Negosentro.com | How to Find a Good Personal Injury Lawyer | Let’s face it, no one wants to call a lawyer, but sometimes the circumstances force our hand. If you’ve been injured and you weren’t at fault, you have every right to file a lawsuit to try to reclaim your damages. You can file a suit on your own and negotiate directly with the at-fault party’s insurance. However, doing so opens you up to the risk of settling for less than what you need. It’s in your best interest to work with a lawyer who understands what your case is worth. But where do you begin your search for the right attorney?
The process of trying to find a good lawyer can be exhausting. There are simply too many to choose from. Despite the myriad options, many of these attorneys may not be the right choice for you. The best way to narrow down your choices to find the right lawyer is to understand the characteristics of a good attorney.
Here are a few things to look for when you’re trying to find the right lawyer for your needs.
- Choose a Local Lawyer
Where your injury took place is important. If you were injured in Houston, TX, choose a personal injury lawyer in Houston, TX. If your injury occurred in the Texas Hill Country, get an attorney in the Hill Country. You need a lawyer who is familiar with the legal system where your injury occurred.
Having a lawyer who is familiar with the courts in your area will be a huge benefit to the outcome of your case. They know who the judges are and what to expect from the local courts.
- It’s All About Your Attorneys Connections
Having a lawyer who is well-connected with the judicial system in your area can make all the difference. In some areas, this is more important than others. You can check a lawyer’s connections without asking them outright. You can do this by searching for them online to determine if they are involved with any legal associations and organizations or if they are donating to any judge’s campaigns.
- Find a Lawyer with Experience Specific to Your Type of Injury
If you have received burn injuries after a fire, you want to find a lawyer with experience successfully representing burn victims. You would not want to work with an attorney who mainly focuses on boating accidents. They may have a successful track record for those cases, but that doesn’t mean they’ll have similar results in an area they aren’t familiar with.
The laws regarding personal injury can be very specific, and different areas of the law require different types of evidence. Your lawyer should be familiar with the process for your type of injury.
- Look for Loyalty, Commitment and Resources
There are benefits and drawbacks to choosing small, inexperienced firms and large, experienced firms. A small firm will be able to give you more individualized attention, but they may be lacking in the resources department. A large firm will have more resources, but if you need a lot of personal attention they may be too busy to provide it.
Although the laws differ in each state, in most places you have two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury case. Look up the statute of limitations in your state or speak to a lawyer. The sooner you do this, the better, because you need to start collecting evidence right away.
If you’ve been injured and you need a lawyer, the next step is to set up a consultation. Most personal injury attorneys offer free consultations with no obligations, and many work on a contingency basis. During your initial meetings, ask the lawyers you speak with for their views on the four above points and you will know if they’re the right choice for you.
