Injuries can be traumatic and impact every aspect of life. If you or a loved one has been injured, it can be hard to come to terms with particularly if it affects your day-to-day life and ability to work. Whether you have had a workplace incident, you were in a car accident or injured from a slip, trip or fall, you could be entitled to compensation if the injury was not your fault.
If you believe that the injury was not your fault, you should contact a personal injury attorney to get the ball rolling on your personal injury claim. So, what should you look for to find the right attorney and increase your chances of finding success?
Personal Recommendations
A good starting point is to ask your network if they have any recommendations for a personal injury lawyer. It is unfortunate, but many people find themselves in these situations or know someone that requires the services of a solicitor. When you ask friends, family and colleagues, you are getting information from people you trust and can have a conversation about who to use.
A Good Reputation
Following on from this, one of the most important qualities to look for when researching personal injury lawyers is a good reputation. Going through a personal injury can be traumatic and impact every aspect of your life. This is why it is important that you have a personal injury attorney that has a good reputation, which will help you to feel that you are in good hands.
To find a personal injury attorney with a good reputation, you should research online and read client testimonials. You can do this on their website and on social media channels. It is also worthwhile looking elsewhere online where you might find less subjective reviews.
Relevant Experience
It is important to be aware that personal injury is a broad term in law. Personal injuries can include a workplace incident, slip, trip or fall, car accident, illness, medical malpractice or trauma as a few examples. Therefore, it is smart to seek out a personal injury attorney that has relevant experience in the type of personal injury that you have sustained.
This can be quite specific, such as seeking the services of a power lineman injury attorney if you are a power lineman and suffer an injury at work. This can be a hazardous role with falls from height, fire and explosions, environmental stress and repetitive motion injuries being common and all suitable for a personal injury claim.
When you use a personal injury attorney that specializes in the type of injury you have sustained, you will increase your chances of receiving the largest compensation amount. They will know how to construct your case, what evidence will be effective and what damages you are entitled to.
Compassion
Going through a personal injury can be traumatic and life-changing, especially if it stops you from being able to work and/or will require long-term care. When you add in a legal case on top of this, it makes it a challenging, stressful and emotional time.
This is why it is important to find a personal injury attorney that shows compassion. You want someone that is caring and able to empathize with your situation, which can make the entire process much easier for you.
Professionalism & Communication Skills
Professionalism is an incredibly important trait when it comes to personal injury lawyers. In important legal proceedings, you need someone in your corner that is professional and has a strong presence in the courtroom. You can gauge professionalism when you meet for a consultation and you should be able to tell within a few minutes how professional the solicitor is.
You also need a lawyer that has strong communication skills and not just the ability to present your case in court. A good lawyer is one that possesses excellent listening skills and pays close attention to the details. In your initial consultation, you should pay attention to key factors such as eye contact, clarity, the questions that they ask and if they are taking notes or not.
Accreditations
These days, there are endless options for personal injury lawyers and this can make it hard to find the best and most experienced lawyers. One top tip is to look for accreditations on their website and to look into the organizations that they have affiliations with. The top lawyers will be accredited in their field of expertise and be active in their chosen field.
Additionally, it is worth looking into their education to see where they studied law and what their background is.
Good Match
When it comes to choosing a personal injury attorney, you should always go with your gut. This is an important moment in your life that could have long-lasting implications, so it is vital that you have someone working on your behalf that is a good match and you feel confident in.
The best way to determine this is to meet with a few different personal injury lawyers and to have a list of questions to ask. These questions will depend on your own circumstances, but a few questions that are worth asking include:
- What is your success rate in cases like this?
- Do you have the time to take on my case right now?
- Do you think we will need to go to trial?
- How will you keep me updated on developments in my case?
- What approximate settlement figure would you expect?
- Why should I choose you over another personal injury attorney?
These are good starting points and will give you an idea of if this is the right attorney for you. You should also pay close attention to their office space, other staff and their interpersonal skills.
Find the Right Personal Injury Attorney for Your Case
Hopefully, this post will help you to find the right personal injury attorney for your case. Injuries can be life-changing and it is essential that you have someone taking on your case that you trust and increases your chances of finding success.
If you found this post useful, be sure to check out our other personal injury articles today.
