If you’ve ever browsed through the “yellow pages” of your local phone book, you’ll often find numerous advertisements (some times dozens of pages) for personal injury attorneys. These ads usually say the same things: “Free Consultation” “No Recovery, No Fee” “We’ll Protect Your Rights!,” “Aggressive Representation!” or “Need a Lawyer?” How on earth does someone who has never had to hire an attorney wade through all of these ads and find a qualified personal injury attorney, let alone someone that is good?? Finding a good personal injury attorney can be challenging, but not impossible. Here are some guidelines, which if followed, should make your search easier and also relieve some anxiety. work injury lawyer
*Choose an attorney who specializes in personal injury. There are many attorneys who represent personal injury clients in addition to other practice areas, such as divorce, criminal defense or real estate. You should pick an attorney whose practice is devoted 100% to personal injury law. The field of personal injury is too complicated for a “generalist” or “part-time” lawyer to master. If you needed surgery on your shoulder, would you rather see a “general” surgeon who performs surgery on many different areas of the body, or a surgeon who only does “shoulder surgery?” Most people would choose the specialist. Don’t take chances with your personal injury claim by hiring a “generalist.”
*Choose an attorney who demonstrates expertise in the field of personal injury law. There are too many different types of the law for any one attorney to claim specialty in multiple areas. No one can do everything well. Most people want to see a specialist. The same is true for lawyers. The field of personal injury law is complex with subtle nuances that could mean the difference between recovering a few hundred dollars versus several thousands of dollars. The attorney you choose should limit his or her practice exclusively to personal injury law. Does the attorney write about personal injury? Is the attorney frequently asked to lecture and/or teach on personal injury topics? If yes, these are good signs that the lawyer is a personal injury specialist.