How to Find the Best Personal Injury Attorney Near Me
If you’ve suffered an injury in an accident that wasn’t your fault, one of the most important steps you can take is to find a skilled personal injury attorney to represent you. The right lawyer can make all the difference in getting you the compensation you deserve for your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages.
But with so many personal injury attorneys, how do you choose the right one for your case? Here are some tips to assist in finding you the right Phoenix personal injury lawyer near you.
Look for an Attorney Who Focuses On Personal Injury Law
When searching for a personal injury attorney, it’s best to find someone who focuses specifically on personal injury cases rather than a general practice lawyer who handles many different types of law. Personal injury law is a complicated field with unique rules, procedures, and case law. An attorney who concentrates their practice on personal injury will have in-depth knowledge of this area of law and experience handling cases similar to yours.
They’ll understand insurance companies’ tactics to minimize payouts, know how to properly value your claim, and have a network of medical professionals and accident reconstruction specialists to strengthen your case. So, when looking for the right personal injury attorney near you, search for lawyers who dedicate a significant portion of their practice to personal injury law. Look at their website and read their bio to see what percentage of their cases are personal injury matters.
Check the Attorney’s Track Record of Success
Another key factor to consider when choosing a personal injury lawyer is their history of successfully resolving cases and obtaining sizable settlements or verdicts for their clients. Don’t be shy about asking potential attorneys about their track record. A good personal injury lawyer should be proud of their past successes and happy to share examples (without divulging confidential client information, of course).
Look for an attorney with experience taking cases to trial and winning, not just someone who always settles. While most personal injury cases do end up settling out of court, you want a fully prepared lawyer to take your case to trial if necessary to get you the best outcome. Ask about the largest settlement or verdict they’ve obtained for a client. See if their peers have recognized them with awards or selections to prestigious groups like Super Lawyers or Best Lawyers.
You can also look up an attorney’s record yourself. Search online legal databases to find published court decisions involving the lawyer. Check out their Google reviews, Yelp reviews, and Avvo ratings to see feedback from past clients. Do they have a strong reputation in the legal community? Choosing an accomplished personal injury lawyer greatly increases your chances of a positive result in your case.
Make Sure the Attorney Has Experience with Your Specific Type of Case
Personal injury law encompasses many different types of cases. When looking for the right personal injury attorney near you, try to find one who has handled cases similar to yours. If you suffered an injury in a truck accident, look for a lawyer who has successfully represented truck accident victims before.
Each type of personal injury case has its unique issues and challenges. A slip and fall case will involve very different legal concepts, evidence, and professional testimony than a motorcycle accident case. You want an attorney who knows the ins and outs of handling your particular type of case. Don’t hesitate to ask a potential lawyer how many cases they’ve handled that were similar to yours and what the outcomes were. The more specific their experience with cases like yours, the better equipped they’ll be to get you a favorable result.
Consider the Size of the Law Firm
Personal injury attorneys work at firms of all sizes, from solo practitioners to large national law firms with hundreds of lawyers. When deciding on the right personal injury lawyer, consider what size firm will be ideal for your case. A solo attorney may provide more individualized attention and be more willing to take on smaller cases but might not have the same resources as a larger firm to build your case. Large law firms usually only accept cases with high expected payouts and may have less time to dedicate to each client.
Many people benefit from a firm large enough to have experience with various cases and access to professional resources but not so large that you get lost in the shuffle. The right personal injury attorneys know how to leverage their firm’s resources while still providing personal attention to each client.
Schedule a Free Consultation
Almost all personal injury lawyers offer free initial consultations for prospective clients. This allows you to sit down with the attorney, explain your situation, and get their thoughts on your case without any financial obligation. Take advantage of these free consultations and meet with several personal injury attorneys before choosing the one to hire. Think of it like interviewing a lawyer for the job of representing you.
Pay attention to how thoroughly and directly the attorney answers your questions. Do they take the time to clearly explain things and address your concerns? Do they seem engaged and eager to help? Or do they rush through the meeting and make you feel like another case?
Beyond their answers to your questions, consider how comfortable you feel talking to the lawyer. Do they show empathy for your situation? Are they good listeners? You’ll be working closely with this person during a stressful time, so it’s important to choose someone you feel at ease communicating with openly and honestly. Trust your gut feeling about whether an attorney is the right fit.
Look for Red Flags
As you research and meet with potential personal injury lawyers, watch for warning signs that can indicate an attorney to avoid. Some red flags to watch for include:
- Guaranteeing a Specific Outcome – No lawyer can ethically promise you will win your case or get a certain amount of money. While they can give you their opinion on the expected outcome, be wary of any attorney who guarantees results.
- Poor Communication – If an attorney is slow to return your calls or emails or their staff seems disorganized and uninformed about your case, that’s not a good sign. Your lawyer should keep you regularly updated on your case and promptly answer any questions you have.
- Pressure to Settle Quickly – Some lawyers just want to turn over cases as fast as possible. If your attorney seems to be pushing you to take the first settlement offer without thoroughly assessing your damages and filing suit if necessary, they may not have your best interests in mind.
- Asking for Upfront Fees – Most reputable personal injury attorneys work on contingency, meaning they only get paid if they recover money for you. Consider that a major warning sign if a lawyer demands large upfront fees to take your case.
- Disregarding Your Wishes – It’s your case, and you should have the final say on major decisions like whether to settle or go to trial. If your attorney disregards your wishes and tries to pressure you into things you aren’t comfortable with, it may be time to find a new lawyer.
- Lack of Trial Experience – Parties settle many personal injury cases. However, going to trial is sometimes necessary to get the best outcome. If your case needs to go to trial, you want an attorney with plenty of successful trial experience. Be cautious of lawyers who only want to settle and have rarely or never taken a case to trial verdict.
By watching out for these red flags, you can avoid hiring a personal injury attorney who isn’t the best fit for you and your case. If something feels off about a lawyer you’re considering, trust your instincts and keep looking. There are plenty of excellent, ethical personal injury attorneys out there.
Understand the Fee Structure
When hiring a personal injury lawyer, clearly understand their fee structure. The vast majority of personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means their fee is contingent on you recovering money. You don’t owe them anything if they don’t secure a settlement or win your case at trial.
The attorney’s fee comes from your settlement or verdict amount and reimbursement for expenses the lawyer advanced, like court filing fees, expert witness fees, and deposition costs. Ask any lawyer you’re considering for a clear explanation of their contingency fee and what costs you may be responsible for.
The benefit of a contingency fee is that anyone can afford to hire a high-quality personal injury lawyer, regardless of their financial situation. You don’t have to pay anything upfront, and you only pay the lawyer if they succeed in getting money for you. This also incentivizes the attorney to work hard on your case and get you the maximum compensation possible since their fee goes up the more they recover for you.
While it’s important to understand the fee arrangement, don’t hire the lawyer with the lowest contingency rate. You want an attorney who will aggressively fight for your rights, even if that means doing a lawsuit and trial.
Local Connections Matter
Another factor to consider when searching for the right personal injury attorney near you is their connections in the local community. An attorney practicing in your area for many years will likely have relationships with local judges, court staff, defense attorneys, doctors, and insurance adjusters. These connections can be valuable for moving your case forward efficiently and achieving a positive outcome.
For example, an attorney who has worked frequently with the defense lawyer on your case will have insight into their negotiating style and what it will take to get them to settle for a fair amount. A lawyer who knows the judges in your local court system will understand their personality and preferences, helping them tailor their strategy to what is most likely to succeed with that particular judge.
Local doctors who are used to working with your attorney as expert witnesses may be more willing to promptly provide strong opinions to support your case. Local court staff who know and respect your lawyer may accommodate scheduling and administrative matters more. While choosing the personal injury attorney who has been practicing the longest in your area is unnecessary, an established local presence and strong community ties are assets you should consider.
Don’t Wait Too Long to Hire an Attorney
Finally, one of the most important tips for finding the right personal injury lawyer near you is to look for one as soon as possible after your accident. There are deadlines called statutes of limitations that limit the time you can file a lawsuit after you’ve suffered an injury. If you miss the deadline, you lose your right to sue. In some cases, the statute of limitations can be as short as a year after the accident.
Even if you’re still within the statute of limitations, delaying too long in hiring an attorney can weaken your case. Over time, people can lose evidence, witnesses can forget details, and injuries can heal, making it harder to prove the extent of your damages. The sooner you hire a personal injury lawyer, the sooner they can start gathering evidence, tracking down witnesses, and building a strong case on your behalf to get you the maximum compensation.
Don’t Wait Any Longer to Find the Right Personal Injury Attorney Near You
If you’ve suffered an injury in an accident, don’t wait longer to find the right personal injury attorney near you. Call a knowledgeable and experienced personal injury lawyer today for a free consultation on your case. An attorney can explain your legal options, answer your questions, and start working on getting you the justice and financial recovery you’re entitled to under the law.
The sooner you have a strong advocate on your side, the better protected your rights will be. Contact a top personal injury attorney in your area now.