Finding the right attorney for your injury claim will make all the difference in securing you a settlement you deserve.
Choosing a personal injury attorney is a big decision. Many attorneys out there don’t care about their clients and are only in it for the money. Weeding out these bad attorneys and settlement mills can be difficult. But with the right tools and knowledge, you’ll be able to find the best personal injury lawyer.
Every year there are nearly 40 million physician’s office visits for unintentional or accidental injuries. Unintentional injuries are the third-highest cause of death in the United States, with 17,040 fatalities annually.
Accidental and unintentional injuries include injuries caused by:
- slip and fall accidents,
- car accidents,
- medical malpractice,
- pedestrian accidents,
- bicycle accidents,
- motorcycle accidents,
- truck accidents,
- drowning accidents,
- and more.
Injuries from personal injury accidents can be costly and life-changing, such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken and shattered bones, internal bleeding, and soft tissue injuries.
To ensure that you receive the compensation that you deserve for the damages associated with these costly injuries, follow these tips to choose the best personal injury lawyer for your case.
How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?
In personal injury lawsuits, most attorneys only take a contingency fee. A contingency fee is only paid if you are awarded compensation from either a settlement or a trial win. According to the Florida Bar association, lawyers who charge more than the amount’s listed below are charging excessively:
- 33 1/3% of any recovery up to $1 million if your case is settled before the filing of an answer or demand for an appointment
- 40% of any recovery up to $1 million if you settle or win your case after the filing of an answer or demand for an appointment
- An additional 30% for any additional recovery between $1 and $2 million
- An additional 20% for any additional recovery above $2 million
If your attorney states that their fees are higher than those listed above, you may want to consider choosing a different attorney. If they ask you to pay anything upfront, they’re likely attempting to scam you out of money—as they likely don’t believe they can win your case.
How Did the Initial Consultation Go?
As most attorneys offer free consultations before signing a contract, you should interview more than one attorney. Have a set of questions prepared and take notes on their responses.
During your consultation, you should look at how organized and professional they are on top of how well they answer your questions. When you called to set up an appointment, did someone answer right away? If you left a voicemail, did you receive a fast follow-up?
Keep in mind that you’ll be working with your attorney for months or longer. This means you’ll want to ensure that they’re the right fit before signing a contract.
What’s the Attorney’s Experience?
When it comes to personal injury attorneys, the more experience they have, the better. The more experience they have working on cases like yours (and the more success they have), the more likely they will win your case.
More experience means more time spent negotiating with insurance companies, investigating cases, collecting records and information, and arguing cases in trial. Every attorney has to be certified by the state’s bar to practice law. So experience and a solid track record are two key factors that you should look at when deciding who to hire.
You shouldn’t hire an attorney for your medical malpractice case that only has experience working on car accident cases. Look for someone with experience working on your specific type of case. That way they’ll be the best equipped to help you receive compensation for your injuries.
Does the Attorney Have the Resources to Handle Your Case?
Large personal injury law firms often take on more than they can handle, leaving their clients high and dry. To ensure that your case is handled with the utmost care and confidence, choose an attorney that you know will have the time and resources to work on your case.
Truck accident cases and medical malpractice cases are costly. For example, truck accident cases can require the assistance of reconstruction experts, trucking safety experts, and more. It’s important to make sure that your attorney has the financial resources to see your case through in more expensive cases.
Do They Have a Track Record of Success?
When choosing a personal injury firm to defend your claim, you want to ensure that they have an ample track record proving that they can receive high settlement offers from well-known insurance companies.
Personal injury claims are almost always settled before going to trial. So a track record of high settlement offers is one of the best ways to determine whether or not you should hire a certain attorney to handle your personal injury claim.
Are They Willing to Go to Trial?
While most personal injury claims are settled before trial, there are many reasons in which a claim will need to go to trial. Therefore, you need to make sure your attorney is willing to do so if required.
For example, if the at-fault party’s insurance company refuses to offer a high enough settlement, your attorney should be prepared to go to trial for you. On top of that, insurance companies know when an attorney has a track record of not taking cases to trial. They will then use that knowledge against them. If your attorney is known for not taking cases to trial, be prepared for a meager settlement.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney For a Consultation
If you or someone you love has been injured in a personal injury accident, contact our talented team of personal injury attorneys here at The Eberst Law Firm. Whether you were involved in a motor vehicle accident, slip and fall, or medical malpractice, we can help.
We have years of experience working on personal injury claims. And we’re ready to help you get the most compensation for your damages. For more information and a free case evaluation, please contact us online or using our chat box option. You can also call us at 772-225-4900.
