Suffered an injury? Need an attorney to help you out? Follow these tips!
One of the most common questions we get from visitors is “How do I find a good personal injury lawyer?” These are the steps that you can follow to make the best decision:
First things first…
Personal injury cases are won or lost in the discovery phase. If your attorney doesn’t have the experience necessary to build your case with relevant facts that shows the extent of your injury and its impact on your life, it’ll be nearly impossible to recover maximum damages from the at-fault party. Every moment spent gathering evidence is money in the bank for the insurance company.
If you feel like you’re going to miss out on money you rightfully deserve, working with an experienced attorney like the ones here is how you get that maximum payout.
Here’s what you’ll find:
- Why Experience Matters More Than Everything Else
- The Surprising Secret Behind Settlement Success Rates
- Major Warning Signs To Run Far, Far Away
- How To Spot A Winner From Miles Away
Why Experience Matters More Than Everything Else
Ok, so now you know how important experience is… but how do you evaluate it when comparing personal injury lawyers?
First, let’s clear up the misconception that “lawyer experience” means anything. If you’ve got a bad back, it really doesn’t matter if your lawyer won the lottery if they’ve never handled a back injury before. You want relevant, specific experience with cases like yours. Here are some specifics to look for:
Lawyers that have handled hundreds (not dozens) of cases just like yours.
Lawyers who have won cases like yours within the past year (recent experience is important).
Firms that have established relationships with local medical experts.
Attorneys who are willing and able to take a case to trial if necessary.
The last point is really important. When insurance companies evaluate a claim, one of the first things they do is check out your attorney.
They know who is willing to take a case to trial and who will just roll over and settle for pennies on the dollar. If you want to see the number on your settlement offer, you want an attorney who is feared by the insurance companies.
Similarly, in financial matters, investors often use FINRA Broker Check to research the background of brokers and brokerage firms. Just as insurance companies scrutinize attorneys, FINRA Broker Check provides transparency and helps individuals make informed decisions by revealing a broker’s licensing status, employment history, and any disciplinary actions.
A skilled personal injury attorney understands exactly how insurance companies operate, having seen every trick, delay tactic, and lowball offer they use. This experience translates to real results – people with lawyers get payouts nearly three times higher than those who go it alone.
The Surprising Secret Behind Settlement Success Rates
Did you know that 95% of personal injury cases end in settlements? That means that the number one skill your attorney needs is negotiation.
Heck, it might even be their only skill required.
If 95% of cases settle, most injury lawyers will never step foot inside a courtroom again.
Insurance companies count on this. They know most lawyers will happily settle “just to get paid.” The best ones know how to push back and only accept settlements that maximize your compensation.
The “secret” is really simple: Make sure your attorney has the resources to go to trial and force the insurance company to pay you the maximum amount of money.
How do you know who has the experience and the resources to do that?
You’ll know it when you see it. Insurance companies have already done the research on every attorney you meet, so the trick is turning that around on them. About 91% of people with experienced attorneys receive settlements, compared to only 51% of those who handle cases themselves. Watch for the red flags below.
Major Warning Signs To Run Far, Far Away
So now you know the good stuff, here are the things you should be running like hell from:
Guarantees – No reputable attorney can guarantee an outcome.
Upfront Fees – All reputable personal injury lawyers work on contingency (payment after the case is won) and don’t ask for any money from the client up front. This is one of the first red flags in an attorney you should avoid.
Pressure to Sign – Pressure tactics to sign with an attorney you just met are always a bad sign.
No Clear Fee Structure in Writing – Get everything in writing from an attorney before you hire them.
Lack of communication – Did you send them an email or call them and not hear back in a couple of days? Run away from an attorney that doesn’t have time for you.
How To Spot A Winner From Miles Away
Lawyers with the traits described above are easy to spot. Here’s what you should be looking for:
The ones who ask the most questions about your case – Good lawyers will be digging deep into the specifics about your case because that’s what affects the value of your compensation.
The ones who make complex legal concepts easy to understand – If you can’t understand what your attorney is saying, it’ll be hard to make informed decisions about your case.
The ones with clear fee structures – The most reputable personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, charging 33-40% of the settlement amount. Make sure you know exactly what you’ll pay and when.
Lawyers who are responsive to communication – You shouldn’t have to wait days for a simple email or call from your attorney. Good lawyers have an infrastructure to keep you informed.
Lawyers with resources – A good personal injury lawyer has access to investigators, medical experts, accident reconstructionists, etc. Solo attorneys may not have access to all of these resources, which can be a problem when litigating more complex cases.
Questions to Ask To Hire The Best Attorney
Don’t be shy! Ask your attorney these questions to see if they’re the real deal or just a big-time talker:
“How many cases similar to mine have you handled in the past two years?”
This is a hard question for a run-of-the-mill attorney to answer. Good lawyers have a ballpark number for every area they practice.
“What do you think my case is worth?”
The answer won’t be a magic number, but a qualified personal injury lawyer will give you a realistic range they think you’ll get based on similar cases they’ve handled.
“What’s your fee structure, and are there additional costs I should expect?”
You should have a detailed fee agreement in writing before you sign on the dotted line.
“Who will actually work on my case?”
At big firms, it may be a junior associate.
If that’s the case, you may want to shop around at smaller firms that pay their lawyers based on performance rather than charge you for the senior partner’s name.
“How long do you expect my case to take?”
Can’t be 100% certain, but experience will provide a realistic timeline.
Wrap It All Together
Finding the right personal injury attorney is about more than price or flashy advertisements. It’s about finding the one with the experience, resources, and determination to fight for every penny of compensation you deserve.
Hopefully, you learned a few new things about what to look for, what to avoid, and the questions to ask. If you’re looking for a good personal injury attorney to help you out, we have several located all over.
