If you’ve suffered a major injury in an accident, you know the aftermath can be overwhelming and expensive. You may be facing high medical bills, missed time at work, and even temporary or permanent disability. If this describes you, you may need the help of a personal injury attorney to seek financial compensation for your losses.
Personal injury attorneys represent people involved in all sorts of accidents — car accidents, truck accidents, bicycle accidents, and even slips and falls. But do you know how to find a good personal injury lawyer? As an experienced truck accident attorney in Charlotte, NC, we’ve compiled a list of tips on how to find the right personal injury lawyer for you.
Seek Out Recommendations
When it comes to finding a personal injury attorney, there’s no substitute for personal recommendations. Accidents are common, unfortunately, so there’s a good chance you know someone who has been involved in one. Ask friends, family, and co-workers if they have had a good experience working with a personal injury attorney or if they know someone else who has.
Online reviews are a good second choice for evaluating local attorneys. Make sure to check several sources if possible — for example, the attorney’s website and online Google Business reviews — to see the full picture of a particular law office or lawyer.
You can also ask a local lawyer referral service for a recommendation. Finally, if you have worked with an attorney on an unrelated matter, you can ask them to refer you to a colleague who has experience in personal injury law.
Consult With Multiple Attorneys
Even if an attorney has good online reviews (or a glowing personal recommendation), that doesn’t mean they’re necessarily right for you. It’s important to talk to multiple lawyers to find the right fit. Many personal injury attorneys offer free consultations.
To make the most of your free consultation, you’ll want to come prepared. Write up a brief summary of the facts of your accident (who, where, when, and how), as well as a list of questions you have. Choose an attorney that you feel comfortable with, who communicates well, and who answers your questions in a way you can understand.
Look for a Lawyer With Experience in Your Type of Case
While some attorneys handle multiple areas of law, that doesn’t mean they’re equally experienced in all types of cases. Some may have worked for years in the legal field but are not experienced trial lawyers. That can make a big difference if your case ends up going to court.
In another example, car accident cases and truck accident cases have many legal principles and investigative techniques in common. However, truck accident claims require extensive knowledge of trucking industry regulations and practices that not all attorneys have. If you’ve been involved in an accident with a commercial truck, it makes sense to seek out an experienced truck accident attorney.
Ask About Their Success Rate
Beyond simply hiring a lawyer with an extensive track record, you’ll want to find one with a successful track record. Many law offices post examples of cases they’ve won on their websites, sometimes including the amount of compensation they recovered on behalf of their client.
During your initial consultation, you’ll want to ask the attorney about their success rate. Remember that success in a personal injury lawsuit doesn’t always mean a big court verdict. In fact, most personal injury cases settle before trial when the defendants agree to pay the accident victim a specific amount of money for personal injury damages.
Ask About Their Fee Structure
The final step in how to find a good personal injury lawyer is to ask about their fee structure. While some attorneys charge by the hour, many personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis. This means that once you settle your case or win a court verdict, your attorney will collect a percentage of the total, typically 25% to 40%.
Finding an attorney who works on contingency can help provide peace of mind and protect your wallet, as you may not be able to afford lawyers’ fees unless you recover compensation for your injuries.
Have More Questions? Contact Yale Haymond Law PLLC Today!
We hope we’ve given you valuable tips on how to find a good personal injury lawyer. If you’ve been involved in a car accident, truck accident, or other type of personal injury case, contact Yale Haymond Law PLLC. We are a Charlotte-based personal injury law firm that serves clients across the Carolinas.
Call us at 704-800-HELP (4357) to set up a free consultation.
