During your first consultation, an experienced injury lawyer will listen carefully to your version of events and gather important information. They may ask about your injuries, medical treatment, pain and suffering, insurance, and other relevant details.
Look for a lawyer who teaches other lawyers about personal injury law and who has written articles on the topic. These are good indicators that the attorney has a strong understanding of this area of the law.
Experience
Getting hurt in an accident is stressful enough without having to negotiate with billion-dollar insurance companies. An experienced Bronx personal injury lawyer can take care of all communications with the insurance company so that you can focus on healing.
It is a good idea to find out how long the attorney has been handling injury cases. It is also important to determine whether he or she has experience representing plaintiffs, defendants or both. You do not want to hire a lawyer who has primarily represented insurance companies because he or she may be biased against your case.
It is also a good idea to find out whether the lawyer lectures at legal seminars or writes articles on injury law topics. These are usually signs that the lawyer is recognized by his or her peers as an expert in the field. If you have a friend or coworker who is an attorney, he or she might be able to recommend a reputable Personal Injury Lawyers to you.
Commitment
A good lawyer will take care of all the details, from investigating your case to handling all negotiations with insurance companies. This will allow you to focus on recovering from your injuries, both physically and emotionally. They will make sure that you get the maximum compensation possible in your case, not just a quick settlement.
Usually, personal injury lawyers get their business through referrals from other attorneys and other professionals in the community. Asking your friends and colleagues for recommendations is a good idea, but don’t base your decision solely on their opinion. Every lawyer is different, and they may have more or less energy or interest in taking on a new case. Lastly, almost all lawyers will offer you a free consultation and won’t charge a fee unless there is a recovery in your case.
Credibility
A reputable personal injury attorney is one who has a reputation for being able to win cases in a professional manner. This means that he or she will have a good rapport with local judges and insurance companies, a reputation which is crucial for winning your case.
In addition, it is important that the Phoenix personal injury lawyer you choose has experience in courtroom trials. This is because the insurance company will be more likely to negotiate with a lawyer who has had trial experience in personal injury cases than one who has not.
Credibility is also important when it comes to witness testimony. The jury will be more receptive to the testimony of credible witnesses than that of non-credible ones. To be deemed credible, a witness must tell the truth and not embellish or exaggerate facts. It is also important that the witness has good credibility in terms of appearance and demeanor. Finally, a credible witness will be able to clarify and explain difficult or complex legal concepts in a way that the jury can understand them.
Fees
Most injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means that they don’t get paid unless they win the case. However, most personal injury lawyers also charge “case expenses” like court filing fees and the costs of hiring expert witnesses.
It’s important to understand these additional costs before hiring an attorney. Make sure to read the fee agreement carefully and ask questions if you don’t understand something.
Some injury lawyers may even offer a free consultation. This can be a great way to find out more about an attorney’s experience and personality before making a decision.
During the free consultation, ask about the attorney’s experience handling your type of case. For example, some attorneys specialize in specific injuries, while others may focus on cases that involve medical malpractice or large-scale litigation. Ask for examples of similar injury cases and their outcomes. Then you can see if the attorney is likely to be a good fit for your case.