Injuries can be devastating. The road to recovery is stressful. It can be a long and frustrating process. The insurance company might refuse to handle your claim fairly, accuse you of exaggerating, or making things up. If you must file a lawsuit, it can be overwhelming. Typically, our clients have never been involved in a lawsuit and it is the most stressful thing in their life.
THE LAWYER YOU HIRE IS IMPORTANT.
There are a lot of things that are unknown and uncontrollable in a lawsuit. You were injured, out of your control. How badly you were hurt, out of your control. Whether the insurance company will handle your claim fairly, or force you to trial, out of your control. But of the things you can control, no single thing has a bigger impact on the value of your case than the lawyer you hire. You need to make sure you have the right one.
LAWYERS ARE NOT ALL THE SAME.
Each personal injury law firm has its own business model. Some advertise extensively and rely on a high volume of clients. Most people are familiar with them. Some are household names. Most personal injury firms are not big advertisers. They tend to specialize and handle a smaller number of cases.
Some focus on certain types of injuries, like brain injury, spinal injury, or death. Others may center on the type of work or conduct that caused the injury, like oil and gas, medical malpractice, or trucking. Even more, some law firms focus on a particular stage of the litigation, pre-litigation, filing and discovery, or trial. There are even specialists within those subparts.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF THE FIRM YOU CALL IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
Ask questions before you sign a contract. Do they go to trial? How often? Do they specialize in a specific area? Do they work with law firms that handle your type of case? Are they willing to? How many cases do they have right now? Do they have the resources to take your case to trial? How is the lawyer paid? How are the case expenses paid? If your case is not successful, will you owe anything?
YOU NEED TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP OF TRUST.
Your lawyer should be frank, open, and honest. If they are not shooting straight with you, or get frustrated when you ask simple questions, go somewhere else. You deserve a great lawyer.