Medical care costs Americans about $3.4 trillion a year.Individually, that breaks down to about $11,000 for 1 year of standard health care. However, when an injury happens, your medical bills can easily become $11,000 a month, or more.If you’ve recently been hurt, and you think someone else’s to blame, this article’s for you. Seeking compensation for your injuries is one of the best ways to pave the road to a full recovery. However, first, you’ll need a quality attorney you can trust.Read on to discover 6 Factors to Consider When Selecting Attorneys for Personal Injuries.
- Comparing Attorney Fees
The first thing you should know about selecting attorneys is how to budget accordingly. If you don’t want to spend any money upfront, we suggest looking for a law firm that’s willing to charge a contingency fee. The contingency fee will be set using a percentage system. If you win your case, the attorney gets a percentage of your settlement award.
If a lawsuit doesn’t have to get filed, the fee percentage tends to be lower. However, in reality, the contingency fee can vary a lot from one lawyer to the next. It’s worth comparing fee offers. Lastly, make sure you get in touch with a lawyer from NYC to check if you’ll be on the hook for any expenses if you don’t get any money from your case.
- References and Reviews
When you’re starting your search for a lawyer, it’s always a good idea to reach out to family and friends. You can even ask co-workers if they know any good lawyers. If someone you trust refers a personal attorney to you, ask them what type of injury claim they received help with.
Get Specific
Be sure to get as many details as you can when you’re getting legal references. For instance, find out what the outcome of their claim was. Did they get a settlement?
Next, ask what they thought about the lawyer’s demeanor and customer service skills. Was the law firm fast at answering their questions, or did your friend have to wait for updates? If your friend wasn’t “wowed” by the law firm’s professionalism, don’t use their referral.
- Relentless but Respectful
Next, let’s talk about the importance of finding a personal injury attorney you feel comfortable working with. An intimidating lawyer can be great in the courtroom, but you also need your attorney to be able to address you with the respect you deserve.
To get a good feel for an attorney’s people skills, it’s always a good idea to set up a consultation. During your consultation, you’ll be able to find out the strengths and weaknesses of your case.
The best part is, a lot of law firms, including Moore Law Firm, don’t charge anything the first time you meet. For instance, locations, like this personal injury attorney, offer free consultations.
- Preferred Communication Style
Next, during your consultation, ask how you’ll be receiving updates about your case. Will the attorney be emailing you weekly updates? Should you expect phone calls? The more details you can get, the better you’ll be able to assess whether or not this attorney’s someone you should work with.
Every lawyer has their preferred communication style. However, the best attorneys are willing to make themselves more accessible to clients by using a variety of communication methods. For instance, texting, emailing, calling, video chats, and in-person visits, are all great ways to receive case updates.
Don’t make your legal battle more difficult than it has to be. Hold out until you find a law firm that’s willing to stay in touch using a method you prefer.
- Willing to Take Your Case to Trial
Moving on, a lot of personal injury claims are fully settled outside the courtroom. One of the benefits of settling outside of court is that you can receive your settlement payout sooner. Another benefit is that court’s expensive, and time-consuming, so avoiding it can wind up saving you thousands of dollars.
Nevertheless, there are instances where taking your case to the trial’s a good idea. During the consultation, ask the attorney if they think your case will need to go to trial.
Next, find out if they’re willing to go to trial if the need arises. Certain attorneys will flat-out refuse to take a personal injury claim to court. Whereas, other attorneys are willing to do whatever it takes, even if it means spending time in court. Obviously, you should choose a lawyer who’s willing to go to trial, even if the need’s unlikely.
- Experience Level
When you do an online search for a personal injury lawyer, you’ll find countless options. However, just because someone works at a personal injury law firm, that doesn’t mean they have the experience needed to win your case. Before you agree to work with an attorney, or even attend a consultation, ask about the lawyer’s personal experience.
After finding out how long they’ve been practicing law, find out how long they’ve been specifically handling personal injury claims. While inexperienced attorneys may be willing to charge lower fees, it’s not always worth it in the long run. Instead, we suggest holding out for a seasoned law firm, with a team of vetted professionals.
When you meet the attorney in person, and they’ve reviewed your case, ask if they’ve ever handled a case like yours before. You’ll know you’re on the right track when an attorney has specific experience handling a personal injury case similar to yours.
Start Selecting Attorneys You Trust
Now you know the ins and outs of selecting attorneys you can feel good about working with. When you find an attorney who’s willing to work with your budget, and has the right experience, you’ll feel empowered about your injury claim.
Don’t wait to find a legal professional that can help make your case a success. Reach out to law firms near you today, and set up a few free consultations. You can also start asking your family and friends for lawyers they’d recommend working with. For more tips like these, check out the rest of this site.
