Choosing the best personal injury attorney involves a lot more than just making a phone call. Due diligence is needed as the person will determine the chances of winning the case. It can be overwhelming getting the right attorney, especially if you’re looking for one on the internet. Even if you’re looking for New York City Personal Injury Attorneys, you will find that there are still hundreds of attorneys. How do you separate the grain from the chaff? This guide will help you with picking the right personal injury attorney for your case.
Don’t Pay Upfront Costs
Most personal injury attorneys will work on a contingency fee basis. This means that you will only pay them once the case is decided in your favor. An attorney that asks for upfront costs should be a cause of concern. There are no guarantees that you will win the case. The reason why a personal injury attorney will take your case in the first place is that they believe you stand a chance to win. They’re willing to take the risk because they believe in their ability. If there is recovery for damages, the attorney usually takes a percentage as legal fees. These details will be clear before you start working with the attorney.
If it is a serious injury case, you could be looking at hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages. Only an experienced attorney will be able to get the best out of the situation. The percentage of the legal fees will be nothing compared to what you will be getting as compensation. It will also save you the trouble of having to look for money to pay the attorney before they can work on your case.
Experience
Experience is crucial when it comes to dealing with personal injury cases. You can decide to file a claim on your own but you will not have the experience of how to go about the process. The more you practice, the better you get. This is true for every profession and personal injury law is no exception. If it is a workplace injury, you will want to look for an attorney with experience with workman’s compensation law. You can know this by asking for references of cases that the lawyer has handled in the past. Working with an attorney who handled a similar case to yours in the past will give you the confidence even if it goes to trial.
Availability
You will want to know beforehand if the attorney is available for your case. You don’t want to have trouble getting information every time you’re following up on the case. An attorney who genuinely cares about your case will always make time to meet you in person. He or she will make sure that all your questions or concerns are being addressed in a timely fashion. A good attorney will go the extra mile to ensure that you’re educated on personal injury law and what you can expect to be the outcome of the case. The compassionate availability is what will differentiate a good lawyer from a great lawyer.
Empowerment
A good attorney should take care of all the little nuances of the case. There are some that will overlook the little things yet they’re just as important for the case. You don’t have to be worried about filing the claim on time and negotiating with the insurance provider. If you’re still recovering, you will want the lawyer to handle everything on your behalf as you concentrate on getting better.
Trial Experience
There are some lawyers that have never gone to trial. You can’t discount them since they’ve avoided trial in the first place. You might be dealing with a complicated case where both parties can’t seem to agree. This will mean going to trial and it is important to have someone with courtroom experience. An all-round attorney will also have courtroom experience. The insurance company will obviously hire the best attorneys money has to offer. You could be on the losing end if you decide to represent yourself or hire someone who doesn’t have courtroom experience.
To sum it up, you need to take your time when searching for a personal injury attorney. This will ensure you’re getting the best shot at the case. Be wary of someone that asks for payment upfront as you could be dealing with a con artist. Getting the right personal injury shouldn’t be that much of hustle if you know what you’re looking for.