If you live in a big city, you will quickly discover that there are a number of personal injury lawyers that you can hire when the need arises. Having many options is a good thing, as you are sure to find the right attorney for your needs. However, in the beginning, it can be a bit overwhelming, as you have so many attorneys to select from. Knowing what steps you should take to help guide you to a personal injury lawyer can help you to navigate through this process. Here are some of the key steps you will want to take as you look to hire a great personal injury lawyer in a big city.
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Talk to Family and Friends Who May Have Used a Personal Injury Lawyer
When you are looking to hire a personal injury attorney in a big city, one of the first things you will want to do is to hone in on some of the best attorneys. With so many available, you will want to talk to people you know who may have used a personal injury lawyer in the past and get recommendations. Talk to your friends, family, co-workers or even any attorneys you have used in the past for other types of cases, such as divorce. Each of these types of people may be able to give you some recommendations on which attorney or law firm they may have used or would recommend you use and provide you with the reasons why they are making that recommendation to you.
Read Online Reviews About the Personal Injury Attorney
Once you have some attorneys in mind, take the time to really read online reviews about the law firms or lawyers that were recommended to you. It is important to note that most people only leave a review when they are upset, and as such, every law firm is going to have at a few negative reviews. What you should be looking for as you read the reviews is the reason the reviews were left and any pattern with the reviews. Are all of the negative reviews left for a lack of communication? If so, this is a key indicator the law firm may not be the best at returning calls. Or do the negative reviews all mention losing cases? Be very wary about patterns with a law firm when it comes to negative reviews.
Find Out What Types of Personal Injury Cases the Lawyer Handles or Specializes In
Now that you have really narrowed down your list of personal injury attorneys based on online reviews, you will want to call the law firm and ask them what types of personal injury cases they lawyer handles or specializes in. There are numerous types of personal injury cases, including car accidents, pedestrian accidents, dog bite claims, nursing home abuse, slip and fall, wrongful death cases and product malfunctions. Not every attorney handles every type of case. You want to ensure the attorney you are looking at handles the type of case you have.
Sit Down For a Consultation With the Personal Injury Attorney
While you are on the phone with the personal injury lawyers office to find out what types of cases they handle or specialize in, make an appointment for a consultation if they handle the type of personal injury case you have. A consultation is a cross between an interview and a meeting for both parties. You have the opportunity to really get to know the attorney, see what it would be like working with, and get a feel for who they are, how friendly and knowledgeable they are, and if you would feel comfortable working on your personal injury case with them.
Ask the Personal Injury Lawyer Questions Pertinent Toward Your Case
Prior to a consultation, you will want to sit down and make a list of questions that you want to ask the lawyer. There are many important questions to ask, including what their educational background is, why they work as a personal injury lawyer, what their experience has been as a personal injury lawyer, what their track record is with personal injury cases and how much they charge. You also want to ask questions that are pertinent toward your case, such as what challenges they see with your case, what type of outcome they would like to see with your case, and how much experience they have handling cases that are like your case.
Follow Your Gut Instinct When You Finally Retain an Attorney
The last thing you need to do to hire a great personal injury lawyer in a big city is to really do some soul searching. Sit down and ask yourself which attorney you liked the best, who you trusted, who you can communicate well with and who you think will do a great job with your case. It is important to follow your gut as you go about hiring an attorney.
Hiring a personal injury lawyer is a big decision and one you should not take lightly. The lawyer or law firm that you hire is going to be there to help you with everything to do with your case, including seeking out evidence, helping to answer any questions you have, guiding you with your medical treatment as needed, filing the case with the court, and ultimately, helping you to maximize the settlement or award that you get. With such a big decision, you want to take your time and find the attorney you feel comfortable with, one who has experience, and one who charges a fair and reasonable fee for all of the work that they put into your case. Taking the time to really complete each of the above steps will ultimately help to guide you toward a great personal injury lawyer for your needs in a big city.
