If you’ve been injured in an accident, you are probably facing weeks or even months of physical recovery, but there’s another part of the story: the financial impact. In addition to your inconvenience, pain, and suffering, you will also likely incur substantial medical bills and lost wages. But you do have recourse. You can hire a personal injury lawyer to negotiate your claim with the responsible party’s insurer. The only problem is that unless you have a legal background, you probably don’t know how to choose a personal injury attorney. Unless they’re all alike, which they aren’t, it can be difficult to know who to go with.
Here are a few criteria that you should look for before committing to a personal injury attorney.
Works on a Contingency Basis
Nearly all personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis. Unlike other legal fields where lawyers require a retainer upfront, nearly all personal injury attorneys offer their clients free consultations and they only get paid if you win. That does not, however, mean that all attorneys get paid the same amount. The Florida Bar, for example, offers guidelines for contingency fees, which range from 33 ⅓ to 40 percent for settlements or awards under $1 million.
You should never have to pay out of pocket. If you meet with a personal injury attorney who wants to charge you a retainer, you may want to consider continuing your search.
Experience and Testimonials
Experience matters in personal injury lawsuits. The more seasoned your lawyer is the more likely they will be familiar with your type of accident case. Nearly every lawyer will have a bio on their webpage, which may tell you a little bit about their background. Some attorneys will also list the details of cases that they’ve won or large settlement amounts and awards that they’ve garnered for their clients. If you don’t see this information on your prospective attorney’s websites, ask the following questions:
- How long have they been a member of the state bar?
- How many personal injury cases have they settled or litigated?
- Do they have a list of testimonials that you can review?
- What is their experience with your type of case? (Car accident, medical malpractice, etc.)
Perform a Background Check
Most attorneys are going to try to sell you on their services. That’s how they make their money, after all. That’s why it’s beneficial to do a little detective work. Usually, searching an attorney by name in Google can yield a significant amount of information. You should also check the name of the attorney against the state bar to make sure that they are a member in good standing. Avvo is a lawyer directory service that rates attorneys and gives a basic description of their practice. Keep in mind that people are often more prone to leave negative reviews on directory sites.
Talk to a Few Attorneys
Most attorneys are going to want you to commit to them as early as possible. In fairness, the sooner you choose your attorney, the sooner they can start collecting evidence, deposing witnesses, and otherwise working to win your case, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t take a day or two to talk to a few attorneys. You can usually discuss the details via the phone, or if you’re in the hospital, they will come to you. Remember, never sign any paperwork from the opposing counsel before speaking to a personal injury attorney for your case.
