Finding the right personal injury attorney is not an easy task. There’s a lot of research to be done. Plus, you have to find a lawyer who deals with your particular case. This is one of the major reasons why people give up on their personal injury claims. But the fact is that having a personal injury attorney is advantageous to settling or winning your case.
It is essential to consult knowledgeable and experienced personal injury attorneys, like the personal injury lawyers at texasjustice.com.
Before hiring a lawyer, you need to be familiar with the six mistakes commonly made by victims. This helps avoid hiring the wrong attorney for your personal injury case.
Mistake 1: Not Meeting Directly
One of the biggest mistakes that you will make is hiring a personal injury attorney without meeting them in person. Contacting an attorney directly can help you determine their professionalism as well as their level of communication.
Moreover, approaching a personal injury lawyer directly can help you build trust and a bond with them. This is necessary to maintain a good relationship with your personal injury attorney.
Mistake 2: Not Checking for Experience
The victim may sometimes hire an inexperienced personal injury attorney. Personal injury law is a complex field that requires specialized knowledge. An inexperienced attorney may not be familiar with the current laws, procedures, and precedents that apply to your case. At the same time, they may also not have access to the relevant experts and other sources that can strengthen your case.
Therefore, you should look for a personal injury attorney who has experience handling personal injury cases similar to yours. You should check their track record of success in terms of settlements and verdicts that they have obtained for their previous clients.
Mistake 3: Not Asking for Referrals
After an accident, you will feel unsure about who to trust. That is why you should ask your friends, colleagues, or family members to refer you to a personal injury attorney. It is better to confirm whether your family member or friend was satisfied with the outcome of their personal injury case.
Mistake 4: Not Checking Their Testimonial or Reviews
If you hire a personal injury attorney without checking testimonials or online reviews, you may not know about their work. Testimonials or reviews tell more about a lawyer. Additionally, you can learn about the attorney’s strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement from their previous clients.
This is why it is important to check the social media pages, website, or online platforms for testimonials or reviews from a lawyer’s previous clients.
Mistake 5: Not Asking Any Questions
Another mistake that you may make is hiring a lawyer without asking them any questions about your case. Asking questions can help you clarify any doubts or concerns that you may have about your case. By asking questions, you will get an understanding of the personal injury attorney’s legal strategy, expectations, and goals for your claim.
Therefore, it is necessary to prepare a list of questions to ask the personal injury lawyer before hiring them. Here are some of the questions that you can ask:
- Do you have any trial experience?
- Can I email or call you directly to resolve queries?
- How long have you been practicing law?
Mistake 6: Not Knowing Their Payment Terms
While hiring an attorney, you should discuss how they charge for their services. Every attorney will charge differently depending on factors like the severity of your case or the amount of work involved.
Some personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. On a contingency fee basis, an attorney only gets paid if they obtain a settlement for you. They generally charge a percentage of your settlement as their fee.
Final Thoughts
After an accident, you should make the smart decision to hire a personal injury attorney. By avoiding these six common mistakes, you can improve your chances of finding the right lawyer to handle your claim.
