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If you're facing a particularly serious or complicated injury claim,
you'll probably need a lawyer's advice. But you shouldn't turn to just
any lawyer for help. Look for someone who has experience representing
injured folks (called "plaintiffs") in personal injury claims-and
whom you feel that you can trust.
Get referrals from:
- Friends and Acquaintances. Talk with friends or
coworkers who have been represented by a lawyer in their own personal
injury claims. If the friend or coworker says good things to you about
a lawyer, put the lawyer on your list of people to consult. But do
not make a decision about a lawyer solely on the basis of someone
else's recommendation. Different people will have different responses
to a lawyer's style and personality; don't make up your mind about
hiring a lawyer until you've met the lawyer, discussed your case and
decided that you feel comfortable working with him or her.
- Other Lawyers. Another place to seek a referral
to an experienced personal injury lawyer is through other lawyers
you know. Lawyers commonly refer cases to one another, and most lawyers
will know someone else who handles plaintiffs' personal injury cases.
As with referrals from friends or coworkers, however, do not simply
take another lawyer's referral as the final word.
- Referral Services. Most local bar associations
have referral services in which the names of lawyers are available,
arranged by legal specialty. Call your local bar association referral
service and ask for the names of a couple of personal injury lawyers.
Unfortunately, bar associations do very little screening of the lawyers
on their lists. What experience a referral lawyer actually has is
a hit-or-miss proposition. Don't make a decision about a bar referral
lawyer until you have met and interviewed him or her.
Once you get referrals, be sure to comparison shop. Get the names of
several lawyers and meet with each of them to discuss your claim before
you decide to hire someone. And be prepared for rejection. Many lawyers
do not take cases if they fall below a certain potential recovery amount
or if the claim is not crystal clear.
To find out whether a lawyer is right for you, sit down with the lawyer
to discuss your claim and possible ways of handling it. Bring copies
of all your documents: police report, medical records and bills, income
loss information and all correspondence with the insurance company.
Most lawyers do not charge anything for an initial consultation. But
before you meet with a lawyer, find out whether he or she will charge
you for the first interview. If the lawyer wants to charge you just
for discussing whether or not to take your case, go somewhere else.
After you tell the lawyer generally what your case is about, there
are a few basic things you'll want to find out from the lawyer:
- How long has the lawyer been in practice?
- Roughly what percentage of the lawyer's practice involves personal
injury cases?
- Does the lawyer most often represent plaintiffs or defendants? You
do not want to be represented by someone who has experience with personal
injury cases but who has primarily been a lawyer for defendants. Their
way of thinking may be too closely tied to the attitudes of insurance
companies and they might not fight as hard-consciously or unconsciously-for
your claim.
- Would the lawyer personally handle your case or pass it along to
another-perhaps less experienced-lawyer in the office? It is normal
for more than one attorney in an office to work on the same case,
and to have less experienced attorneys handle routine tasks. Find
out which lawyer would have responsibility for the case and which
lawyer you would be dealing with directly. If there is to be another
lawyer directly involved, ask to meet that lawyer, too.
Settlement Goal. After you have discussed
the facts of your case and the history of your negotiations with the
insurance company, you may be able to get some sense from the lawyer
about how much he or she thinks your case is worth, and how difficult
it may be to get the insurance company to pay that amount. This is when
you should let the lawyer know which of the following you want him or
her to do for you:
- Obtain a certain settlement amount for you with as few costs and
as little hassle as possible.
- Obtain an amount higher than what the insurance company has offered
as soon as possible.
If you feel confident with the lawyer's experience, and comfortable
with his or her idea of how to proceed with your case, chances are good
that you've found a lawyer you can work with.
Copyright
© 2006 Personal Injury Attorney Information. |
