It’s important to be selective when evaluating a personal injury attorney. When you are injured in an accident, you want to feel protected and confident in your legal representation. Otherwise, you might as well take the case and handle it yourself. However, there is a wide range of skill, experience and professionalism between attorneys. You should work hard to find an attorney that you can trust will work hard to win your case. Here are the important factors to choosing a personal injury attorney and finding the best one for your case.

Attorney Certifications

Looking at a lawyer’s associations and accolades is a good way to gauge their competence. Being Board Certified is an honor that sets a lawyer apart from his or her peers. If your attorney has won awards from specific organizations, it’s a sign that they have done good work in the past. It’s also smart to ask about the types of work that your lawyer did to earn the distinction. That’s not to say all good lawyers win awards. Even the quality lawyers will have some positive experiences where they took the lead or did something noteworthy. Asking about certifications can give you the confidence you need in an attorney.

Past Cases

Don’t be afraid to ask a lawyer about past cases. The level of experience you need in a lawyer depends on the case’s severity. If you need someone very specialized in your specific type of accident, be sure that your lawyer has the distinct knowledge to help you. Expertise is essential, but so are results. You obviously want your attorney to have lots of success winning cases like yours. In some cases, they will be able to provide you with insights about the complexity of your case and how it aligns with what they have done in the past. At the minimum, a good personal injury attorney will gladly tell you about past successes.

Ready To Get Started

Time is an important factor after an accident. You want to make sure everything happens as timely as possible to win a car accident case. Your lawyer should be able to keep up with your case’s demands. It’s appropriate to ask if your personal injury attorney how they can balance your case with other work. They should be ready to start your case right away and commit to seeing your case through to the very end. Additionally, you want to ask how long litigation can last on a case like yours. You should have confirmation that your personal injury attorney can dedicate enough time to your case.

Legal Expenses

Accidents can be stressful, and not just because of damages. Expenses can add up. The Barnes Firm & personal injury attorneysare upfront and clear about their costs. Most firms work on a contingency basis, meaning you only pay them if you win the case. When you find a personal injury attorney that you like, you can negotiate a set percentage with them. Typically, the attorney will take about 1/3 of the compensation. Even if this is your situation, you should ask your lawyer questions about extra fees. It’s important for the client to monitor case expenses, like hiring an investigator or even taking a doctor’s time, so that the lawyer’s overall cost don’t surprise you.

Get Quality Referrals

Researching referrals is a crucial step in choosing a personal injury attorney. It’s easy to send out promotional slogans and advertisements, but real results speak for themselves. You can ask your attorney for references and check them out for yourself. If you get a referral from someone you really trust, it can make a huge difference in the relationship that you establish moving forward. When looking through referrals, take the time to check for any past disciplinary actions. You want to know if your lawyer is pleasant to work with. Referrals are a great way to determine if a personal injury attorney is right for you.

Choosing a personal injury attorney can be difficult. Using these categories to evaluate them can help. A lawyer’s certifications and past cases can establish their experience. The amount of time they are willing and able to dedicate to your case can show you their commitment. It’s important to feel comfortable with them and ask questions about their costs. Lastly, using referrals to evaluate your representation can give you a good idea of how they collaborate with clients. The strongest factor to use when reviewing a personal injury attorney is how comfortable you feel trusting them with your case.