There are many things to take care of following your personal injury accident. Aside from seeking medical treatment for your injuries, you will likely need to deal with insurance claims adjusters and be faced with many decisions. One of the first decisions that you need to make is selecting the right personal injury attorney to represent you and guide you through the litigation process. Here are some helpful hints for choosing the right attorney.
Know Your Needs
Before you can select a personal injury attorney, you need to understand your needs and the way in which you want your case handled. For instance, you may be partially at fault for the accident and want to negotiate a favorable settlement without going to trial. On the other hand, you may not be at fault and need an aggressive attorney to litigate your case and get you as much money as possible. By understanding your circumstances, you will have a clearer understanding of what type of personality you need in your personal injury attorney. You may also have specific ideas as to whether your lawyer is male or female, old or young, etc. These types of preferences are perfectly normal. You want to find an attorney who will satisfy your needs and with whom you feel comfortable.
Know How Much You Are Willing To Pay
Before you can select an attorney, you should know how much money you can spend on an attorney or how much money you are willing to pay your lawyer from the award you receive. Typically, your personal injury attorney will take your case on a contingency fee basis, meaning your attorney will receive a percentage of the amount you receive from a settlement or jury award. The percentage Attorney’s charge varies depending on the size and type of firm, experience of the attorney(s) and how specialized the lawyers are. The more experienced and specialized an attorney is, the more likely they will charge a higher percentage. However, there are laws that cap how much your attorney can take off your award. Make sure to discuss the contingency rate(s) with any attorneys that you consult with about your case.
Research
You should always do some research on the attorneys who practice in your area. Depending on the specific county where you reside, there may even be lawyer referral services that can assist you in finding a personal injury attorney. You should search the internet or even the yellow pages for personal injury lawyers and personal injury firms that may be able to represent you. Don’t simply choose the first name that you see. Try to find any client reviews of the attorneys/firms that you discover. When narrowing down your options, be mindful of the specialty areas the attorneys practice in (for example, mediation, litigation, bad faith insurance practices, etc.) and choose the one that best suits your needs.
Consult Relatives And Close Friends
The unfortunate reality is that you probably have a friend or family member (or both) who has also been injured as the result of someone’s negligence or careless conduct. For sure, your family or friends have their own friends who have been involved in personal injury lawsuits. Talk to these individuals and get their opinion as to the performance of their attorney, or even the attorney for the other side. This is likely the best way to find the attorney that’s right for you, because your family and/or friends experienced the attorneys’ conduct and performance firsthand and will be honest with you
Ask Questions
Always ask as many questions as possible when meeting with an attorney for the first time. Most initial consultations with a personal injury attorney are free, so you have nothing to lose. Take advantage of your first meeting and ask the important questions, such as how long the attorney has been practicing, what niche or specialty areas they practice, whether they are familiar with the judge(s) that will likely decide your case, and the types of clients they have represented or cases they have pursued in the past. You can never be too informed when it comes to selecting an attorney.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident or any other type of personal injury case, you need the help of a qualified personal injury attorney to fight for you and get you the compensation you deserve. At Murphy & Garner, LLC, our personal injury lawyers have years of experience representing all types of accident victims and are here to help you. We also offer free consultations to injured people and their family members.
Schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys today by calling 678-563-1584, or visit us online.
