If you’ve been injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you have every right to sue for lost wages and medical expenses. But how do you go about ensuring you get the best possible chance of winning your lawsuit?
A while back, I wrote about the benefits of hiring a personal injury attorney, so today, I’d like to share with you, my top tips for finding the best personal injury lawyer for your needs.
Experience counts
Personal injury law can be a minefield, and as such, requires expertise and proficiency in dealing with such cases, so it’s imperative that you do your homework before settling on a personal injury attorney to take you case.
As with any other service, you’ll need to make sure that your personal injury lawyer has a lot of relevant experience, after all, there’s no point in hiring an attorney who has had a lot of dealings with car accidents if your injury happened on a construction site, for example. Ask to see proof of successful personal injury lawsuits the lawyer has been involved with.
Get recommendations
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, when seeking a personal injury lawyer to take your case, it’s imperative to get recommendations. Statistically, with so many lawyers out there, eager to have your business, there are bound to be some who just won’t come up to scratch.
Getting recommendations for personal injury attorneys from friends and colleagues is all well and good but since no two cases are ever the same, and people are notoriously subjective when it comes to giving advice, it’s far better to consult professionals when conducting your research. These three resources are the best, and offer unbiased reports for personal injury lawyers across the US:
Make sure your paperwork is in order
This may sound like a no-brainer but not everyone who has been injured in an accident, and who seeks medical treatment, thinks to keep all of their documentation.
If you are going to sue for compensation, you absolutely have to make sure that you’ve saved any and all emails from the doctors and other medical staff involved in your treatment and care; you should have kept each and every receipt, no matter how small; you should also have your notes from your doctor, as well as any injury management instructions that s/he has issued you; and if you have it, photographic evidence too.
Do be sure to take all of this to your initial meeting with your personal injury attorney, so they can have a better idea of how to assess your claim.
Shop around
Since most personal injury lawyers offer free initial consultations, it means you can afford to meet with as many as it takes for you to find the right one. You are under no obligation at all to hire an attorney just because you’ve had a meeting with them.
You’ll need to make sure that the personal injury lawyer you give your business to is going to do their very best to secure a fair result for you; you’ll need to make sure that you actually get along with them; and you’ll need to be confident that they are being honest in their assessment of what kind of settlement you may be awarded. If you’ve done your homework, you’ll have some idea of what a fair settlement would be, so don’t be tempted to fall for promises of hugely exaggerated sums.
Ask, ask, and ask again
At your initial consultation, you should be able to ask any prospective personal injury lawyer as many questions as you feel are necessary; the level of their experience, how many successful cases they’ve represented, how long the case might take, the chances of an out of court settlement, what kind of sum you may be entitled to, etc.
If you feel uncomfortable for any reason, or if you feel that the lawyer is not giving you honest answers, then look for another lawyer. A good personal injury attorney will understand that this is a difficult time for you, and will do their best to put you at your ease.
If you have been injured in an accident in New York City, you may wish to speak to New York City personal injury attorneys as soon as possible. Our expert personal injury lawyers at Antin, Ehrlich, and Epstein LLP will determine the best course of action in order to get you the settlement you are entitled to. Contact us today on 917-730-7151 to schedule a free, no obligation, consultation.