You can choose a personal injury lawyer using several benchmarks and criteria. Prospective clients want to see that their attorney has obtained many valuable case results. It can also ease your mind if a law firm has many positive reviews from clients—and negative reviews are few and far between.
You might also review a law firm’s practice areas, messaging, and location to ensure the firm is a strong fit for you and your case.
A Checklist for Choosing the Right Personal Injury Lawyer for Your Case
Finding the right personal injury attorney is a bit of an art. There will be objective criteria to consider, like case results. There will also be more subjective factors to weigh, like a firm’s culture and the level of chemistry when you complete your consultations.
A reliable checklist to follow as you seek a capable, compassionate personal injury lawyer is as follows:
Client Opinions and Reviews
Like any business, reviews can steer you in the right direction or spare you from regret. You may find reviews on forums like Google Reviews and law firms’ websites. As you read reviews, you should consider:
- The firm’s overall star rating (which is the most common means of rating attorneys)
- The number of positive reviews versus not-so-positive reviews
- The specific points of praise in the reviews—for example, you might see that several former clients mention a law firm’s excellent communication or highly personalized legal approach
- Whether former clients seem generally satisfied or unsatisfied with the service they received from the law firm
Sure, there can be disgruntled former clients. For the most part, though, client reviews are a reliable (and essential) consideration when choosing an attorney.
Case Results
Case results are an objective way of measuring a lawyer’s performance. Keep in mind that:
- Different cases have different values—a $25,000 settlement might not look like a massive result, but it is a massive victory if the client was only expecting $10,000
- Yes, large results should warrant your attention
- You should consider the number of results a law firm has achieved and the period over which they’ve earned those results—a sustained history of success is a plus
Also, consider the mix of results. If a law firm has a solid combination of settlements and verdicts, that can be a positive. This may indicate that the firm’s attorneys are equally willing to negotiate settlements and take cases to trial.
The Firm’s Location
The closer your law firm is to where your case will take place, the better. Keep in mind that your case might take place somewhere other than where you live—such as if you were in an out-of-town car accident. Try to find a law firm with an office in the vicinity of where your injury took place, location is important because:
- Your lawyer will need to collect evidence, and the closer they are, the sooner they can gather that evidence
- A local attorney should be familiar with local courts and locations around the city, which can be beneficial for several reasons
- A local lawyer may know insurance companies, other local attorneys, judges, and others who can be involved in your case
Local firms may also have a network of experts, medical professionals, mental health service providers, and others who can play key roles in your case.
Practice Areas
You don’t just want an experienced lawyer. You want a lawyer with relevant experience. When an attorney has handled your case type many times before, you can be sure they’re operating confidently. An experienced lawyer can foresee challenges, avoid mistakes, identify effective strategies, and lead your case efficiently.
For example, a lawyer who has handled hundreds (or even thousands) of car accident cases might know about whiplash and other injuries often associated with auto collisions. Experience always helps, so find a personal injury lawyer with experience in spades.
Culture and Fit
Each lawyer and law firm has unique:
- Priorities
- Principles
- Values
- Philosophies
- Backgrounds and stories
Read a law firm’s site. Uncover their history and motivations for practicing personal injury law. Evaluate what they claim is most important to them. Then, when you interact directly with that firm during a free consultation, determine whether you think they’re true to their messaging.
Free Consultations Are a Critical Step When Seeking a Personal Injury Attorney
The free consultation is an industry-wide offering. It is a critical step in finding the right lawyer to lead your case. During your free consultation—which might be completed by phone call, Zoom conference, or in person—you might ask the firm’s representative:
- Experience the firm has with cases like yours
- What results the firm has obtained for clients in circumstances like yours
- Which attorney will be leading your case
- How the law firm’s fee structure works
- Why you should trust your case and your financial well-being to that law firm
You can tell a lot from a free consultation. You might feel that a firm is authentic, compassionate to you, in tune with your needs, and willing and able to pursue the result you deserve. Trust your instincts during this process.
Case Types Personal Injury Lawyers Handle
Each personal injury firm handles different case types. Make sure you check with specific firms about whether they can handle yours. That being said, some of the common case types personal injury lawyers handle include:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Trip and fall accidents
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Rideshare accidents
- Bus accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Scooter accidents
- Boat accidents
- Drunk driving accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Animal attacks
- Nursing home neglect and abuse
- Other premises liability events
- Medical malpractice
- Injuries caused by defective products
- Exposure to toxic substances
- Physical attacks
- Sexual abuse
- Financial exploitation
- Wrongful death
It’s worth speaking with law firms if you:
- Were personally injured
- Were personally made sick
- Have a loved one who was injured or sickened
- Lost a loved one
If you believe any of these outcomes happened because of someone else’s negligence or intentional wrongdoing, it’s worth finding an attorney.
You Will See Your Lawyer’s Value Immediately
Lawyers don’t delay. When you hire a personal injury attorney, they will immediately deliver value by:
- Taking your case off your hands: Those who hire a lawyer don’t have to stress about their case anymore. You trust that your lawyer is working urgently to complete the job, fighting for the best outcome they can secure.
- Protecting you: Your lawyer will be the guardian of your case and your rights. You won’t have to worry about insurance companies’ motives or any mistakes that might harm your case. Your attorney’s job will include avoiding mistakes and neutralizing any threats to your case.
- Issuing the advice you need to hear: Clients often need assurance. They need to know what to do while their lawyer leads their case. Your attorney will give you the advice you need, and they will do so right away.
- Being available to you: As soon as you hire a lawyer, they become your ever-present resource. If you have a question, need instruction, or want an update about your case, just contact your attorney or their team.
These are just a few of the immediate benefits of hiring a personal injury attorney. Those benefits will continue through the completion of your case.
Personal Injury Lawyers Do Not Typically Require Any Out-of-Pocket Fee from the Client
Personal injury lawyers’ clients have been in serious accidents. They have fallen. They have lost loved ones. They are in distress, and lawyers know that facing a bill for legal services might cause further distress. This is why:
- Most personal injury lawyers offer their services through contingency fees, which means their fee is contingent on the case result
- Clients don’t typically pay any out-of-pocket fees or costs to their personal injury attorney
- If the lawyer wins, they get a cut of the recovery—and if they don’t, the client doesn’t have to pay a dime
You can discuss the specifics of this arrangement with any law firm you’re considering hiring.
Personal Injury Attorneys Manage the Entire Case. Here Are Some Common Duties They Perform.
Each case has its own demands, twists, turns, and challenges. Each client receives a customized strategy from their lawyer. For this reason, it’s difficult to say exactly what your attorney will need to do for your unique situation. However, some of the most common responsibilities personal injury lawyers handle include:
Having a One-on-One Meeting with the Client
Clients have their lawyer’s ear from the get-go. You will likely have a one-on-one meeting with your attorney, which will entail:
- Letting you explain why you hired the attorney
- Answering any questions you have
- Outlining the process ahead
- Addressing any concerns you have
- Providing any guidance that can benefit you or your case
- Ensuring you’re receiving any medical care and mental health services you require
Lawyers do legal work, but they are also in a service-oriented industry. Expect your lawyer to consider your needs as both a client and a person.
Documenting the Harm You Deserve Compensation For
Documentation frequently used in personal injury cases includes:
- The client’s account of financial harm, physical injury, emotional anguish, grief, and other harm they’ve suffered
- Financial records, which may include bank statements, receipts for services, receipts for repairing or replacing damaged property, and estimates of future financial loss
- Expert testimony, which can come from medical professionals, mental health professionals, or any other expert with insight into the client’s damages
Attorneys can determine the cost of both economic and non-economic harm (like pain and suffering), which is one of several reasons they’re such a valuable resource.
Identifying and Documenting the Negligence That’s Caused Your Suffering
Documentation will show the harm you’ve suffered. Your lawyer will need to prove who caused that harm.
Different cases offer an attorney different types of evidence. In a car accident case, for example, a lawyer might secure video of the collision. In a medical malpractice case, an attorney might obtain expert testimony about a medical professional’s negligence.
Exploring Settlement Offers—and Negotiating Aggressively, If Circumstances Warrant
Your case will have a specific value. Generally, a case’s value increases with the severity of the client’s physical injuries, pain and suffering, and economic losses.
Once your attorney knows your case value, they can negotiate. While your lawyer will present reasonable demands, it’s no certainty that liable parties will negotiate in good faith.
Leading Any Legal Processes You Pursue
Many personal injury cases eventually lead to a settlement—even in cases when the client files a lawsuit. However, some lawsuits go to trial.
If and when your case requires legal action, your lawyer will be responsible for any necessary lawsuit or trial.
Handling the Behind-the-Scenes Work That Is Critical to a Case’s Success
Succeeding in a personal injury case takes lots of work. The client does not see much of that work, which can include:
- Forming personalized case plans (and tweaking those plans as circumstances change)
- Creating legal documents
- Dealing with insurance companies
- Communicating with other attorneys
- Arranging legal proceedings
- Negotiating multiple times in a variety of ways
Let your attorney do the hard work. Rest and recover knowing a legal team has your back.
Damages Determine the Value of Personal Injury Cases, Here Are Some Damages That May Be Included in Your Case.
Of all your lawyer’s responsibilities, documenting your recoverable damages is perhaps the most critical. These damages determine your case value, and some common examples include:
- Pain and suffering
- Medical costs
- Professional damages, including but not limited to lost income
- Property repair or replacement costs
- Caregiver costs
- Medication costs
Each client presents unique physical injuries, psychological hardships, financial losses, and overall damage profiles. Your attorney will tailor their settlement demands to match the unique damages you’re facing.
Find Your Personal Injury Attorney as Soon as Possible. Waiting Could Prove Disastrous.
Due to the time-sensitive nature of personal injury cases, now is the time to find your attorney. Consultations are free, so there is no barrier between you and the legal services you deserve.