You’ve decided to hire a personal injury attorney, but where do you start? You’ve never worked with a personal injury lawyer before, and you’re wondering what to expect and where to find the right match for you.
In this post, we’ll discuss the ins and outs of working with an accident attorney. And what you need to do to ensure the best outcome.
Let’s dive in.
Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer
As a general rule, most people hire a personal injury attorney after an injury or car accident.
Most people have never worked with an accident attorney before, and don’t know what to expect from such a professional. There are times people feel overwhelmed by the prospect of hiring an attorney. They may settle for the first option they find. And can assume that all attorneys offer relatively the same services.
In reality, though, this is one of the most important professional relationships you’ll ever have. After all, you’re trusting your attorney to work with your insurance company and secure you the settlement you deserve after a car accident or motorcycle accident.
With that in mind, it pays to choose carefully and take your time hiring the right attorney.
What Personal Injury Lawyers do
Personal injury attorneys are civil litigators who provide legal representation to people after accidents, which typically result from the negligent acts of another person, organization, or entity.
The primary goal of personal injury attorneys is to secure settlements and justice for people who have been injured.
Here are a few of the primary duties of personal injury lawyers:
- Collecting and analyzing evidence. Personal injury attorneys work with clients, law enforcement officials, and insurance companies to collect evidence and build a case for the injured person. Whether the accident was the result of a car wreck. A slip and fall accident. Or a product liability issue. The first stage is to gather evidence and use it to build a successful case.
- Dealing with insurance companies. If you’ve ever tried to secure a payout from an insurance company, you know the process can be painful and drawn-out. Fortunately, when you hire a personal injury attorney, they’ll take this over for you. Personal injury attorneys step in on your behalf to communicate with your insurance company and serve as the intermediary between you and the adjuster handling your case.
- Provide legal representation. One of the largest duties of a personal injury attorney is to represent a client at trial if the case doesn’t settle beforehand. If your case goes to trial, your injury attorney will present evidence and argue your case before a jury. This is critical, as representing yourself is not a good idea in complex personal injury cases.
Finding the Right Personal Injury Attorney: 5 Tips
You’ve decided to hire a personal injury attorney. Follow these steps to find the right one for you:
1. Know your criteria
Not all personal injury attorneys are the same. To ensure a good outcome, you want to find someone who meets your expectations.
Look for someone who is licensed in your state and has experience with your type of case (slip and fall accident, wrongful death, car accidents, etc.)
One of the best ways to find a good fit is to ask around for recommendations or to do a quick Google search for attorneys that handle wrongful death, car accidents, or other issues involved in your case.
2. Do your research
Once you’ve found a few attorneys that seem like they might fit the bill, do your research. We recommend reading the bios and background for each attorney you’re considering and pursuing the attorney’s online reviews and testimonials. This will give you a good idea of how the attorney practices and what you can expect from working with the firm.
3. Schedule a consultation
Most accident attorneys provide a free consultation to ensure you’re getting the right fit. During this consultation, you’ll have a chance to discuss your case (briefly) with the attorney, discuss compensation, and ask about the contingency fee.
4. Follow your gut
When you hire an accident attorney, you’re essentially onboarding someone to fight for you and go to court on your behalf. That means that you should always choose the attorney that makes you feel comfortable, and that has your best interests at heart. For this to be a working, long-lasting relationship, you need to feel confident with the attorney you choose.
5. Be honest
For an attorney to help you, they need to know the facts of the case. Sometimes, clients hedge on disclosing those facts, since they fear they may be at fault for the accident or incident. If you’re going to the time and expense of hiring a personal injury attorney, though, transparency is critical. In addition to hampering your attorney’s ability to fight for you, hiding facts will only make your legal situation more complex.
From the beginning of the attorney/client relationship, be sure that your lawyer has all the facts about the accident and injury that you can provide for them. Keep in mind that attorneys ALWAYS adhere to complete confidentiality. You can trust your lawyer to maintain your privacy without judgment. And that they will always take the steps needed to protect your best interests in the case.
Ward & Barnes: Your Trusted Pensacola Personal Injury Attorneys
We know that finding a personal injury attorney can feel like a complex process. Especially when your settlement and the outcome of your claim are on the line. Fortunately, it is possible to find an attorney that will litigate your case as if it were their own.
If you’re looking for a personal injury lawyer you can trust, Ward & Barnes is here for you.
Offering compassionate, dedicated, and experienced law services for clients who have suffered a personal injury, wrongful death, or car accident, our attorneys will go above and beyond to help ensure you get the settlement you deserve. When you’re in need of a Personal Injury Lawyer and work with us, you can trust that you’ll always have the support you need to move forward with your life.
Ready to learn more about our services or team? Contact us today.