The thought of hiring a lawyer seems scary. The word lawyer or attorney immediately brings the thought of a crime and jail. People never think about hiring a lawyer until they find themselves in legal trouble. Those who stay out of trouble think that they will never need legal assistance. But this isn’t true because life is full of surprises. Hiring lawyers is not always about divorce, probate, murder, or assault cases. For instance, if you are threatened by criminal charges, you may click here to learn about your criminal defense attorney requirement that is completely equipped to stand up for you and uphold your legal rights. Or when people get injured in a car accident or fell on someone else’s property. So, you may think you’ll never need a lawyer, but what if you get seriously injured due to someone else’s fault?
Nobody wants to get injured. But even if you’re being careful, the other person may be negligent. For instance, a shopping mall had a wet floor where you slipped and suffered a fracture. Many accidents happen where the victim has done nothing wrong. A poorly maintained property or unsafe working conditions can cause an injury, resulting in high medical bills. In such cases, you need a personal injury lawyer to seek compensation for your loss. But can you hire any civil lawyer to handle your case? Lawyers have specialization which means that you need to find a specialist. In addition to specialization in personal injury law, you should consider a few more factors when hiring a lawyer. Read further to find out!
Relevant Experience
As mentioned above, you need to look for a specialist. When looking for a personal injury lawyer, you need to make sure the lawyer has enough experience in cases similar to yours. Personal injury cases are of several types- car accidents, slip and fall injuries, cruise ship accidents, dog bites, medical malpractice, and many more. You need a licensed lawyer who has at least 3-5 years of experience in the same field. When contacting multiple lawyers, feel free to ask how long they have been practicing personal injury law and how many similar cases they have handled. For instance, if your neighbor’s dog has bitten you badly, discuss your case with the lawyer to know if they have handled a similar case in the past.
Evidence of Expertise
Any lawyer can claim to handle your case and make false promises. But to increase your chances of winning, you need an expert. Besides license and accreditation, the lawyer should have several testimonials and reviews. You may also ask for real-life case studies to find out the lawyer handled cases in the past. Reliable personal injury law firms take pride in sharing the amount they succeeded in obtaining for clients and their success rate in settling cases. In addition to success rate, also find their trial experience. Ask how many cases they settled outside the court and how many ended up in the court. The lawyer you choose should have the experience to successfully negotiate settlements and provide a strong trial representation.
Payment & Terms of Service
Experience and reputation matter but finding the best lawyer is useless if you can’t afford their fee. Some law firms charge an exorbitant fee and have stringent terms of service. So, when during the initial consultation, make sure to discuss the payment structure and their terms of service. Some lawyers charge a fixed fee, while others take a percentage of the compensation amount. You may also find firms that don’t charge unless you win the case. Knowing these things beforehand ensures that there are no hidden surprises when your claim is settled. Carefully read the terms and conditions in the contract and ask if they offer a No Win, No Fee service.
