If you have been injured in a work-related accident, it is very important to immediately contact and use the services and expertise of a personal injury lawyer. They are best equipped to help you deal with the intricacies of the entire legal process. Personal injury lawyers know how to do a proper investigation and how to handle the insurance companies. They can also help your medical bills paid and get you the financial settlement you deserve in a timely manner. But not all personal injury lawyers are the same. So there are a number of things you need to look for when choosing one.
Do Some Research
The best personal injury attorneys have a combination of training, experience and expertise. You should look for candidates with the best combination of these three. These should also have trial experience, negotiation experience, knowledge of medical diagnoses and the processes that are associated with personal injuries. They must also have knowledge of negligence law as well as other torts. They must be licensed to practice in your area, specialize in personal injury, and have a track record of success and a good reputation. Look at their disciplinary record to make sure no complaints have been filed against them.
Where To Find Work Injury Lawyers
Personal referrals from family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers is a great place to start. A tightly defined Google search can also yield many good candidates and give you some background on the size, experience and level of success of the firm. Visiting related directories can also help. Pay close attention to their ratings. Contacting the state and county bar association can also offer a source of good candidates. Calling law firms you've seen advertised and asking basic questions can also help you find the right attorney for your case. At the end of your research you should have a good list of 10 or less from which to choose.
Contact Your Top Choices
Once you've created a list of good choices, it's time to take a closer look at them to find the right one. Call and speak to each of them and ask probing questions like your case's statute of limitations, their areas of specialization and number of similar cases they've had and their outcomes. Find out if an attorney or paralegals will do most of the work on your case, how long it will take, their fee structure, whether they will take the case on a contingency basis and if so for what percentage of the settlement and if they think you have a good case. Set up an initial consultation with the ones you like best.
Meeting With The Selected Work Injury Attorneys
When meeting with the attorney bring as much documentation as possible and be prepared to present all the facts related to your case. You should begin writing down this information as soon after the accident as possible. This will allow you to include as much detail as possible while the incident is still fresh in your mind. The detail and accuracy of your presentation can help your attorney to better tell you if you are likely to win the case. You will need to have all bills, diagnoses, test results and medical documents. Also bring your toxicology reports, issued citations, arrest records and pictures of the accident scene and names and numbers of potential witnesses.
The Right Choice
You should choose the attorney you feel most comfortable with, but they must also fulfill a few other criteria. They must be willing to answer all your questions fully, have outstanding credentials, experience, a track record of success and a positive view of your case. Their fee structure should also be fair and affordable and they should be able to get you the settlement you deserve whether the case goes to court or a settlement is reached. Lawyers will gladly tell you about their successes in handling similar cases. Use this as a guide.
The Agreement
When you hire a work injury lawyer it's important to get a signed detailed fee agreement that outlines what the attorney agrees to do and what you will have to pay for their work. However, it's still important to do follow up to ensure all the due diligence is done and your cases is filed on time. The agreement could also say how often and through what means you'll be contacted with updates on your case. Remember, you have the power to fire them if they don't follow the agreement or mishandle your case.
The period immediately following an accident can be filled with pain and uncertainty. The right personal injury lawyers can help to ensure you get the medical help you need as well as the financial settlement to cover your short-term and long-term needs. The right personal injury attorney is priceless.