Step-By-Step Guide on How to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer
Imagine this: you’re walking down the sidewalk when, out of nowhere, you slip and fall on a rug that was not properly secured in front of a storefront. You’ve hurt yourself quite badly, and the store owner has now come out to help you. You ask for their contact information, as you anticipate you’ll need this to file a claim later on.
But you’ve never hired a personal injury lawyer before, so you’re wondering how this is done. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll break down the personal injury lawyer hiring process, and we’ll run through everything you should consider before you hire a lawyer. And if best-in-class legal assistance is what you’re after, you can always reach out to 1-800-HURT-511.
Call 1-800-HURT-511 to tell top-rated personal injury lawyers in South Jamaica all about the circumstances surrounding your injury. They’ll let you know whether or not they think you have a case. If they find you do, they’ll present your options.
Step One: Consider What You’re Looking To Gain
Before you consider hiring a personal injury lawyer, you should consider what you hope to gain from doing so. If you didn’t sustain major injuries following the event or accident, and there’s no significant property damage, it’s best to forgo pursuing compensation. However, it’s hard to determine the extent of your injuries, and the extent of property damage, on your own.
Therefore, it’s best to seek help from medical professionals in the wake of an injury-causing event or accident, as they’ll be able to tell the extent of your injuries. And once you start racking up medical bills related to treatments and rehabilitation, then filing a claim is a good move. And if you’re filing a claim, you should get help from a personal injury lawyer, as pursuing this process on your own may seem next to impossible.
Step Two: Ask People Close to You for Recommendations
Before you conduct extensive online research, you should get in touch with those close to you to see if anyone you know has had any good experiences with a personal injury lawyer. A couple recommendations could give you an idea of where to start looking. Just remember that a recommendation from a friend, family member, or colleague should not be used as the sole predicate for hiring a personal injury lawyer. You should use recommendations as supplements to your own research, as doing so will give you a good idea of who’s an all-around preferred personal injury lawyer.
Note: Keep in mind that a lawyer who’s good for one person may not be good for another.
Step Three: Look Online to See Who’s Recommended
Now it’s time to start looking for a personal injury lawyer online. You can search for personal injury lawyers in your area using Google, and you can check out some of the national firms. When you search online, look for sites that are detailed, up-to-date, and presenting necessary information about the lawyer and their law firm. A lawyer should also have their credentials listed on their site, as well as awards won and education details.
These days, most practicing lawyers understand the importance of having a strong online presence. Therefore, you should stay clear of any sites that aren’t developed, and avoid sites that don’t give adequate background information. Once you get a feel for who’s out there, who’s promising, and who should be avoided, it’s time to think of what you want and what you don’t want from a personal injury lawyer.
Step Four: Make a List of Wants and Deal-Breakers
Knowing in advance what you want and don’t want from a personal injury lawyer will help you choose one that’s a good fit. And if you have a lawyer who you gel with well, the overall process will go smoother and be more beneficial. Ask yourself questions, write down the answers, and categorize the answers, as organizing things in this way will make determining who’s good and who’s not easy later on. Ask the following questions:
- Do I want a big or small law firm representing me?
- Do I want to hire a local law firm or a national law firm?
- Do I want somebody who will be hands-on with my case?
- Do I want to be in constant contact with the lawyer?
Step Five: Reach Out to Short-Listed Candidates
Once you have a good idea of who’s reputable, and when you’re done creating your list of wants and deal-breakers, it’s time to start reaching out to the personal injury lawyers you short-listed earlier. Most personal injury lawyers offer a free initial consultation, and during this you can discuss the circumstances surrounding your injuries, ask the lawyer questions, and answer any questions they may have for you. You should also convey what you hope to gain from filing a claim.
Note: Keep in mind that personal injury lawyers who ask a lot of questions, engage with what’s being said, and provide thorough answers are often promising.
Step Six: Decide Who’s the Best Fit for You
Once you’ve reached out to several lawyers, make a decision regarding who’s the best fit. Go with the lawyer who showed the most interest in your case, especially if they check off a bunch of boxes in your “Wants” category. Hiring a lawyer who presents no deal-breakers is definitely the best course of action. You want to think long and hard before you make a hiring decision. The claim process is likely to be an uphill battle, so you’ll want somebody dependable by your side.
It’s true that finding a skilled, experienced, and reliable personal injury lawyer can be frustrating. This is why 1-800-HURT-511 is a one-stop solution for those looking to bring a personal injury case. We’ll connect you with lawyers who’ve recovered over $1 billion for their clients, and you won’t have to pay a cent unless you receive money. The lawyers we work with are multilingual, experienced, and always going above and beyond for those who hire them.
Call 1-800-HURT-511 now, as you only have so long to bring a case.