Million dollar television and radio campaigns, a celebrity spokesman, and huge yellow page ads give you very little information about the skill and qualifications of a particular personal injury attorney. In fact, some of the best personal injury attorneys do not advertise at all. Instead, they get their cases from referrals by other attorneys and prior clients. So, how do you weed through all of the gimmicks and glossy advertisements to find a good attorney who will maximize your recovery after you’ve suffered a personal injury?
Look for an attorney who specializes in personal injury cases.
Personal injury law is complicated. You should find an attorney who devotes his or her practice to personal injury law, rather than someone who dabbles in these types of cases. If you are lucky enough to find an attorney who began his or her practice defending insurance companies then you are way ahead of the game. Insurance defense attorneys know what insurance companies look at when they evaluate personal injury cases. They know how to get a case moved through the insurance company’s various levels of review done before any settlement offers are made, and they have established relationships with insurance adjusters. Once an insurance defense attorney begins handling claims on behalf of the injured person, they are usually very well equipped to get the most compensation for an injured person’s claim. Essentially, these former defense attorneys take the knowledge they have gained by working for the insurance companies and use it to maximize the recovery for the personal injury client.
AV Rated by Martindale Hubble.
Choose a law firm and/or attorney that is rated by Martindale Hubble. Martindale Hubble is a legitimate and respected legal publication that rates lawyers and law firms based on the results of questionnaires completed by lawyers. The ratings are based on an attorney’s reputation, skill, and results as judged by other attorneys. An AV rating is the highest possible rating and reflects that a lawyer and/or his law firm is well-respected by the legal community.
Experience, a Good Communicator, and Someone You Like.
Next, conduct an interview of the prospective personal injury attorney. A personal injury case can take several years from the date of your injury until the conclusion of your case. You will spend a lot of time communicating with and putting your faith in an attorney who will guide you through the insurance claims handling process and the litigation process. So, you should try to find someone that you like and who is a good communicator. The attorney should have years of experience in handling cases just like yours. Don’t be afraid to ask how many cases the attorney has handled and how many have gone to trial versus settled. Most personal injury cases settle. But, you want to make sure you have someone who is capable of taking the case to trial if it is necessary.
Personal attention.
Finally, you should look for an attorney who will handle your case on a day to day basis. The law firms with multi-million dollar advertising campaigns generally have many more cases than individual lawyers can handle. That means that you case will likely be managed by a paralegal or legal assistant. You may never have any contact with an attorney at the firm. To avoid this situation, look for a personal injury attorney who is selective about the number and types of cases he or she accepts. You should have access to your attorney at any time and you should be given the name and phone number of any support staff who will be working on your file.
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