Most people don't think much about personal injury lawyers until something terrible happens. People get hurt in different ways; most of the time, it's because someone else was careless. Sometimes the injuries are wrong, and it takes a long time to improve. People who get hurt may have to miss work or no longer be able to work in the same field.
If you've been hurt in an accident, you should consider calling an experienced personal injury lawyer instead of trying to handle things independently. Personal injury lawyers know how to negotiate fair settlements with insurance companies and the person who caused the injury. Personal injury lawyers can also use experts and evidence to give you a more accurate estimate of the damages you suffered, such as injuries, treatments, therapy, lost wages, loss of quality of life, etc.
If you've never talked to a personal injury lawyer before, you might be curious about how to find a good one, how they can help you, and what you should ask them. So, here are some tips on how to choose a lawyer for a personal injury.
Personal injury law is complicated and has a lot of special rules and ways of doing things. Attorneys who handle wills, divorces, trusts, or bankruptcies may be "jacks of all trades but masters of none." Since they don't try cases, insurance companies offer low prices. If you choose an attorney who doesn't focus on personal injury law, you might not get the best help possible.
Most, if not all, of the lawyers who say they handle personal injury cases, have never been in a courtroom. They take your case and try to get you to agree to a small amount. Insurance companies are very aggressive. Those on the other side of the case will take advantage of your lawyer's fear of going to trial by making unrealistic settlement offers or making little to no attempt to settle the matter.
They know that your lawyer isn't getting anywhere and that if the insurance company doesn't budge, he will fold his hand and try to get you to do the same. If your lawyer isn't willing to go before a jury, the insurance company will know, and it will hurt you.
If you have a big case with serious injuries, you need to know that your lawyer can win or settle for a lot of money. Ask your lawyer how often he has won or settled for a million dollars. Is that person a part of the Million Dollar Advocates? The Million Dollar Advocates is a well-known group of lawyers who have won or lost cases worth at least a million dollars. Not every case is worth a million dollars, but if yours is, make sure you have a lawyer who can get the job done.
Personal injury lawyers who take their jobs seriously work with and learn from other good personal injury lawyers. Today's insurance firms are not beyond using underhanded tactics to make injured people look bad, so it's important to be aware of their strategies.
Look around before you hire a lawyer. Do they appear to be doing well? Does their office give the impression that they're doing well? Does the lawyer have the personal assets or a line of credit needed to prepare your case well? Preparing for severe personal injury cases costs a lot of money. To properly prepare a case, you need to talk to many experts. Most of the time, doctors have to give depositions and go to court. Experts in economics, biomechanics, accident reconstruction, vocational rehabilitation, and planning for life care must also be brought in. Make sure your lawyer has enough money to compete with the big players.
A good lawyer will look into your case, prove that the other person was at fault, and talk to the insurance company on your behalf. They'll also protect you from being taken advantage of by the system and help you secure the largest possible settlement or verdict.
But make sure you do your research before you choose an attorney. Not every personal injury lawyer will be able to get you the best possible result in your case. Use the tips in this article to help you make good decisions.