What To Look For When Choosing a Personal Injury Lawyer
Finding the right lawyer is intimidating. We’ve had many clients tell us they just never know what to look for or where to start. The issue is, when you’re not in the field every day, how can you judge the field? If this is your first time seeking legal representation, how do you know what you even need? And where do you begin?
The internet can be a useful resource, but it’s jam-packed with lawyers who have slick impressive websites, professional credentials and post success rates of above 98%. So how can you differentiate between them any?
Friends or word of mouth are also great options for finding a lawyer, but while your friends might know a lot of attorneys, they most likely don’t know the specifics of your case. No matter how well-intentioned, friends who are not also legal professionals might refer you to an attorney who was great for them but not for you. Especially if the lawyer does not specialize in the area of practice you need.
Be wary of promotional tactics that some attorneys use to attract clients. Some lawyers even try to attract clients by offering to charge less than their competitors. Just keep in mind that a cheap lawyer usually does not equate to a good lawyer.
So how do you decide who the right attorney is for you?
Here are some factors to consider when trying to find the right lawyer for your case:
Experience
Seek out an attorney who has actual courtroom experience and a track record of success. When we say experience, we mean trial experience. Almost any attorney can open a claim and negotiate, but what happens when the insurance company will not negotiate in good faith and makes a low-ball offer and the only course of action is litigation? You will want an attorney who knows what it takes to argue a case and persuade a jury. You will want an attorney who has a proven track record of success inside the courtroom.
Personality
Engaging in the litigation process is grueling. It takes an enormous amount of time, effort and commitment to run through the gauntlet of the adversarial justice system and come out on top. Insurance companies play hard ball and throw curveballs that even the most seasoned of attorneys would not have seen coming. You need a lawyer who you actually like. A lawyer who you get along with, who is accessible, responsive and user-friendly. To win you need a sound game plan, trust, effective communication and teamwork. Go to your lawyer’s office, see their infrastructure, meet the staff and get to know each other. Make sure you are compatible so you can fight the coming battles alongside a team you believe in and feel a part of.
Reputation
Ask around about your attorney, research them and their firm on the internet. Try to seek out peers or even if possible, past clients. At the Drexler law firm there is no doubt that we get better results because of our reputation. Attorneys know us, insurance companies respect us and know that we will not back down and that we have the confections to hire the best experts in the field. Making sure your lawyer has a respectable reputation in the subject field of your case is extremely important.
Follow these basic guidelines, call us if you have any questions and make sure that you find the right lawyer for you!
Disclaimers:
The information in this blog post (“post”) is provided for general informational purposes only, and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. This blog is not intended to, and does not, create an attorney client relationship, an offer of employment or a guarantee of success for clients of The Drexler Law firm. No information or representation contained in this post should be construed as an offer of employment, guarantee of success or the creation of an attorney client relationship with The Drexler Law firm, nor as legal advice from The Drexler Law Firm or the individual author. No reader of this post should act, or refrain from acting, on the basis of any information included in, or accessible through, this post without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer in the corresponding jurisdiction.
There are time deadlines during which a case must be brought, according to your jurisdiction or state, and failing to abide by the jurisdictional statute of limitation rules can result in your case being time-barred.