When you have an injury that has left you in pain, it can be difficult to know who to speak with. You may not know where to turn for legal advice after a car accident or whether your case is worth taking on.
If you’ve been hurt in a car accident, on the job, or as a result of medical treatment and you’re struggling with figuring out who to hire, don’t panic. The process of choosing a personal injury attorney can be daunting. You can reach out to Flagler Personal Injury Group if you’re looking for a personal injury attorney you can trust.
What kind of Attorney should I Choose?
There’s a lot of misinformation about which types of lawyers are best at helping victims of personal injury. For example, some people think that family law attorneys have low fees or are affiliated with insurance companies. Others assume that criminal defense attorneys have shoe-string budgets and won’t take on tough cases. However, there’s no such thing as the “wrong” type of lawyer for these cases.
In fact, some personal injury attorneys have relationships with insurance companies, while others focus solely on representing the victims of civil negligence. To make sure you choose the best lawyer for you, know what kind of lawyer is best suited to your specific needs.
Do I need a Personal Injury Attorney?
Personal injury attorneys could help recover damages if you were injured in a car accident, on the job, or due to medical malpractice. The majority of personal injury cases fall under the category of car accidents. If you were hurt in any of the following situations, you should hire a personal injury lawyer:
What’s a Pre-suit Analysis?
Many personal injury lawsuits are brought long before a case gets to court, either because of how long it takes to investigate or gather evidence or if the victim chooses not to go forward at all. This is a common practice in personal injury insurance litigation. Insurance companies will often donate an attorney to the plaintiff for free or at reduced rates, so they can start the case without having to foot the legal bills.
Pre-suit analyses are helpful because they allow your lawyer to get an idea of whether it’s likely you will win your case. Many people assume that if they don’t win their case during this stage, the insurance company will make things difficult for them later on. However, these analyses can be more beneficial if the parties can enter into a mediated settlement.
Choose an Experienced Attorney
The right lawyer will help you get through any pre-suit evaluations successfully. When you choose an attorney with the right experience and skills, there shouldn’t be any problems. Before you decide to hire anyone, it’s important to ensure that the lawyer is well-respected by the community and has experience in your type of case.
You should make sure your lawyer is competent and experienced before agreeing to any pre-suit analysis. You may even wish to discuss these issues upfront before you agree to hire someone as your lawyer, just in case there are misgivings about this process at first glance.
Trust and Reputation
Before hiring a personal injury lawyer, you’ll want to make sure they’ve established a reputation in the local community. You can find out more by reading up on the attorney’s track record. While it’s not enough to just look up a lawyer on an internet search, you could browse at the local courthouse to see if the attorney is listed as a participant in certain types and types of cases.
For example, if your lawyer is a member of the State Bar Association, you can be sure that they’re well-respected and have expertise in personal injury litigation. Don’t be afraid to reach out, as most personal injury attorneys offer free case evaluations and work on a contingency fee basis. That means they’ll only get paid once you receive compensation for the damages.
Communication Skills
When choosing an attorney, one of the most important things to consider is how easy it is to talk to them. An experienced lawyer will be able to explain the process in a way that you can understand, even if you are unfamiliar with the law. Lawyers should be clear about any deadlines and grasp the client’s needs and goals.
You should feel comfortable enough to ask as many questions as you need to in order to fully understand what’s going on and what your next steps should be. The last thing you want is to feel confused or frustrated by a lack of clear communication.
