It is easy to find a lawyer for your case. All you need to do is ask around, search online, or go through the yellow pages. But choosing the right one can be tricky. You want someone who has experience with cases like yours and understands what it takes to win them. If you are injured by someone else’s carelessness, then an injury lawyer will be able to help you get compensation for your pain and suffering as well as any medical bills that accrued during treatment of your injuries.
A good personal injury attorney knows how insurance companies work and will negotiate with them on behalf of their client so they don’t have to pay exorbitant amounts out-of-pocket in order to receive just compensation for their damages.
There are 8 things you need to know before hiring a lawyer:
1. What type of lawyer do you need?
As mentioned before, there are different kinds of lawyers and each one will handle your case differently – so choose the right one for your specific situation.
If you’re injured in a car accident, then it is advisable to hire an experienced auto injury attorney to represent you in court. A lawyer like Attorney N. John Bey, for example, understands how accidents work and will be able to advise on what damages and injuries you can claim against the other party’s insurance company. Your lawyer can also tell you if any criminal charges may be pending against the other driver responsible for your accident.
If your injury is due to malpractice, then you will need to hire a medical malpractice lawyer. They can help you prove that the doctor who treated you was negligent and caused damage to your health. The law states that if you are hurt because of someone else’s carelessness, then they should be responsible for compensating you financially.
2. Don’t base your decision solely on internet research.
When it comes to choosing an attorney to represent you in court, do not just rely on what people may say online – often times these reviews are fake and were posted by close friends or family members of the attorneys themselves without any actual knowledge about their services.
Instead, make sure the lawyer has good standing within the community and ask for references from past clients who have worked with them. A good lawyer will happily provide you their list of satisfied customers – just call a few of them to get an idea what kind of work they do and if they were happy with his services
3. The lawyer should be able to take your case all the way through trial, even if that means going to appeals.
Having a one-sided agreement about fee payment is risky business. If your attorney doesn’t make a solid deal at first negotiation, he may not cover all the expenses required during the pre-trial proceedings or hearings, leaving you in debt while facing a bad court decision or no compensation at all for your injuries.
4. Speak directly with the lawyer.
Always meet in person with your candidate and ask him or her what they specialize in – do not let lawyers advertise on TV, radio, or the Internet without choosing an attorney you feel comfortable with. When it comes to personal injury cases, you want someone who is reliable and experienced enough to take your case all the way through trial if necessary; also make sure that he/ she is willing to include any future medical expenses into your compensation.
5. Don’t choose a lawyer who isn’t familiar with car insurance rates and costs in your state.
If you want maximum compensation for your injuries, then pick a lawyer who knows about the insurance law of his state and how it works when it comes to personal injury cases like yours. He should be able to deduce how much money you will receive for your injuries and should not be afraid to go after the insurance company of the party who hurt you.
6. Ask the lawyer about their availability.
Ensure that your attorney will be able to respond in sufficient time when you contact them for advice or have questions they need to answer in person – if they are out of town frequently, then they may not be available when you need help most. A good lawyer will give you his direct phone number and e-mail address so you won’t have to search for him every time you need his help.
7. Make sure the lawyer is willing to charge less than 33% of your compensation as fees.
This fee structure has been set by law, and it applies only to personal injury cases; however, most attorneys will not tell you that they take a smaller fee since it’s not beneficial for them. If you really want to find a professional who is willing to fight for your rights and get the maximum compensation possible, then hire an attorney who will charge no more than 33%. Do not sign any documents without first consulting an independent lawyer.
8. Never accept the first proposal from an insurance company.
When the insurance company sends you a proposal with compensation that is less than what they should actually owe you, don’t be afraid to negotiate and ask for more money – your attorney will help you during this process. Do not sign any documents until all the negotiations have been made and don’t forget to include future expenses as well.
Choosing the right lawyer for your case can be difficult, but it helps to know what you’re looking for in a lawyer. There are many factors that go into choosing an attorney and this article will help you consider some of them: location, specialization, fees structure, availability, familiarity with insurance rates, and costs in your state. It’s also important to remember not all lawyers have the same level of experience or expertise when it comes to personal injury cases – so make sure they specialize in what is most relevant to your needs before signing anything!
