Suffering a serious injury in an automotive accident is everyone's worst nightmare, especially when the accident wasn't your fault. Personal injury claims can be long and difficult, and it is important to choose the right attorney to represent you and make sure that you receive the proper amount of compensation. Even worse, you will likely be fighting with the insurance company while also contending with doctor's visits, physical therapy, and medical bills. All of this can be overwhelming, so having an attorney that you know that you can trust can be a great relief and source of strength as you get your life back on track.
Unfortunately, choosing the perfect attorney for your case isn't always easy. Here are five tips to help you find an attorney that will see your case through no matter what:
Avoid Overloaded Firms
One of the first questions you should ask any firm that you consult with is what their current caseload is like. Firms may sometimes take on significantly more than they can handle, and that can leave you with an attorney that doesn't have time to properly handle your case. Asking questions early is a great way to get a feel for what the firm's workload looks like, and this can help you judge if your case will receive sufficient attention.
Go to Multiple Consultations
It is rare for personal injury attorneys to charge for an initial consultation, so you shouldn't be shy about seeking out more than one. Even if you are happy with the answers you receive on your first visit, it is worth the time to find one or two more firms to speak with. You may find that another firm has even more experience in cases similar to yours, or that you simply mesh better with another attorney. This is your quality of life that is at stake, so you should never feel as though you are wasting time shopping around.
Look for Specific Experience
Court cases are incredibly complex and often require huge amounts of research and work both inside and outside of the courtroom. You may feel that it is enough to simply find a lawyer who has been practicing law for years, but it is far more important to find a firm that has experience dealing with cases like yours. This means that you want a firm with a proven track record of pursuing automobile personal injury claims and that ideally has done so in your local area. Not only will their experience serve you well, but their connections with the local court system will be valuable as well.
Interview Your Attorney
Free consultations will not always be with the actual lawyer that will be handling your case. It is important that you meet and talk with the auto accident attorney that you will be working with before you make a final decision. While experience, skill, and knowledge are obviously important, it is also important that you are personally comfortable with your lawyer. You will be working closely with this person and they will be delving into many aspects of your life, so having a good working relationship is vital.
Consider Asking for References
It's best if you build your shortlist through personal recommendations, but it doesn't hurt to ask attorneys that you speak with for references. The willingness of a firm to provide these can tell you a lot about that firm's history. While it is not strictly necessary to contact all of the references that you receive, calling one or two is a good idea, especially if you are trying to decide between two or more firms. This can also be a great way to judge whether the quality of communication that you receive during your consultations will continue as your case carries on.
Ultimately, the most important thing you can do is treat your attorney selection process with the seriousness that it deserves. Your life has been significantly changed as a result of your accident, and it is the role of a good attorney to help you put the pieces back together. Taking the time to choose the right attorney will pay dividends down the road.
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