Pursuing a personal injury case in court is not an easy job. On one hand, you are dealing with the injuries themselves and on the other hand, you have to manage the workload and the stress of going to court and managing your case. The fact that personal injury cases can take quite a while to reach any conclusion only makes matters worse. The best way to ensure you will get the compensation you deserve and that you will get it in a timely manner is to get a thorough professional to handle the case for you.
With an inexperienced professional, you will not only waste precious time, but the possibility of you getting proper compensation is also in jeopardy. Many people choose a lawyer in haste because of the stressful situation they are in. In the long run, this costs them a lot more than just the lawyers’ fee. Here are a few useful tips to help you make a better decision in this regard.
Use Your Network
Personal injury cases require a lot of work; it requires a lot of personal involvement and they can cost a lot of money to pursue. Hiring someone through your personal network helps to make sure you are getting a vetted professional, and there is a higher chance that they will be willing to go the extra mile to help get you the compensation you deserve. Reach out to your personal and professional network and see if you can generate any leads. Ideally, you should be reaching out to people in your network who are in the same city or town as you so you can find local lawyers to talk to. Since personal injury laws do vary a lot from place to place, having someone from another state will not be very helpful.
Look Online
If you don’t want to reach out to your network or feel like this isn’t something you want to share with friends and family, you always have the internet to help out. The main advantage here is that you can look directly for lawyers in your area or you can leverage the power of digital networks and discuss the issue online. In some cases, you might even still be able to maintain your anonymity. The internet has a plethora of knowledge and you can find answers to nearly any problem imaginable. During this research phase, make sure you are taking notes and short-listing individuals you would like to pursue later on. This is just to get an idea of your options, not to make the final decision.
Check Credentials
Law is a very broad and diverse profession. Even within the category of injury lawyers, there are going to be people who specialize in different things and offer different services. According to the lawyers at Pines & Goldenzweig, PLLC, your best option is to look for professionals who have experience with your exact problem. For instance, there can be injury lawyers who specialize in work-related injuries while some specialize in car accident injuries and others may specialize in other areas of injury law. Getting a lawyer who specializes in a field that is as close as possible to the nature of your case will be the best option.
Look for Experience
When you have a list of professionals who all specialize in a relevant area, you need to choose one person to represent you. There are a few ways that you can check the quality of service of a lawyer, and experience is a major factor to consider. Naturally, the more cases a lawyer has undertaken that are similar to your case, the better it will be. However, you also need to check the success rate of those cases. A good balance between the volume of experience and the quality of experience is what you are looking for. A lawyer with fewer cases under his or her belt but with a very high success rate may also be a good option.
Consult
Once you have a lawyer who fulfills all the necessary metrics, it’s time to discuss your case with them. This will not only provide you with insight into how they will pursue your matter but will also show you whether they will be a good match for you. Pursuing a case in court requires teamwork. If you and the lawyer can work well together, this will dramatically improve your chances of success.
The cost of the lawyer is a concern but it depends on your case as well. If you are looking for compensation that is worth millions, spending ten thousand or even a hundred thousand in lawyer fees should not be a problem. If you are looking for compensation worth only a few thousand dollars then hiring someone for $500 an hour wouldn’t be wise. The perfect candidate will be a mix of value and money but quality should remain your number one priority.
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
Whether she is researching the latest trends in home decor, life-changing destination getaways, or the best way to maintain your finances, Dewey takes pride in leaving no stone unturned. She is passionate about distilling and delivering high-quality information that you can use to upgrade your life.