When you find yourself injured by a defective product, a negligent business owner or a careless driver, the steps are crucial. If you fail to take the right steps right away, you could inadvertently be giving away your right to seek retribution later on.
That is why it is so important to seek the services of a quality personal injury attorney asap. As the injured party, you may not know which steps are appropriate. This is where a knowledgeable, experienced attorney comes in. Here are some key factors to look for in a personal injury attorney.
Compassion and Understanding
You’ll be entrusting the personal injury attorney you hire to guide you through a traumatic life event. You will encounter obstacles from the initial pain to the evidence-gathering process. Finally, when your case gets to the mediation room or courtroom, you will obfuscate at every turn. However, having the right counsel by your side will make a huge difference. Compassion and understanding are vital when hiring a personal injury attorney. You obviously want to work with someone who is qualified and can guide you as the process unfolds. We encourage every client that considers working with us to review our testimonials to get a better understanding of what it’s like working with us.
Specific Experience
It is so important to look for specific expertise in the area most applicable to your particular case. For example, a defective product action may look quite different from a lawsuit stemming from a car accident.
Ask a lot of questions when hiring a personal injury attorney, this will protect your rights and helps increase your chances are obtaining an equitable settlement. The more you know about the law firm and its history, the easier it will be to make the right choice for yourself and your injuries.
Contingency Arrangements
Some attorneys will ask for money upfront, while others will work on contingency. These contingency arrangements can have a host of important benefits, so look for a personal injury attorney who specializes in these arrangements.
Taking the case on contingency provides a built-in incentive for the attorney and the law firm to seek the largest financial settlement – since the firm receives a cut of the proceeds, the attorneys will work hard to get you as much money as possible. The contingency arrangement also means that you will not owe anything if you do not win your case, an important consideration when you are already struggling to recover from your injuries.
Time in the Courtroom
Believe it or not, some personal injury attorneys have never spent a day in the courtroom. Aside from a few law school mock trials, most spend time in office, negotiating, and meeting with clients. What those attorneys lack is time in the courtroom, if your case goes to this will be a disadvantage.
While it is true that the vast majority of personal injury cases are settled out of court, you still want to be prepared. You will want to make sure the attorney you choose has at least some courtroom experience, so ask the question and demand a thorough answer.
Mediation Experience
Courtroom experience is important, but so is time in the mediation room. Since most cases are settled out of court, having a solid mediation experience is critical to winning your case.
Ask the personal injury attorney you are considering about their mediation experience and the settlements they have negotiated. The more you know the easier it will be to make the right decision.
Being injured in an accident is bad enough. The last thing you want is to lose your rights in the process. If you have been injured through no fault of your own, contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Be sure to choose a firm that checks all the boxes of the qualities listed above.
