If you have had an injury that was not your fault, and feel that pursuing a compensation claim is your best option to get justice against the liable party, the likelihood is that you will need some legal representation to properly establish your claim to get it right the first time around. However, hiring the right lawyer or solicitor to take on your case requires a lot of thought, as they are hugely important in terms of whether your compensation claim will ultimately succeed or fail.
Some might think that, in order to get compensation, all they have to do is go directly to whoever they believe is at fault for their injury claim. However, specialist legal help will make the whole process of claiming far less complicated, not to mention simplifying the standard of proof and who this duty rests on. With that in mind, here are five top tips when choosing a personal injury lawyer to represent you:
- Make sure you hire someone who has a background in personal injury law. By hiring a specialist, you will improve your chance of winning compensation substantially. You may be able to find personal injury specialists from providers such as First4lawyers, your local yellow pages or from a referral.
- Think about how much you want to pay in legal fees. Hiring a lawyer to help fight your cause can be expensive, so it might be worth looking to a lawyer or solicitor who works on conditional fee basis. This means that, if they lose your claim, you don’t have to pay them anything, so there’s nothing to lose in hiring them.
- Try and hire someone who can work with you as soon as possible. If you want to make a personal injury claim, you’ll want to get it done quickly, especially if money is an issue. Someone who will do the job swiftly and thoroughly is ideal, especially if you have medical bills piling up and a low income on which to survive.
- Hire a personal injury lawyer who specialised in your type of claim. If you’ve suffered a medical injury or a traffic accident, you might want to look at firms which provide medical solicitors and road traffic solicitors respectively. This makes perfect sense if you’re trying to pursue compensation relevant to your injury or illness, as your specific type of solicitor may have more specialist knowledge of the system and thus stand a better chance to get the compensation you desire.
- Look for the lawyer’s qualifications, and see if they’re genuine. A good lawyer will always have the relevant qualifications and credentials, as this will distinguish them from some of the more dubious legal professionals operating. Do some research and find out what qualifications all lawyers and solicitors should have, and if they have the right level of certification, then they may be worth hiring.
It is worth doing a thorough research before you ultimately select one representative to avoid the hassle of switching lawyers halfway through your claim, thus restarting the whole learning curve of your case all over again.
Nice post. I’ve never been in need of a personal injury attorney (thankfully) but I can see how many of your points would be valid. I think in the end you’ll want someone who’ll work for you and is upstanding and ethical.
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Cheers John! Fingers crossed you never have to worry about this. I agree, ethical is the way forward
Good advice here. I think point 4 is extremely important – there are so many different types of claims, how can every attorney know everything?
Cheers Tony
Great tips!
I’ve never had a personal injury lawyer before but I almost had to after getting into a car wreack a few years ago. I ended up doing all of the work myself. I did ok, but would possibly get a lawyer next time.
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Yo! Thanks Holly… Sorry to hear about your wreck… Glad you managed to figure it out
I actually disagree with some tips here:
1. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT use yellow pages. I suggest asking a friend for a referral first. Then call up the first attorney that strikes you as a good lawyer, and ask them for 3 referrals. Call those 3 instead and select 1.
2. All PI lawyers (almost always) charge the same amount: 30% contingency fee. If they ask for money upfront, AVOID THEM.
3. This tip is not an issue at all. All lawyers will work with you as soon as possible, don’t you think they want to get paid as soon as possible?
4. I agree here, they should specialize in that practice area. The only way to find out for sure though is to ASK FOR A REFERRAL. Most lawyers will say they specialize in this and that when they really just do general practice. Its a marketing thing.
5. Instead of looking for “qualifications” because most of them have that JD, check to see how young they are. Personally, I wouldn’t hire any PI Lawyer without a beard. The older the better. In a law firm, all the young lawyers ask for advice from the older ones. That’s how it works. Take my advice here and go with the older guy/gal.
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Hey Veronica… Thanks for taking the time to comment and give your opinions! 🙂
I realize now that I have hijacked the author’s post, sorry didn’t really mean to do that!
Veronica @ Pelican on Money recently posted..3 Tips to Stay Financially Afloat
Not at all… glad to have your opinions!
Great article! You want to choose lawyers with extensive trial skills and that specialize in the area you need help defending your case with. You should get a couple free consultations before you decide to hire a lawyer.
Thanks for sharing these tips! I recently got in a car accident, and I am not sure if I need a personal injury lawyer. The defendant’s insurance company is offering me a nice settlement, but I’m not sure if it can cover all of my bills. I’m planning on at least talking to a lawyer to see if I should pursue a personal injury case, so these tips will be really helpful.
The fourth tip was truly insightful to recognize that getting an injury lawyer that specializes in your type of injury can really increase your chances of winning your case. A lot of times if you bring the doctor’s documentation of your injuries with pictures, it can bode well for your claims and your case to receive compensation. We’re going to be trying to acquire those documents from the hospital. What other things do you need to consider when getting the correct documentation at the hospital that recorded your injuries from a doctor?
I definitely agree that hiring an attorney for a car accident and personal injury is a good idea. As you suggest, hiring an attorney will increase your chances of being able to maximize the financial compensation, and you’ll have someone on your side who knows how the system works and can give you profitable legal advice. I think that hiring an attorney for any accident will give you more peace of mind and get you the right help you need. Thanks for all of the insight on this issue!
As to your last suggestion to look up credentials, where would I find that kind of information? I get kind of overwhelmed when I look at the technical credentials and titles. All of the abbreviations and stuff just kind of throw me off. Is there any kind of list for what kind of lawyers should have certain credentials?
I agree it’s important to find someone qualified. Find someone reliable and who you can trust. Injuries are inconvenient, especially if they are work related. Be sure to get professional help you deserve.
I think one of the biggest advantages of hiring a personal injury lawyer is that they have specific and relevant experience to your case. Since they have most likely dealt with the scenario that you bring to them, they will be more equipped to help you. Putting in the time to find a good lawyer would definitely be worth the time and effort!
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This is quite an informative post! You give thorough instructions on how to find the best lawyer for people’s individual cases. I’m glad you addressed checking each lawyer’s qualifications and their legitimacy-this is very important when finding a sufficient injury lawyer. Thanks so much for sharing!
I agree that you should find a lawyer that can help with your claim quickly and efficiently. If you have lost income because of your injury, you want to be able to get back your lost money as soon as possible. Finding a lawyer who can get the job done right away and who has experience in the field is the best option for getting your money back. Thanks for the article.
This is some really great information for anyone looking for an injury lawyer. The easiest way to make a shortlist is to ask friends and neighbours, referrals are always a great source of information about your options. And I agree that it’s important to compare your case with theirs. Thanks so much for writing!
It is really interesting to learn that help with personal injuries can be negatively affected by working for yourself. That is why it is so important to find the best personal injury attorney for you. You really want to make sure that you are able to get as much coverage as possible. You may want to find an attorney that specializes or have worked with independent employers. Thanks so much for all of the information!
Incredible article! You need to pick legal advisors with broad trial aptitudes and that work in the territory you require help shielding your case with. You ought to get a couple free discussions before you choose to employ a legal advisor.
Hiring a lawyer who will treat you like a priority is important to winning your claim. A lawyer who will handle your claim quickly will ensure you will have a better chance of winning.
Always remember that experience is very important.
Many lawyers specialise in only a few distinct types of law. When hiring a lawyer to represent you in a personal injury case, be sure that the lawyer has experience specifically in those types of cases and has actually taken many cases of that kind to court.
Hii,
I definitely agree that hiring an attorney for a personal injury is a good idea. As you suggest, hiring an attorney will increase your chances of being able to maximize the financial compensation, and you’ll have someone on your side who knows how the system works and can give you profitable legal advice. I think that hiring an attorney for any accident will give you more peace of mind and get you the right help you need. Thanks for all of the insight on this issue!
Thanks for sharing with us!
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Hi savvyscot,
The points described here are quite perfect and true one. Few weeks ago I meet with an accident so I had to hire the personal injury lawyer, before choosing the lawyer I specifically mentioned some points that should be present in professional including personal lawyer. As per my budget I got the best lawyer from Stern Law Offices. You should also have a look to their services once !
I had heard in the past about how helpful a personal injury lawyer could be, especially during a very difficult time. You wrote that when you are choosing one, you should make sure that they can work with you right away, as you want to start prepping as soon as possible. If I meet someone who ever has questions about this, I’ll be sure to mention these terrific tips.
Great post! A reputation is something that all lawyers should be working on. They should be trying to show that they do well in their field. That is also what people should look at when they are looking for a lawyer. It will show their experience with the cases that they take on and how reliable they are.
Great post! While there is no specific guideline or deadline as to when you have to hire a personal injury attorney, especially after a car accident injury, it is very important to engage the services of a personal injury lawyer shortly after the accident.
Thanks for sharing these tips. I think something that is important is to move quickly especially because hospital bills can really pile up.
I agree that when it comes to choosing an attorney it is a good idea to find someone with experience handling cases like yours. It makes sense that remembering to do this can help you make sure your money and time are well invested. I would want to hire someone I can trust and who is able to educate me on how the process works and what I can do to better my odds.
I liked that you had said that it can be important to hire someone who is available as soon as possible so that the work can be done quickly and thoroughly on the case. My wife and I have been thinking about hiring a personal injury lawyer for an accident that she was recently involved in because it has put her out of work for a few weeks. We’ll have to start looking around for a lawyer in the area who can start working on this case as soon as possible.