How to Look for the Right Personal Injury Lawyer
When you are injured, you want to get a quick resolution to your case. However, you should not hire the first lawyer you see on a commercial, a billboard, or online.
First and foremost, not all lawyers specialize in every area of the law. For instance, a lawyer that does criminal defense work does not necessarily handle personal injury cases. So, if you are looking for a wrongful death or personal injury lawyer, visit the attorney’s website and make sure they handle those types of cases as part of their practice areas.
Second, make sure you are looking for a lawyer in your area. If your injury happened in Dallas, Texas, then you should look for a personal injury attorney in Dallas. That is because that lawyer will be more familiar with the way injury cases are handled in the Dallas courts. Also, the lawyer will know how to properly evaluate your case for that particular location.
Choosing the right lawyer starts with the initial consultation. Here are few things to consider when hiring the right personal injury attorney.
Good Communication. When you call the attorney’s office, are you talking to the lawyer? If not, ask to speak with the lawyer.
If you are not able to speak directly to the lawyer, this might be a sign that you will have communication issues throughout your case.
Your attorney should keep you updated about the progress of your case. If that does not happen, then you cannot be assured that your case is being handled properly.
Plan of Attack. Ask the attorney how they go about handling a typical personal injury case. I have found that one of the most frustrating things for clients is that the case is not moving forward. Clients understand that legal matters take time. But clients do not when the case seems to be at a stand-still for weeks or months at a time.
Making Guarantees of Success. This is probably the most misleading things an attorney can do. We see personal injury lawyers constantly advertising their settlements on past cases. Be careful if an attorney is making these promises for your case. We live in a world of uncertainties. To put it bluntly, any case can be lost. Therefore, if your lawyer is trying to pump you up with guaranteed outcomes of your case, you are most likely being played.
Online Reviews. This is a very good indicator of what you might be getting in a lawyer. It is very rare for a lawyer to have 100% positive reviews. Not every lawyer can make every client happy. That doesn’t necessarily mean they are bad lawyers. Rather, what you look for is a pattern of bad reviews, especially about the same or similar issues.
Also, read the responses of the attorney to their reviews. Attorneys should respond to good reviews as well as the bad ones. Make sure the attorney is handling reviews professionally, no matter what.
Bigger is not Necessarily Better. The television airwaves are full of attorneys that advertise. Why do they advertise? Because the want to get as many cases as they can. The more cases the better. The question you have to ask yourself is “Where does my case fit into the mix?”
Think about your injury lawyer as something like a business partner. Wouldn’t you expect your business partner to work closely with you and maintain a personal line of communication. Of course you would. That should also be the same with your lawyer. However, where a lawyer chooses to handle too many cases, this can also mean that there is less time for individual attention to the client.
State Bar of Texas. Check the lawyer’s profile page on the State Bar of Texas website. You can check to see if the attorney is eligible to practice law or if their license is suspended. Additionally, you can check to see if the attorney has ever violated the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct.
See What a Difference Personal Attention Can Make.
Since 1994, I have tailored my practice to focus on the needs of the individual client and their case. In my office, you are not a file number. You are a person who is on a first name basis with your lawyer. Personal injury law is my specialty and not just a sideline.
See what a difference personal attention can make.
I just got into a car accident which caused tremendous damage on both of my legs, that’s why I’m currently looking for a personal injury lawyer. I’m glad you shared this; I’ll make sure to avoid those lawyers who do not pay attention to my questions, cut my time short, and end the meeting way too early. I’ll also keep in mind to be mindful of those lawyers who give grand promises that they won’t be able to keep.
It really helped when you talked about personal injury lawyers and how they should have positive reviews. Recently, one of my friends got involved in a vehicular accident, and he wants to press charges. I believe my friend should find a lawyer as soon as possible, so I’ll be sure to suggest it and share your tips with him. Thanks for the advice on how to identify a reliable lawyer.