Nowadays, getting legal assistance and representation are so costly that many are finding other ways to look for cheap and sometimes "free" legal advice. The Internet is filled with online sources and legal websites that offer supposedly free legal counsel.
Quite a few sites actually, offer detailed analysis of situations most often for free, or sometimes for a minimal fee. Many of them entertain legal queries. However, the legal advice that you may get from these sites are not reliable, and most of the sites even have a disclaimer on the advice provided.
Nothing beats advice coming from a reputable and knowledgeable lawyer. Here are some ways to help you find a good, experienced personal injury lawyer, whom you feel you can trust:
Who do you refer?
Getting referrals on experienced lawyers is easy. However, you need to meet with each of them to discuss your claim before you decide to hire someone. And be prepared to get rejected. Remember that lawyers are practicing their profession for their own gains. Many do not take cases if they fall below a certain potential recovery amount. In addition, there are also those who reject claims that are not crystal clear. So make sure you have everything in place and all the information when you meet with the potential lawyers.
You can get referrals from (1) friends and acquaintances, (2) other lawyers, and (3) referral services. Talk with friends or acquaintances who have been represented by a lawyer in their own cases. If they have nothing but good things to say about a lawyer, put him/her on the list. Discuss your case with that lawyer and decide if you feel that you will be comfortable working with him or her.
Other lawyers you know would also be able to make referrals of other lawyers. They usually confer cases with one another so most of them may know someone who can handle your case.
On the other hand, most bar associations have referral services where names of lawyers and their specialties are available.
Let's discuss the problem…
As with all referrals, discussing your case with each of the lawyers will help you determine the best representation that could handle your personal injury claim. Bring all pertinent documents from the police report, to medical bills and correspondences with the insurance company. Most lawyers do not charge at the initial consultation. Nevertheless, there still those who already want to charge for discussing whether or not he or she will take the case. When this happens, it's time for you to go look somewhere else.
His/Her General Experience…
You need to know a few basic things about your potential lawyer. These include: (1) How long has the lawyer been in practice; (2) What percentage of the practice involve personal injury claims; (3) Does the lawyer practice as a plaintiffs' or defendants' representative; and (4) Would he or she personally handle your case. If not, then find out who would be dealing with you directly, and ask to meet that lawyer. It's not uncommon for more than one lawyer in a firm to handle the same case. Often, less experienced attorneys handle routine tasks.
How much is it worth?...
After discussing the facts on your case, it's time to move on to how much he or she thinks your case is worth. In addition, ask your potential lawyer how difficult he or she thinks it may be to get the insurance company to pay the amount. This is the time to let your lawyer know what it is you want him or her to do for you.
In the end, getting your lawyer to represent you depends on your needs and wants. So don't confuse the information you get from the Internet with true legal advice. Obtaining advice and representation from a licensed, practicing lawyer is still the most reliable means when you're facing a particularly serious or complicated injury claim. As in any other regular hiring process, just remember to interview first before you decide. If you feel confident with a lawyer's experience and his ability to handle your case, chances are you found the best lawyer for you.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
7 Tips to Hiring a Great Personal Injury Lawyer
If you suffer an injury resulting in significant damages you will need to hire a personal injury lawyer. But in any given city, there are probably over 20 pages of personal injury attorney listings in the phone book. How do you pick the right one? What do you look for? What questions should you ask?
Here are 7 things you should know before hiring your injury lawyer...
1) The sooner you hire your lawyer the better. Begin looking for your personal injury lawyer within a week or two after your accident. If you're not physically capable you should have a friend or loved-one start looking. The sooner you start building your case the better.
2) Hire a personal injury lawyer that specializes in your specific type of injuries. Do your homework before signing the retainer agreement. Visit the firm's website and read up on it's history and each lawyer's biographical information. Ask the lawyer for some referrences and ask how much experience they have in handling cases with similar injuries. What settlement awards did they get in those cases?
3) Have a face-to-face meeting with your prospective lawyer. Your personal injury lawyer is going to be your closest advisor during this difficult time. You must feel comfortable and trust your lawyer. The only way you'll get a feel for the lawyer is by having a sit-down to discuss your case. Any good personal injury lawyer will give you an initial consultation free of charge.
4) Hire a lawyer that will take your case on a contingency fee basis. This means that your lawyer won't get paid unless you get paid. He will take his fee out of the money you receive for your injuries. You can expect your lawyer to take about 33% of your final settlement - that's after expenses are taken off the top. Make sure you clearly understand the payment structure before you sign the retainer agreement.
5) Beware of ambulance chasers. The goal of these lawyers is to get lots of minor personal injury cases and settle them quickly - they make their profit from high turnover. So naturally they won't put as much time and effort into each case as they should. (If you're looking for a quick settlement be prepared to accept less than what your case is really worth.)
6) Hire a lawyer with a good Martindale-Hubbell rating. This service evaluates lawyers in the U.S. and Canada based on peer review. Their website, Martindale.com has a helpful lawyer locator service and will explain the rating system.
7) Always be completely open and honest when discussing your case with a lawyer. Tell the lawyer as much as you can about what happened. Try to remember every detail. Any documentation and pictures you have of your injuries and treatment will be a big help when evaluating your case.
Bonus Tip:
8) NEVER give a recorded statement to a representative from any insurance company until you've consulted a lawyer. When the rep. asks for one simply say, "I'm not prepared to give a statement at this time." A recorded statement can be used as evidence and if you're not prepared you might overlook important details. Anything you miss (or misrepresent) can be used against you in settlement negotiations and in the trial.
Here are 7 things you should know before hiring your injury lawyer...
1) The sooner you hire your lawyer the better. Begin looking for your personal injury lawyer within a week or two after your accident. If you're not physically capable you should have a friend or loved-one start looking. The sooner you start building your case the better.
2) Hire a personal injury lawyer that specializes in your specific type of injuries. Do your homework before signing the retainer agreement. Visit the firm's website and read up on it's history and each lawyer's biographical information. Ask the lawyer for some referrences and ask how much experience they have in handling cases with similar injuries. What settlement awards did they get in those cases?
3) Have a face-to-face meeting with your prospective lawyer. Your personal injury lawyer is going to be your closest advisor during this difficult time. You must feel comfortable and trust your lawyer. The only way you'll get a feel for the lawyer is by having a sit-down to discuss your case. Any good personal injury lawyer will give you an initial consultation free of charge.
4) Hire a lawyer that will take your case on a contingency fee basis. This means that your lawyer won't get paid unless you get paid. He will take his fee out of the money you receive for your injuries. You can expect your lawyer to take about 33% of your final settlement - that's after expenses are taken off the top. Make sure you clearly understand the payment structure before you sign the retainer agreement.
5) Beware of ambulance chasers. The goal of these lawyers is to get lots of minor personal injury cases and settle them quickly - they make their profit from high turnover. So naturally they won't put as much time and effort into each case as they should. (If you're looking for a quick settlement be prepared to accept less than what your case is really worth.)
6) Hire a lawyer with a good Martindale-Hubbell rating. This service evaluates lawyers in the U.S. and Canada based on peer review. Their website, Martindale.com has a helpful lawyer locator service and will explain the rating system.
7) Always be completely open and honest when discussing your case with a lawyer. Tell the lawyer as much as you can about what happened. Try to remember every detail. Any documentation and pictures you have of your injuries and treatment will be a big help when evaluating your case.
Bonus Tip:
8) NEVER give a recorded statement to a representative from any insurance company until you've consulted a lawyer. When the rep. asks for one simply say, "I'm not prepared to give a statement at this time." A recorded statement can be used as evidence and if you're not prepared you might overlook important details. Anything you miss (or misrepresent) can be used against you in settlement negotiations and in the trial.
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