It’s always a serious situation when you or a loved one needs the assistance of a personal injury lawyer, because this technically means that you were likely involved in an accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence.
Recovering your rightful compensation is always a lot easier said than done when you don’t have expert assistance speaking on your behalf to insurance adjusters, but there’s also no denying how some lawyers simply are better at getting higher settlement packages than others.
We’ve partnered up with the personal injury specialists at Cefali & Cefali APC to support us in creating this list of five crucial factors that people should know before actually hiring a personal injury lawyer. So by going through the below list, you’ll know what questions to ask and what information you’ll ultimately need to feel comfortable in your hiring decision!
The Personal Injury Lawyer’s Past Representation In Similar Cases
Every law firm is unique, just like every personal injury case. This is why it’s so important to do your homework while trying to figure out which firm is your perfect choice.
One good tip to keep in mind is that you should always ask about their past cases that are somewhat similar to yours, and get more information about how they represented those past clients (as well as those case outcomes). Just because you’re technically speaking with a personal injury law firm doesn’t necessarily mean that they have experience with what you’re currently going through!
Verify Their Successful Track Record
And on top of simply working with law firms who’ve helped past clients with similar cases to yours, you’ll also want to know just how successful the firm has been with all of their past personal injury cases. Any reputable lawyer will be more than happy to boast about their experience and overall expertise, and if they don’t explicitly say so, you should also ask about their trial experience.
Most insurance companies are afraid of experienced lawyers who’ve proven that they can win in court, and this ultimately creates an added leverage that can improve the overall likelihood of obtaining a favorable settlement package.
Providing Your Own Evidence & Paperwork
As much as a personal injury law firm can dig into finding evidence and necessary paperwork on your behalf, you’ll make your entire litigation process a lot easier and more affordable when you personally provide this type of necessary data. You’ll always want your lawyer to get the ball rolling on your case as soon as possible after hiring them, and doing your part will help catalyze the legal process and make things a lost easier on you!
Some of the paperwork you should provide includes police accident reports, medical records, lost wages data, insurance policy information, eyewitness contact information, pictures/videos of an accident scene, and much more.
Don’t Forget About Any Statutes of Limitations
Personal injury lawsuits are typically restricted by specific statutes of limitations, and these limitations vary depending upon where you live. The premise behind these limitations is that you’ll only have a certain amount of time to file a lawsuit after your accident has occurred.
This can sometimes be tricky because people may not realize their damages until long after their injury took place, and this is a big reason why it’s so important to take every accident and injury seriously (just in case it gets worse in the future).
Always Understand A Lawyer’s Fees Prior To Hiring Them
Fees and payment plans can vary between different personal injury law firms, which is why it’s crucial to get up-front information about how the lawyer expects to be paid.
Most reputable personal injury attorneys will only work on a contingency fee basis, which essentially means that they won’t make any money until they earn money for you. This is typically the best route to go with personal injury litigation and lawsuits, because you’ll likely have plenty of other expenses to worry about while you’re figuring out these stressful legal processes!
Reach Out To The Personal Injury Law Experts at Cefali & Cefali APC To Learn More Hiring Tips!
When you or a loved one is involved in a car accident or any other type of injury scenario that was caused by another individual’s negligence, it’s time to reach out to personal injury attorneys in your local area to see what your legal options are.
You can learn more personal injury lawyer hiring tips by going through the link at the top of the page to the Cefali & Cefali APC homepage, where their specialists will be more than happy to answer your questions and provide you with referrals to firms in your area!
