Personal injury lawyers are invaluable resources that can assist in navigating the legal system with ease, translating medical and insurance jargon, and taking negligent parties to court to secure fair compensation for their injuries. But how do you locate one?
Ask any prospective attorneys for information regarding their past experience handling cases similar to your own, their trial experience and number of settlements they have managed.
Experience
Skilled New York personal injury attorneys provide invaluable assistance for victims as they negotiate legal hurdles and access medical care, as well as understanding the physical, financial, and emotional hardships caused by serious injuries. It is their role to offer objective opinions that are free of fear, frustration and stress that allow clients to make more rational decisions regarding treatment.
Most personal injury cases settle out of court. An experienced lawyer should be willing to negotiate with insurance companies in order to get you maximum compensation possible; if negotiations fail however, an advocate who will go all the way should be appointed as your legal representation.
Ask prospective personal injury attorneys the number and outcome of their jury trials as this provides insight into whether or not they possess the required expertise to win your case. It also lets you know whether their past clients won their cases successfully or lost them, which provides further indication as to whether or not they possess sufficient skills and experience to tackle yours successfully.
Reputation
Law is an industry built on peer recognition. To gauge how well an injury lawyer is respected among his or her peers, set up a consultation meeting with prospective attorneys – ask if they speak clearly, look professional and organized, have an approachable demeanor and an organized plan for your case?
A competent personal injury attorney should quickly evaluate your case and explain its course, while being available to respond to questions and give updates as they come.
Most personal injury claims never reach court; instead they are often resolved through negotiations with insurance companies. Personal injury lawyers with an excellent track record may be more successful at convincing insurers to offer fair settlements; insurers will likely see that hiring such an aggressive, experienced legal representation means facing more likely trials for their clients in court.
Fees
Personal injury attorneys typically work on contingency fees, meaning they only get paid if they successfully recover compensation for you. But not all contingency fees are equal; depending on the complexity of a case (e.g. rear-end collision with whiplash injuries may incur lower fees than tractor trailer crash with multiple victims and severe injuries).
Considerations should also be given to how much your lawyer will charge for investigative costs, medical record retrieval fees and any other related expenses. You should receive full disclosure during a free consultation and in a representation agreement before hiring any law firm.
Ask the attorney you’re considering whether they regularly litigate cases in court. Many lay people assume all personal injury lawyers are trial lawyers; however, this isn’t always true – some attorneys prefer negotiating settlements rather than litigating cases regularly.
Communication
A competent personal injury attorney should present legal concepts and strategies in a way that is easy for their client to grasp, respond promptly to questions from his or her clients, and outline any costs or expenses that might arise throughout your case. As you interview potential personal injury lawyers, make sure they have experience in areas relevant to your injury claim – this way you’ll know when you have found someone with whom you can work well together.
Effective communication helps clients manage anxiety and stress as they’re kept updated on the progress and next steps of their case. Look for an attorney who prioritizes accessibility and establishes clear communication expectations from the beginning, such as setting an update schedule. This can prevent miscommunication from misunderstandings as your case moves forward; additionally, an empathetic attorney will recognize each client situation is unique, tailoring their approach accordingly – this can be particularly important when dealing with insurance companies.