Having the right person in your corner is key during a personal injury case. Here’s how to find the best personal injury attorney to handle your case.
Statistics from the CDC show that Doctors attend to over 31 million personal injuries in the country every year.
Personal injury claims are common because we live in a country where a motor vehicle accident occurs every 10 seconds.
Did you know that some personal injury claims can take up to 3 years to settle? And that 4 percent of the cases end up in a court settlement?
Here are tips on how to find the best personal injury attorney to deal with:
- Accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Slip and fall
- Defamation
- Wrongful death
Or any other form of personal injury. These tips will help you get a settlement in six months or less.
1. Look For an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer
When trying to figure out how to find a good lawyer; do not underestimate the value of their experience in assessing claims.
An experienced attorney will know what to look for, and where to get it. An experienced lawyer will weigh the following factors when deciding how to handle your case include:
- State-specific laws connected to statutes of limitation.
- Causation, negligence and contributory negligence
- The assumption of the risk
An experienced lawyer will also know where to file the case because a proper venue determines how much compensation you may get.
For instance, for you to enjoy a slip and fall suit, you may need to file the case where the accident happened.
But, if the injury was caused by a faulty product manufactured in another state, a lawyers experience will help determine where to file, and protect your interests.
It is essential to ask your lawyer if they have handled cases that are like yours. Also, ask about their success rate before agreeing to hire them.
2. Look For a Lawyer Who Focuses on Your Type of Case
The focus of the lawyer you choose to handle your case can have a huge impact on the outcome of the case. Your chances of a successful settlement increase when you hire specialized medical solicitors for a medical malpractice case.
The best personal injury attorney will have unique skills in dealing with causation, negligence and other important aspects of the claim. Lawyer’s whose focus is your type of case will also know how to gauge how much compensation you deserve for your injury.
Note that people settle 96 percent of personal injury out of court. You need a competent lawyer to negotiate a reasonable and beneficial settlement for you.
3. Look for Someone with a Reputation of Being the Best Personal Injury Attorney
The reputation of the lawyer as it determines how fast you will make a settlement, and how much you will get from the claim.
Reputation depends on the dealings that they have been part of before with insurance companies, other lawyers and even the court. An attorney’s reputation precedes them.
Insurance companies are responsive when they know that your lawyer does not condone delay tactics or other tricks they play to make clients settle for less than they deserve.
Another tip on how to find a personal injury attorney is getting one with a history of taking cases to trial when it is necessary. Insurance companies are very aggressive when they know that your lawyer does not go to court.
They will pressure you to take a much less than your claim is worth. Also, remember to ask if the lawyer has a high record of verdicts and settlements.
The possibility of you having a successful suit will improve when your lawyer has settled claims worth large sums of money in the past.
4. Consider the Attorney’s Personality
Few people think about the personality of the lawyer they hire for a personal injury claim. A great lawyer will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
They will inform you about the progress of the case in time, and empathize with you enough to want to get to the bottom of the claim, as opposed to getting a fast settlement and moving onto the next. Lawyers fall into the following personality types:
The Rainmaker
This is the type of lawyer that knows how to use persuasion to get what they want out of a situation. They know how to build and maintain trust, and their biggest strength is their ability to handle setbacks.
The Advocate
This is the lawyer with a soft spot for social justice. They are committed to serving the community for the greater good. They often keep their royalty and internal value.
The Litigator
This is the result, oriented lawyer. His focus is on winning and closing the deal for their client. They learn how to use words with precision, value logic and use their expertise for the success of their cases.
The Corporate Lawyer
Their main character traits are trustworthiness, excellent listening skills, diplomacy, and general human relations. They have the temperament of a guardian, and they value order.
The inspector
Their main characteristic is dependability and the ability to contribute towards the success of a legal proceeding.
The best lawyer types to go for when dealing with injury claims are rainmakers and litigators.
5. Go for the Lawyer with Resources to Handle Your Case
Serious personal injury cases take money and time to prepare. In most cases, the lawyer will get his fee as a percentage of the settlement, which means until the case is settled; the attorney will be using their resources. Some of the costs that personal injury claim incurs include:
- Taking Doctor’s depositions
- Hiring accident Re-constructionists, bio-mechanics experts, rehabilitation care specialists, and others.
A single case preparation may run into hundreds of thousands of dollars, which will be easy when your lawyer is well of.
Ready to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Finally, to find personal injury lawyer, always ask them if you can speak to their past clients to figure out their experience working with the lawyer.
Choose the attorney who is comfortable with their past clients giving a testimonial. The best personal injury attorney will speed up your case and ensure you get the largest settlement possible for your injury.
Contact us here for the most competent legal representation on your personal injury claim.
