The personal injury legal sector has suffered from a bit of a PR crisis over the last decade, being seen as purely a money-making enterprise filled with false claims, unscrupulous lawyers and scams. Like most industries, there are good companies and bad ones, the simple fact is, if you have been genuinely injured due to the actions or negligence of a third party, then you have the right to bring legal action against them for compensation.
These injuries can be minor or life-changing, affecting you for the rest of your life. This can put a strain on your health, career and finances.
To do this you’ll need to get a good lawyer, one who is experienced, professional and has your best interests at heart. If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of needing a personal lawyer, there are some things you’ll need to consider before making your choice.
An experienced and diligent injury lawyer is can make a huge difference to your claim. A lawyer with a bad reputation and poor record won’t be taken seriously by the company or person you are bringing legal action against or their insurance company. If they don’t take your lawyer seriously, or believe that they are not very good, they are more likely to defend the claim rather than settle. This will directly affect the amount of compensation you will get or you could lose the case altogether.
Visit the lawyer’s website and see if they have listed any successful cases you can check against public records. You can also look for at their online reviews from third party sites such as Google, Facebook and Yelp. You are more likely to get a balanced view as these reviews are not curated by the lawyer themselves, so you’ll see the good ones as well as the bad. For the best criminal defense lawyer orlando, look up The Ladan Law Firm.
Personal injury is a very specialised area of law, so you need a lawyer that is experienced in it, rather than just generalist who is willing to try their hand at the personal injury.
We’ve already established that having legal representation for personal injury lawsuits to take your case is important. However, it’s important to note that personal injury law includes various specializations, such as traffic accidents, medical negligence, workplace accidents, and corporate liability.
Other lawyers specialize in the type of injury rather than the cause of it, such as brain injury or paralysis.
Though not medical experts, they will have a good grasp of medical conditions, injuries and terminology relating to your case.
Lawyers who deal primarily with a particular area of an injury lawyer will know the ins and outs of the industry and will be able to grasp the particular details of the case and how they relate to each other. They will accurately be able to estimate the likely amount of compensation that you are entitled to.
If you’ve recently suffered an injury, it’s important to consider what to look for in a personal injury lawyer. Unfortunately, not every lawyer has the same track record or take the same approach in representing their clients. Therefore, it can be difficult to hire a competent personal injury attorney when you’re the victim in an accident that was caused by negligence on the part of another person or company. However, hiring an experienced attorney doesn’t need to be difficult, especially if you know what to look for.
Your lawyer’s credentials are a crucial deciding factor because the more experienced he or she is, the better your chances of reaching a favorable settlement. Here’s what you should look for before hiring an injury attorney:
A good lawyer knows when to settle and when to pursue the case fully. Bad lawyers look to settle every case a fast as they can. There’s nothing necessarily wrong with settling. Yes, you may get slightly less money, but you may well save legal costs and time. If your injury has left you unable to work, or with medical bills, then a quick resolution might be the best thing for you. In fact, over 95% of automobile insurance cases are settled.
Sometimes, settling isn’t right, especially if your lawyer just wants your case done and dusted and off the books. Though they will be getting less money in terms of fees, they rely on quick turnover of cases to make up the difference. A good lawyer will know when to take your case all the way and won’t be scared of a little hard work. If you insist on taking your claim further, they will often refer you on to another lawyer, usually for a referral fee.
Insurance companies will know your lawyer too. If they have a reputation for settling quickly for less money, then the insurance company will offer less in the way of compensation. If their reputation is good and the insurance company know that they will push a case all the way, successfully, then they may still offer to settle, but for far more money.
A good lawyer will be honest with you about your case and your chances of winning it. An honest personal injury lawyer is important because:
The short answer is ‘as soon as possible’. The longer you wait to pursue a claim the more chance that evidence could go missing or become less clear about the sequence of events.
Do not give any type of recorded statement or put anything on record until you have contacted a lawyer. It could be the difference between getting what you are entitled to or getting nothing due to a loophole or careless comment.
If you’re not happy with the results of your settlement, then it’s important to hire a lawyer who knows how to fight for your rights and who’s willing to use all of the tools that are available to him or her to ensure that your rights are protected.
Whoever you choose to represent you, it’s an important decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Don’t fall for flashy advertising. Do your research and maker sure that they can back up their claims in terms of their track record.
Don’t forget to listen to your instincts too. If you don’t feel right about a lawyer or their practice, then don’t be afraid to keep looking if they can’t put those fears to rest. It’s important you connect with them on a human level too. You don’t have to be best friends but they should be attentive and friendly when they communicate with you about your case.
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I agree with you that it is important to check an attorney's credentials. My cousin needs to hire a personal injury attorney. I will make sure that she researches the background of all potential attorneys.