After a serious car accident or other injury, there’s a lot at stake. Fair compensation for your injuries can take the pressure off by ensuring that your medical bills are paid, replacing lost income, covering new expenses you face due to the accident and more. With so much at stake, you’ll want to do your research and take the time to hire the best injury lawyer for you. But if you’re like most injury victims, you don’t have a lot of experience with the legal system. So, you may not know what to look for when comparing law firm websites or advertising, and you may not know what questions to ask when you meet with an attorney.
While every case is different, there are some factors every injury victim should consider when hiring a personal injury lawyer.
What Does “Best Personal Injury Attorney” Mean to You?
One challenge people face in trying to determine which personal injury lawyer is best for them is not knowing what makes an effective advocate in an injury case. Many clients start out by asking a question like “What percentage of your cases have you won?” It’s natural to want to understand how successful your attorney has been, but the answer to that question can be misleading. The reason it doesn’t tell a client what they expect it to is that the vast majority of personal injury cases are settled.
Often, that’s the best option for the client. But, when a case is settled, is it considered a “win”? One attorney might include every case they’ve ever recovered any damages on when counting up their “wins.” Another might only factor in cases that went to trial, since that’s the only way there’s a technical winner and loser. This isn’t meant to discourage you from asking the question, but to suggest that you don’t want to stop there.
Some other questions you’ll want to ask include:
1. How many cases like mine have you handled?
When asking this question, you can add detail. For example, you might be asking how many cases involving commercial trucks the attorney has handled, or how familiar they are with securing compensation after a hit and run or accident with an uninsured driver. The best injury lawyer for your car accident case isn’t necessarily the same lawyer who would be the best option in a medical malpractice case or product liability case.
2. How do you decide whether to take a case to trial, and how many injury cases have you tried?
A surprising number of personal injury lawyers like to avoid the courtroom whenever possible. That’s bad for a client in a few ways. First, it means they may want to settle your claim for less than it’s worth so they don’t have to take the case to trial. Second, it means they have less trial experience to put to work for you if it becomes necessary to try your case. And finally, insurance company attorneys often know which lawyers are and are not willing to try a case. If they know your lawyer isn’t likely to force the issue, they may offer a lower settlement.
3. Who will be handling the case day-to-day?
In some firms, the attorney you meet with when you go in for a free consultation isn’t the lawyer you’ll be working with as your case progresses. In other cases, the partner you meet with will technically be the attorney on your case, but associates and paralegals will be doing most of the work and the lawyer you met with may never actually open your file again.
Make sure you know who will be taking your calls, negotiating with the insurance company’s lawyers, and otherwise moving your case forward.
4. How will costs be handled as the case progresses?
Preparing a personal injury case can be expensive. Most injury victims don’t have the resources to hire expert witnesses, pay for extensive medical records, retain a private investigator, or cover other expenses that often become necessary. Make sure the law firm you work with has the resources to fully work your case, and make sure you know whether or not you will be responsible for any costs if they don’t settle or win your case.
Subjective Factors Count When Choosing the Best Personal Injury Lawyer
Experience, resources, and the other issues raised above matter in every case. But, just asking those questions won’t necessarily help you find the best attorney for you. When you hire a personal injury lawyer, you put something very important in their hands. You must be able to trust that the attorney has the skills, knowledge, and determination to get you the best settlement or jury award possible. You also have to be comfortable enough to be completely honest with your attorney about every aspect of your case, which can sometimes involve very personal information.
You can use your free consultation in part to assess how well you think you’ll be able to work with the attorney. For example, you should pay attention to:
- Whether the attorney seems to be listening to you and taking your concerns seriously, or cuts you off and minimizes your concerns
- Whether you feel comfortable asking the attorney follow-up questions or asking for further explanation if you don’t understand something the first time
- Whether you trust that the lawyer cares about your case and getting you the compensation you need
- Whether the attorney provides information in a way you can understand
Of course, a first meeting with any stranger can be a bit awkward or anxiety inducing, and that’s all the more true when there’s a lot at stake. Don’t mistake nerves about an important meeting for discomfort with the lawyer. But, ideally, you’ll feel more confident and comfortable as your discussion with the lawyer progresses and you learn more about what you can expect and how they’ll handle your case.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Personal Injury Lawyer Today
Attorney Kevin P. Broderick has devoted his career to helping injury victims. He understands how stressful the aftermath of a car accident or other serious injury can be, and is committed to helping you secure the compensation you deserve. You can schedule yours right now by calling 978-459-3085 or filling out the contact form on this site.