If you’ve been injured in an accident that was not your fault, you deserve compensation to pay medical bills, make up for time off work, and help you get back to your normal life. Though it’s possible to file a claim and get a settlement on your own, you will always be better off hiring a personal injury lawyer to represent you. When looking for an attorney, you can start by Googling ‘personal injury lawyer near me’ and then selecting several of the top options to do more research on. Read online reviews, look at their websites, and ask for a free consultation.
Already scheduled your consultations? Other than asking what the attorney thinks of your case, you should also check the following.
1. Years of Experience
If you’ve not already found out how many years of experience the personal injury lawyer near me has from your online research, ask during your consultation. While there are plenty of good attorneys who are just starting out, you will be more likely to find excellent representation in an attorney who has years of experience.
2. Excellent Communicator
Your attorney will need to successfully communicate with you as well as a variety of other people—including insurance representatives, the police, eyewitnesses, and support staff—during the course of your case, so it’s vital that they are excellent at it. You can determine how well a lawyer communicates by reading online reviews and asking others who have used their services. You can also ask important questions during the consultation, such as how often they plan to update you on your case and their preferred mode of communication.
3. Skilled Negotiator
In most instances, a personal injury claim will be settled out of court with no need to file a lawsuit and proceed to litigation. That’s why it’s important that the attorney you choose is skilled at negotiating with insurance representatives so he or she can get you the best possible settlement. Of course, you also want to make sure they are comfortable—and experienced—in litigation should your case be one of the few that does go to court.
4. Area of Specialty
The more experience an attorney has with your specific type of case, the better. There are differences between settling or litigating a work injury versus a car accident, and it’s always best if the attorney you choose knows the specific ins and outs of your particular accident. You can find this out by doing online research or by asking them during the consultation. If you find that one attorney in a firm has not handled your type of case, ask them if there is another lawyer—either in the firm or in another one—who has that specialization.
Finding the Best Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me
If you’ve already Googled ‘personal injury lawyer near me’ and are ready to move forward, make sure you find out if the attorneys you are considering have the above four qualities. This will ensure you make a solid choice and that your case will be settled quickly and for the highest possible compensation.
