information has been provided for informational purposes only and is not intended and should not be construed to constitute legal advice. Please consult your attorney in connection with any specific situation under Louisiana law and the applicable state or local laws that may impose additional obligations on you.
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