If you have been injured in an accident or have lost a loved one due to the negligence of another, you may be considering hiring a personal injury attorney. It may be the first time you’ve ever needed to hire an attorney. Therefore, you search online for personal injury attorneys.
You are immediately presented with countless options. How do you choose whom to employ? Below are seven questions you can ask any personal injury attorney or law firm to narrow your options.
Things To Consider When Selecting a Personal Injury Attorney
- Does the Firm Specialize In Personal Injury Cases?
Personal injury law is an extremely difficult and constantly evolving field. If you are considering hiring an attorney to represent you, you should choose one who specializes in personal injury cases. If you required a heart transplant, you would not seek the services of an orthopedic surgeon. Likewise, if you were injured in an accident, you would not hire an attorney who specializes in employment law.
As surprising as it may seem, many personal injury law firms represent both injured victims and the negligent parties who caused their injuries.
- Who Are You Really Hiring and Who Will Handle Your Case?
Avoid websites that refer cases to attorneys. You may have noticed while searching for personal injury attorneys, that some websites provide no information about the lawyers who will handle your claim. This is because hundreds of companies have created websites that serve as referral sources for local attorneys, who pay a fee to be listed. Typically, these websites will ask you to fill out brief contact information before sending it to a local law firm via email. Ensure that you are contacting an attorney or law firm directly, as opposed to filling out a form for one of these referral companies.
- Does the Firm Have the Experience And Resources To Prosecute Your Case?
The knowledge and experience of the professionals retained to testify on your behalf can significantly influence how the insurance company evaluates your case and the size of the settlement offer they will be willing to seriously consider. Typically, these case expenses are covered by the attorney or law firm handling your case. If a lawyer asks you to pay these fees, it is a clear indication that the firm lacks the resources to handle your claim. Inquire with the attorney about how the firm plans to fund your case. You could also inquire about the largest sum of money the firm has ever contributed to a case.
- Are the Firm’s Attorneys Leaders in The Personal Injury Field?
Nowadays, it is easy for consumers to be misled about a law firm’s expertise and reputation because so many personal injury attorneys advertise heavily on television, in the yellow pages, and online. In fact, it appears that anyone with a sizable advertising budget can claim to be an expert in handling personal injury cases.
Conclusion
At Garcia and Phan, our attorneys are hired on a contingency basis, which means that you will not incur any legal fees until a settlement is reached or a favorable verdict is rendered. In addition to case costs, attorneys typically receive a percentage of the total case recovery following a settlement or verdict. If there is no settlement or successful verdict, you will not incur any legal fees. Call us at (714) 586-8298.
