When you have been injured at the fault of someone else, it is often necessary to seek legal representation and bring the case to court. The personal injury lawyer you choose is important. A bad choice can make the whole situation worse and wind up costing you a lot of money. There are some important things to consider when you are looking for the right one.
The means of payment is one factor, particularly if your income is limited. Many lawyers that handle injuries do so on a contingency basis. This means that they do not charge you for the representation up front. They do not get payment unless your case is won or settled. All expenses are recorded, including costs for expert testimony, court fees, and acquiring necessary documents. Be sure to pay close attention to your agreement and check for hidden or vague fees and costs.
The initial consultation is another factor. You should not have to pay for this meeting. Both you and the attorney should treat this meeting like an interview. Ask questions and provide as much information as you can about your injuries. The whole purpose is to gather information so that you can determine if he or she is the best option for you and your particular case.
Consider his or her experience. You need an attorney that has the proper amount of experience plus the education to back it up. He or she should be able to tell you the number of cases won in court and settled out of court versus the total amount of cases. The attorney may have a ton of cases that resulted in settlements, but very few cases won in court. While the experience is present for the settlements, he or she may not have the court experience you would like.
Make it a priority to check the licensing of each attorney that you are considering. A legal network called the Martindale-Hubbel network and the American Bar Association can help you with looking up attorneys and also with locating some in your area as well.
An attorney should have an understanding of which court is appropriate for overseeing your case. For example, if you live and were injured in Gulfport, MS the attorney should not file your case in another state court system. It should also not be filed in criminal court if it is a civil case. He or she should be able to apply knowledge and experience to choose the proper venue.
Do not choose a lawyer based on inflated claims. Even the strongest open and close cases have many variables that prevent the best attorneys from making any guarantee for specific results. Any attorney that makes a definite promise of a win or a specific amount of money should be avoided. Also, there is no real way to determine how long your case will take from start to finish. The attorneys can only give you broad estimates of the time frame and how much money they are minimally asking for.
Regardless of which attorney you choose, you are not permanently bound to him or her for the duration of the case. If you feel that your case is not being handled properly, you can change attorneys. Be aware that if you choose to do that, the attorney you fire has the right to put a lien on some of your money to cover his or her fees. This will reduce the amount of money awarded.
The means of payment is one factor, particularly if your income is limited. Many lawyers that handle injuries do so on a contingency basis. This means that they do not charge you for the representation up front. They do not get payment unless your case is won or settled. All expenses are recorded, including costs for expert testimony, court fees, and acquiring necessary documents. Be sure to pay close attention to your agreement and check for hidden or vague fees and costs.
The initial consultation is another factor. You should not have to pay for this meeting. Both you and the attorney should treat this meeting like an interview. Ask questions and provide as much information as you can about your injuries. The whole purpose is to gather information so that you can determine if he or she is the best option for you and your particular case.
Consider his or her experience. You need an attorney that has the proper amount of experience plus the education to back it up. He or she should be able to tell you the number of cases won in court and settled out of court versus the total amount of cases. The attorney may have a ton of cases that resulted in settlements, but very few cases won in court. While the experience is present for the settlements, he or she may not have the court experience you would like.
Make it a priority to check the licensing of each attorney that you are considering. A legal network called the Martindale-Hubbel network and the American Bar Association can help you with looking up attorneys and also with locating some in your area as well.
An attorney should have an understanding of which court is appropriate for overseeing your case. For example, if you live and were injured in Gulfport, MS the attorney should not file your case in another state court system. It should also not be filed in criminal court if it is a civil case. He or she should be able to apply knowledge and experience to choose the proper venue.
Do not choose a lawyer based on inflated claims. Even the strongest open and close cases have many variables that prevent the best attorneys from making any guarantee for specific results. Any attorney that makes a definite promise of a win or a specific amount of money should be avoided. Also, there is no real way to determine how long your case will take from start to finish. The attorneys can only give you broad estimates of the time frame and how much money they are minimally asking for.
Regardless of which attorney you choose, you are not permanently bound to him or her for the duration of the case. If you feel that your case is not being handled properly, you can change attorneys. Be aware that if you choose to do that, the attorney you fire has the right to put a lien on some of your money to cover his or her fees. This will reduce the amount of money awarded.
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