If you have a suffered a personal injury at the fault of another, you may have spent weeks or months in pain, debilitated and out of work.
You have a right to seek justice for the anguish you have endured.
To get this, you will need to find a personal injury attorney, but with so many advertising their services, it can be difficult to know which is going to get you the best possible outcome from your case.
A good personal injury attorney can make or break your claim, so choosing the right one is essential. Here is our guide to what to consider when hiring a personal injury attorney.
Speciality And Experience Of Personal Injury Attorney
There are a lot of different attorneys out there, and while some handle a multitude of different types of cases, others are more specialized. Wherever possible, you should always choose an attorney whose main area of practice is personal injury law. This will ensure that they have the most up to date knowledge and understanding of the tactics used in your type of case.
You should also look for an attorney with a proven track record in personal injury claims. Not all cases are textbook, and an experienced attorney will likely have experience of situations where things haven’t gone ‘by the book’. This makes them better able to predict problem scenarios and makes them best placed to handle your claim when things maybe don’t go as planned.
Look at their past practice experience to determine how they have handled other cases. You can also ask them about their insurance defense experience and any litigation experience that they have from the perspective of an insurance company, which could prove to be invaluable.
Attorney with Ample Experience
It is also important to consider the reputation of an attorney. Some are more well received by insurance companies than others, and choosing one that has a poor reputation among them could put your case in jeopardy before you even begin. On the flip side, some personal injury lawyers have gained integrity among insurers and so may have less to prove to obtain you a positive result.
In Your Budget
You may have found an attorney with a reputation and experience to feel confident in, but before you can hire them you need to know that the attorney is in your budget. Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingent-fee basis. What this means for you is that while you will be liable for covering your costs, you will only pay your attorney fees, if you receive a financial settlement from your case. Before you go ahead with your attorney, make sure you are happy with the amount you will be expected to pay them if they win you your case. In most scenarios, the fee will equate to between 33% and 40% of your total settlement figure.
Communication And Care
When considering a personal injury attorney, it is important to find out what you can expect from them in terms of communication and client care. Once you hire your attorney, he or she should be committed to helping you achieve your goal and work with your best interests in mind. It is perfectly acceptable to ask your preferred attorney how many cases they are currently working on, how quickly they are likely to be able to respond to communication from you and in which format they prefer to stay in touch with you.
Trust your gut! If you have a good feeling about an attorney then stick with it, but if you feel uncomfortable around them, or have any negative feelings at all then keep looking until you find a personable attorney that you feel is committed to helping you achieve justice for your personal injury.
If you have suffered a personal injury and would like further advice on how to make a claim, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us. Our team of experienced and reputable lawyers will be delighted to help you. Call the Moody Law Firm in Portsmouth, VA today at 800-793-4816.
