How to Find the Right Lawyer
Greedy. Untrustworthy. Sharks. Ambulance chasers. These are just a few of the stereotypical descriptions common to personal injury lawyers, often provoked by unflattering portrayals in the media.
But injury can strike anyone at any moment, with often serious ramifications to your health, well-being, and income. If you have been involved in an accident caused by someone’s negligence or maltreatment, a quality personal injury lawyer can be your lifeline and champion when seeking financial compensation and/or restitution. But in the aftermath of a trauma, how can you find a quality lawyer to guide you through the difficult and often confusing legal process? Here are some tips for ensuring that you retain highly competent legal representation to ensure your needs are being met.
Get Recommendations: Put out feelers and see if any of your network of friends and family have ever been in a similar situation. Were they happy with their representation? Did they feel heard and listened to? Were the details of the case explained to them in a frank, clear manner? During the process you will require an empathetic ear as well as legal talent, so seeking the recommendations of your peers can help you find a lawyer that will be there for you in and out of the courtroom.
Check experience. Not every type of law is the same, so it is vital to choose a law firm with a lot of personal injury law experience. Choosing a law firm dedicated to cases similar to yours can ensure that your lawyer knows the ins and outs of every aspect of your case. Ideally, your lawyer will have devoted his or her career to personal injury cases, and so will be well-versed in keeping your best interests in mind.
Choose someone honest. Any personal injury lawyer worth his or her salt knows that honesty between lawyer and client is key. So when you are interviewing potential representation, ask detailed questions and make sure that replies are thorough and honest. Some questions to ask include: What is your success rate for lawsuits of a similar nature? How much will this cost me, including expenses and court costs? Will you handle all aspects of my case personally, or will much of the caseload be put onto a paralegal or law clerk? How much and how often will you communicate with me about the various aspects of the case? Keep in mind that the ideal answers to these questions will vary from person to person, but the right lawyer for you will never evade answering a question, provide you with incomplete information, or make promises they can’t keep.
At Mackesy Smye, our lawyers have a combined experience of over 185 years that we want to put to work for you.