Whether you have been injured in a car accident or have medical bills from a slip and fall, it is critical to have an experienced personal injury attorney on your side. The lawyers at Mortlock Law Group have put together some helpful advice to consider before making a final decision on who to hire to represent your interests.
Define the criteria that are important for you in a lawyer
Picking a lawyer that is the right fit for you is extremely important. One of the best ways to do that is to outline the criteria that are most important to you. First, you will want to define the type of specialties you would like. For example, do you need an attorney whose sole focus is car accidents or slip and falls? In addition, you will want to define the type of communication you would like to have with your lawyer. For example, do you prefer to speak on the phone or communicate via email?
Ask around for referrals from people you trust
Once you have laid out your criteria, you will want to ask around to people you know for recommendations. Personal referrals are a great way to hire a personal injury lawyer as people can offer their first-hand experience to you, and you will be able to ask questions. Beware of online reviews as well. They may not always be accurate. There are also sites where lawyers rate each other, such as the Martine-Hubbell Bar Registry.
Find out what the lawyer fees will be in advance
Most personal injury lawyers will not charge you a fee unless you are awarded money in the lawsuit. However, if you are granted an amount of money, the lawyer will be owed a percentage, so be sure to find out what that percentage is in advance. In addition, if you do not receive any money, you may still owe the attorney money for the expenses the attorney spent representing you.
Does the attorney have actual trial experience?
Many attorneys out there will tell you they have 20-plus years of experience with personal injury claims. However, that does not mean they have 20 years of experience trying cases in court. Therefore, it is essential to ensure the attorney you hire has experience in a courtroom. Ask how many cases they have tried in court and, more importantly, how many of those cases ended in money being awarded to their client.
If you have any questions about your personal injury case, reach out to the lawyers at Mortlock Law Group for a free consultation today.