Personal injury is the area of the law that protects victims of many different types of accidents. Whether you’ve been injured in a car accident, a slip and fall on someone else’s property, or were the victim of a defective product, you may be entitled to seek compensation from the at-fault party. This is done through a personal injury claim and typically involves a personal injury lawyer.
Not every accident requires the assistance of a personal injury lawyer, but when it does, you want to ensure that you have the best possible representation. How can you find the right personal injury lawyer among all the options?
Not All Lawyers Practice Personal Injury Law
While many attorneys practice a broad range of legal disciplines, an attorney who primarily practices personal injury law is best able to provide expert advice about everything from how to file a claim to what type of medical care is most appropriate for your injuries. They also know the ins and outs of the legal system, from the lawyers for the big insurance companies to the judges who hear these cases.
You Can’t Rely on Advertising Alone
Some firms attract a lot of clients with their catchy advertising practices and slogans. But that doesn’t necessarily equate to better legal representation. It often means you may get passed off to a junior associate or even another firm. You want to find a law firm where you are not only represented by an experienced senior attorney but also have access to that attorney when you need him or her.
Litigation Experience
While many personal injury cases end in settlement, that’s not always the case, especially when a personal injury case is particularly complicated. The last thing you want in a complex case is an attorney with little litigation experience who accepts an insufficient settlement instead of going to court to fight for fair compensation for you.
How to Use Your Initial Consultation to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer
Most personal injury lawyers offer free initial consultations. While these are designed for attorneys to decide whether your case is worth taking, it’s also important to use this time wisely to determine if this attorney is the right one for you.
When you have established a short list of possible attorneys, interview each and ask pointed questions:
- How many years have you been practicing law?
- What percentage of the firm’s work is personal injury cases?
- How much experience do you have with large insurance companies and their adjusters?
- Do you have a history of pursuing cases through litigation?
- Who would I primarily be working with? Will I have direct access to you? Or will I be handed off to an associate or paralegal?
Your personal injury lawyer should be a highly knowledgeable and experienced professional, an excellent listener, and a good personality fit.
Do You Really Need a Personal Injury Lawyer?
In a small accident where there is minor damage and no injuries, chances are that hiring a lawyer is not necessary. But any time there has been significant property damage or injuries, you could benefit from hiring a personal injury lawyer.
What About Insurance?
Although you may be counting on an insurance settlement to pay for your medical bills and other expenses, insurance is rarely on your side when you file a claim for compensation following an accident.
Insurance companies rarely offer comprehensive settlements unless they are forced to do so. That is why hiring a personal injury lawyer can be one of the most important decisions you can make.
Experienced Personal Injury Lawyers Who Are Dedicated to Your Success
When you have been injured in an accident, you need to hire a personal injury lawyer who will be the right fit for your case.
At Silver & Silver, our experienced personal injury lawyers are skilled negotiators and litigators dedicated to getting the compensation our clients need and deserve. When you have been injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, call us at (610) 638-7255 or contact us through our website contact form to schedule a complimentary consultation.
Disclosure:
This website is designed to provide only general information. The information presented on this website is not formal legal advice. You should not rely on any general information from any source for making legal decisions. Each legal matter is unique and requires specific attention from a qualified and experienced attorney. Unless a representation agreement has been signed with the Law Office of Silver and Silver, we are not your legal representatives.
