SELECTING A PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY

In a perfect world, a person who is responsible for causing injury to another person would “make it right” and properly compensate them for their injury .  Unfortunately, we live in a world that is far from perfect , and not everyone is willing to take responsibility for their actions.  Also, insurance carriers make their money by settling for as little as they possibly can .  Consequently, if you have been injured, you need to confer with a personal injury attorney .

A Personal Injury Attorney Will Explain Your Legal Rights

A personal injury lawyer will clearly tell you what rights you have under the law , but in cases of personal injury time is of the essence !  Even the strongest case imaginable has time limits connected with it and the even simplest cases need to be meticulously documented from the moment of the injury or accident . 

Personal Injury Attorney Selection Process

After an accident or injury the most important task of all, is selecting the best and most appropriate personal injury attorney for your case.  This requires legwork and research that goes beyond calling that 800 number you see on TV or the biggest and most colorful ad in the Yellow Pages.  Those ads might say more about that attorney’s marketing and promotional abilities than about their legal knowledge, experience and achievement.

Word of Mouth Referral is the Best Way to Find a Personal Injury Lawyer

Word of mouth referral is perhaps one of the best ways of finding a good personal injury attorney.  If you have worked with an attorney in the past for any grounds, starting by calling them and explaining your situation .  Even if they don’t specialize in personal injury cases, chances are very good they will be able to provide you with the name of someone whose work they are familiar with and have respect for.  Talk with friends and family members who have worked with attorneys and contact those lawyers as well.  You might find that one particular name is mentioned several times, and that might be one of the names worth pursuing.

As you gather names check on their their professional history through associations such as the Better Business Bureau.  Go online and seek out Websites where former clients review attorneys , and see what themes or issues seem to be prevailing.

Narrowing the Personal Injury Attorney List

Once you have narrowed the list to the most often mentioned names and law firms, give each one a call and try to set up an appointment .  Most will give you a first meeting free of charge, others might ask for a consulting fee.  Whether you select to pay that fee or not is your choice , but meet with several attorneys to get a feel for the strength of your case, each one’s background in handling cases of your type, an idea of how they would proceed and how long it would take.  Feel free to ask about cost and how that would be structured.

In most cases the effort you put forth in locating and retaining the best attorney available for your case, is directly proportional to the outcome of the case . 

In selecting a personal injury attorney there is no substitute for substantial, thorough research and straight forward , but important, questions!