When you are dealing with the physical and emotional impact of a personal injury, it is especially important that you find an experienced, compassionate, and professional attorney to represent your interests. You need someone who will fight for your rights and fervently pursue justice in your case. But how do you know when you have found the right law firm and injury lawyer?
There are many factors to consider when choosing an attorney, and sometimes that decision can seem overwhelming because there are so many attorneys available. With thousands of choices at your fingertips with one internet search, making the right decision can be daunting. Fortunately, there are many resources available to help you find a lawyer and determine if you are choosing an experienced personal injury attorney.
How do I Find a Personal Injury Lawyer?
First, like any service, the best referrals are those from the people you trust. Ask your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc. if they have ever hired an attorney for a personal injury claim. Make sure to ask about their experience with that attorney throughout the process, and whether they felt their lawyer did a good job.
As much as a great recommendation can help make this difficult decision easier, a warning about a potential attorney can be just as helpful. Finding out your friends and family’s experiences can help you wade through the thousands of results you find online.
Of course, your friends probably do not know much more about the law than you do. So, word of mouth should not be your only consideration. Meet with anyone on your shortlist of attorneys and speak with them about your case specifics. Let them assess your options and listen to what they say. Ask questions. Finally, see if their goals and services align with your needs.
Personal Injury Lawyer Kenneth Altman at Morris Bart, LLC, Offers Insight Into Choosing an Experienced Attorney
Another invaluable resource is the state bar association, which issues and monitors licenses for attorneys. Although each state is different, when you search online or call a state bar association, you can find information about the attorney’s standing with the bar and the date he or she was admitted to practice law.
Sometimes the bar association will also provide information about where the attorney works and special practice areas, which means you can also look more thoroughly into the attorney’s professional career.
For a free legal consultation, call 800-537-8185
How do I Know If My Attorney Is Good?
Regardless of whether you received a recommendation from someone or were just searching online, doing further research before hiring a personal injury attorney is always a great idea. You can probably even take some lawyers off your list based on your research instead of meeting with them all.
One important factor to research is the experience level of the attorney. While you don’t want to put all the emphasis on how long an attorney has been practicing personal injury law, the date of admission is important because it will give you an idea of that attorney’s experience.
Many attorneys also have biographical information on their firm’s website. These details will give you a more detailed account of the attorney’s professional accomplishments and lend insight into their success as a personal injury attorney.
Ratings Services Can Prove a Valuable Resource
Another way to research an attorney’s experience is to search for independent rating entities and associations. Most likely, an experienced personal injury attorney will have accolades from various organizations. These organizations include:
- Legal magazines
- Local trial lawyer associations
- American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys
- Super Lawyers
- National Trial Lawyers
- Million Dollar Associates Forum
- American Society of Legal Advocates
Sometimes, local publications will feature special editions focused on local attorneys. These features can help you find a local perspective on a potential attorney.
Using these methods, you should be able to weed out many of the lawyers on your list and choose the best options for a consultation. In addition, most offer free case reviews, so you can meet with several attorneys to discuss your case if you have difficulty narrowing down your list to one firm.
Meeting With an Attorney During Your Free Consultation
Above all, after you’ve finished your research to choose an experienced personal injury attorney, ask for a phone or in-person consultation with that attorney or firm. Of course, past experience is important, but being comfortable with your potential attorney is also a vital part of the success of your case.
The purpose of a free case review is to have the attorney assess your claim and learn more about the law firm. They will not only explain your legal options and how they will approach your case, but they can also answer your questions about their services, how they handle client communication, and if they charge upfront fees for representing you.
Have a List of Questions Ready for Your Initial Consultation
Before you meet with a lawyer, it is critical to determine what you want to learn from the discussion and how it will help you decide on a firm. Many people think they will “just know” when it is a good fit. However, we recommend preparing a list of questions for the attorney and using the meeting as a chance to get to know them. This list should include:
- How long have you handled personal injury cases similar to mine?
- What percentage of your practice is devoted to this particular type of case?
- How many cases like mine have you won or settled? Can you tell me about one?
- What are the legal options based on what you know about my case?
- What is the likely outcome of my case?
- Who will work on my case? Will I work closely with my lawyer or more with legal assistants or paralegals?
- If my case goes to trial, will my attorney represent me or pass my case off to another lawyer at the firm?
- Who will be my primary point of contact if I have questions or concerns?
- How often can I expect to hear from my attorney or get updates from the firm?
- How do you structure your fees?
When you are injured because of someone else’s negligence and confused about your next step, having a knowledgeable personal injury attorney who is committed to compassionate representation is of utmost importance. As your trusted advocate and partner in this process, an experienced attorney will explain what to expect and guide you through the legal process involved in a personal injury claim.
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Morris Bart, LLC, Attorneys Are Experienced in Representing Your Rights
Dealing with an accident can be a lot easier if you have a good attorney. The Morris Bart law office has decades of experience dealing with the complexities of insurance claims and all types of accidents. If you’ve been involved in an accident, call us today for a free consultation. We’re available 24/7, and we’d like to help you get the money you may deserve.
Call (800) 537-8185 for your free case review.
Questions?Call 800-537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
