7 Tips for Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer for Your Case

There are currently over 146,000 personal injury lawyers, as well as over 51,000 personal injury law firms across the US. If you were recently in an accident, having a lawyer at your side could make all the difference. With their help, you can fight for compensation to recover damages.

Not sure how to narrow down your options? Here are a few tips that can help you find the best personal injury lawyer for your case.

With these tips, you’ll have peace of mind knowing a winner is fighting at your side. Start your search for injury lawyers with these tips today.

1. Gather Referrals

Instead of researching every lawyer who works in the area, turn to friends and family members. Consider talking to an attorney you hired for a different purpose as well. For example, maybe you needed help with estate planning or a divorce.

Ask the lawyer you worked with in the past if they can refer you to any personal injury attorneys. Otherwise, ask your friends and family members for local recommendations.

As you begin to build your list of local lawyers, learn more about each client’s experience with the attorney. First, ask questions about the lawyer’s experience and expertise. Ask the client if they encountered any problems while working with the lawyer, too.

For example, maybe the client struggled to reach the lawyer for updates about their case. Perhaps the lawyer was unethical in some way.

Gathering personal referrals can help you discover insights you likely won’t fight online or in a directory.

If you’re unable to build a list of lawyers based on referrals, begin your search online instead. Your state bar association can provide a list of personal injury attorneys that work in the area.

Confirm that each lawyer on your list of potential options is licensed to practice in the state. If they’re not, remove them from your list.

Then, use the rest of these tips to vet each attorney on your list.

2. Look for Exclusive Experience

As you research the lawyers on your list, make sure they exclusively practice personal injury law. Consider how long they’ve practiced and how many personal injury cases they’ve taken in that time, too.

Learning more about their experience can tell you a lot about the lawyer’s area of expertise.

Consider the type of lawsuit you want to file as well. Personal injury cases can involve:

• Car accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Dog bites
• Slander and liable
• Slip and falls
• Workplace accidents

Find a lawyer who specializes in similar personal injury cases.

Think about the details surrounding your case as well. For example, perhaps you were in an auto accident that involved an Uber driver. Maybe your medical malpractice case involves medications or birthing injuries.

Finding someone with relevant experience can increase the chances the lawyer will win your case. If they haven’t handled cases like yours in the past, remove them from your list.

3. Consider Their Memberships

Make sure each lawyer on your list is a member of local or national trial lawyer associations, too. These memberships can further speak to their expertise.

For example, you might find lawyers who were recognized by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys. Perhaps they were recognized by the National Trial Lawyers Association instead. Determine if the attorney won “Best Lawyer” from any national organizations, too.

Their accolades and professional recognitions could make you feel more comfortable in their abilities to handle your case.

4. Check Their Case History

As you continue vetting the injury lawyers on your list, look into their case history.

Remember to determine how many cases like yours the lawyer has handled over the years. Compare that to how many cases they’ve handled overall.

Then, determine how many relevant personal injury cases they were able to win. Ask how much they won for their client, too. Make sure they have a strong track record of recent wins as well.

If it’s been a few years since they last won a case, strike them from your list.

Finding a lawyer with a strong history of wins will give you peace of mind. These lawyers are more likely to win your case as well. If the lawyer dropped the ball repeatedly in the past, however, they might struggle to win your case, too.

An attorney who wins your case can help you cover your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. You can click here to learn more about why you should hire a personal injury attorney.

5. Read Reviews

You can also learn more about each attorney on your list by reading client reviews.

First, check the lawyer’s website for a Testimonials page. Read a handful of reviews to determine if they have a positive reputation in the area.

You can also find reviews on their Google Business listing, Yelp, Facebook, or BBB listing.

Look for a lawyer who has a five-star reputation. Their reputation could speak to their ability to meet or even exceed your expectations.

6. Consider Communication

Determine how you’ll communicate with the attorney moving forward. Remember, you don’t want to hire someone who won’t contact you with updates. You can look for client reviews to determine if the lawyer’s previous clients had a similar issue.

Otherwise, look for a lawyer who has strong communication skills. They’ll speak on your behalf while handling your case. If they don’t sound confident and articulate during your case evaluation meeting, keep looking.

7. Compare Options

Ask each lawyer for information about their fee structure. Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. However, some lawyers will have you pay an hourly rate instead.

Then, compare your options. Choose a personal injury lawyer who will fight at your side to win your case.

Find the Best Personal Injury Lawyer for Your Case Today

Finding an experienced personal injury lawyer isn’t as difficult as you might think. Use these tips to vet and narrow down your options. Then, choose the lawyer you believe will win your case.

With their help, you can fight for the compensation you deserve.

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