If you believe you have a viable personal injury claim against someone, it’s important to know what to look for in a personal injury attorney.
A personal injury attorney is specially trained on what information is needed to win your case. Do your research when you are looking for a personal injury attorney, so you can make sure you hire the best one for your claim.
Before you hire an attorney, make sure to do some research and ask for free consultations. Make sure they are upfront about all fees; this includes filing fees, types of expenses, expert witness fees and anything else that may be charged.
Above all, you should be able to talk with a potential attorney and their legal team as you will be working with them closely for several months. It is important to feel a sense of trust and rapport – that you believe they will be acting in your best interest.
Here are several qualities to look for when hiring a personal injury attorney:
Quality 1: A Focused Practice
Personal injury attorneys with a focused practice is generally a good sign that your attorney will be able to fully concentrate on your case.
Quality 2: Knowledge of Medical Concepts
When you have been hurt in an accident, it is important to hire a lawyer who has a solid understanding of medical concepts in your case. Your lawyer will need to know how to deal with injuries caused by an accident, as well as what courses of treatment are available and if any witness should be cross-examined during a trial.
Attorneys are not qualified to give you proper medical advice but can inform you about things like an injury’s prognosis, recommended specialists, diagnostic criteria, and estimated costs for recovery based on previous settlements.
Quality 3: Cases Accepted for Contingency Fees
A contingency fee agreement stipulates that your lawyer will get paid only if you receive adequate compensation for your injuries. The higher the contingency fee percentage, the more likely it is that your attorney would request. This proportion is typically between 25% and 40%.
If you win your case, you’ll almost certainly have to pay litigation costs, such as court and filing fees and the expenses associated with gathering evidence, such as receiving copies of medical records, expert witness testimony, and other important papers.
Quality 4: Experienced with Going to Trial
Hiring an attorney with previous experience going to trial will give you the best odds of obtaining compensation. Many attorneys without trial expertise try to arrive quickly at a settlement and do not leverage the risk of going to trial. Insurance companies are quite good at identifying between lawyers who always or mostly settle and those who have considerable time inside a courtroom.
Quality 5: Sometimes Settling Is Good Too
Is it better to fight back in a personal injury lawsuit or accept the settlement offered by the other party? Is it worth your time and money to pursue compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and other foreseeable costs that can result from an accident?
A great personal injury attorney will talk to you and help advise you to make the best decision for your situation and life.
Final Thoughts on Selecting a Great Personal Injury Attorney
Often, great lawyers are ones who are sincere with their clients and won’t sugarcoat anything. A great personal injury lawyer will clearly explain all the pros and cons of your case – truthfully and clearly – with a logical plan to build your case.
At Harsh Law, we are knowledgeable about California’s Personal Injury laws and have extensive experience with many types of personal injury cases, including car and truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, dog bites, slip-and-fall injuries, and wrongful death.
Give our team a call at 909-793-6261 or complete the form below to request a free consultation with Harsh Law.