Do you think filing a personal injury lawsuit simply involves suing the at-fault party and getting compensation? It may sound simple but nobody is going to pay you easily for your damages. Whether you’ve got injured in a car accident or sustained injury due to medical malpractice, you need enough evidence to build a strong case. There’s a lot of paperwork and a proper legal procedure to follow. No matter where you live, navigating the legal system can be extremely complex. Without the help of an experienced lawyer, you may end up losing the case. Even when you hire a lawyer, there’s still no guarantee to get a favorable outcome of the lawsuit. This happens because not all lawyers specialize in personal injury law. Failing to hire a specialist can jeopardize your case and leave you with paying court fees only. So, to avoid these issues and maximize your chances of winning, finding the best personal injury lawyer is important. But how can you distinguish between an incompetent lawyer and an experienced professional? Let’s find out!
How to Find a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Sometimes, people get injured in an accident that was not their fault. There could be a reckless driver, negligent doctor, or irresponsible property owner who can cause harm to you. To hold these people accountable for their actions and help the victim get compensated for the harm, there is personal injury law. However, to prove that the other party is liable for your damages, you need a lawyer specializing in personal injury law. You need to find a lawyer who understands the law and has handled similar cases in the past. To find the best personal injury lawyer to handle your case, make sure to consider the following factor during an initial consultation.
- Experience & Concentration
“Personal injury” is an umbrella term that includes many different kinds of cases such as car accidents, animal bites, slips and falls, medical malpractice, defamation, and more. When looking for a lawyer, you need to figure out how much experience the lawyer has in handling your type of case. For instance, if you’ve got injured in a slip and fall accident, make sure that your lawyer has handled several similar cases in the past and has a high success rate in similar cases. Experience and specialization in similar cases mean the professional is familiar with common legal issues and has connections with investigators to help with your case.
- Fees & Court Cost
Before hiring a lawyer, it’s necessary to discuss the fee structure and billing practices. Make sure you find out how much the lawyer charge and the initial payment before signing a retainer agreement. Remember, a lawyer’s fee and legal costs are different. Fees are charged by lawyers for their service while cost means the legal expenses for a case such as deposition fees, postage charges, court fees, witness fees, document request fees, and more. Some personal injury lawyers charge contingency fees where they don’t charge anything unless they recover compensation for your claim. Other lawyers may ask you for a percentage of the compensation amount recovered for your claim.
- Winning Record
Another important factor is the lawyer’s track record. You need to find out their success rate both inside and outside of the courtroom. It is best to choose a lawyer who is proficient in both- negotiating settlements outside the court and an aggressive trial lawyer.
