Have you been in an accident and sustained injuries? Are you wondering what to do? It might be time to contact a personal injury lawyer if you have already talked to your insurance company.
The downside of running out and getting a lawyer is that you must pay for their services out of your compensation. It is a good idea to talk to the insurance company first and then talk to a lawyer. In lots of situations, speaking to your insurance company will be enough to deal with the issue. But in the cases when they deny you compensation, that is when you need legal help. If you need a lawyer, the amount you get in compensation will pay for the lawyer many times over.
After you have decided to get a lawyer you need to do the research to find a good one.
Online there are lots of databases and resources that list local and regional lawyers for you to choose from. Some provide review services.
Looking at a lawyer’s credentials is a good way to narrow down the list. The best way to find a good lawyer though is to contact your local legal aid clinic. They know who’s good and who’s not.
Your city’s bar association is another excellent resource for finding a lawyer. They will keep information about who has and has not been sanctioned by the courts for malpractice and will keep a list of recommended lawyers. The best thing to do is narrow your list down to 3 or 4 lawyers and then call them to see what they have to say. If you know someone involved in the legal community in your area then referrals can be a good bet.
The last test is to meet with the lawyer. In the meeting you can talk about what their payment method is. Is it a flat-fee or is it contingency based? Most importantly though you can get a feel for the person and whether or not they seem competent. Ask questions about their past like: where they went to law school, did they pass their bar exam on the first attempt, how long have they been handling cases like yours in the state, will they let you talk to some of their recent clients? These are factors that you need to consider.
