There were over 55 million injuries suffered in the US in 2020. Unfortunately, very few of those were filed in court, and even fewer of them ever went to trial.
If you’ve been injured and think you have a personal injury case, your next step should be finding a good lawyer. The good news is that you have a wide range of options when selecting a personal injury law firm.
This raises a very big question. With so many law firms to choose from, how do you decide which is a good fit for you? We’ll answer this question in this article.
1. Court Experience
Among the most important determining factors for the skill of any attorney is experience. How many years have they been practicing law, especially personal injury law? How many times have they been to court?
This last one is particularly important because a lawyer’s reputation is born from their history. A lawyer’s reputation and respect levels affect not just the attorney but your personal injury case as well.
For instance, if a lawyer has a reputation for settling out of court, it can mean a smaller payout for you. If other lawyers know that yours isn’t willing to go to trial, they might offer less money in a settlement, because there’s no risk of going to trial.
2. Communication and Respect
A good lawyer should be willing to talk to their clients openly and honestly. They should be straightforward about what to expect from the case and be willing to answer any questions you have.
Honesty is just one important aspect of a lawyer-client relationship. Another is respect. Your lawyer should treat you well and be willing to meet you where you are, literally and figuratively.
You should be able to call them and expect them to answer, or, at the very least, know they’ll call you back at some point. This doesn’t mean that the lawyer should or will be at your beck and call, but if they have a schedule of available hours, you should know them.
3. Look Into the Cost
Lawyers may offer a few different models of payment, but one of the most common is contingency fees. A lawyer who works on contingency charges their client only if their case is successful. This is common in the field of personal injury law.
The important thing to know about contingency is that it doesn’t always cover everything. There might be consultation fees that you have to pay before a law firm will take your case.
Finding the Right Personal Injury Law Firm
Finding the right personal injury law firm requires diligence. You have to know what qualities you’re looking for. We’ve discussed some of these qualities in the paragraphs above, but there’s always more to learn.
If you want to know more about various aspects of legal practice, you can find it on our blog. If you’re looking for a personal injury law firm to handle your case, we encourage you to contact us at Wright & Gray.