Tips on Finding the Right Personal Injury Lawyer for My Case and How to Determine Who Can Maximize My Settlement Claim
There are different types of lawyers who specialize in different areas of law. Among these are personal injury lawyers. The job of a personal injury lawyer is to provide legal representation to people who have been hurt in an accident because of someone else’s negligence or intentional act.
If you’ve been injured in an accident and need legal help in recovering damages, working with an experienced personal injury lawyer will increase your chance of getting the compensation you deserve.
There are literally hundreds of Atlanta personal injury lawyers out there ready to take on your case. However, there are several things you should consider before hiring legal representation. Asking the right questions will help you comb through the many options and find the right lawyer for you.
What Is Their Experience?
When looking for a personal injury lawyer, make sure they have experience handling your type of case. For example, if you were bitten by your neighbor’s dog, you’ll want to look for a lawyer that has successfully handled dog bite cases before. Don’t hesitate to ask for the lawyer’s credentials or resume. If you discover they’re fresh out of law school, you may want to look for someone with more real-world experience.
What Is Their Success Rate?
Just because a lawyer has several years of experience doesn’t mean they’re the right candidate to handle your case. A good attorney will usually want to flaunt their accomplishments to their potential clients. This may be in the form of client testimonials or case studies on an attorney’s website.
If you ask your lawyer about their success rate and they cannot give you any concrete answers, they likely don’t have much to showcase in terms of successful settlements.
Do They Work on a Contingency Basis?
A reputable personal injury lawyer works on a contingency fee. This means you won’t be asked to pay any money upfront, and your lawyer will charge you only if they win your case or successfully negotiate a claim settlement.
Typically, contingency fees range from 33 percent to 40 percent. For instance, if your settlement amount is $100,000 and your attorney operates on a 40 percent contingency fee, they’ll be entitled to $40,000 of your winnings.
Although that may seem like a lot of money, keep in mind a couple important things:
- You might get far less if you try to negotiate alone with the insurance company
- You don’t owe your lawyer anything upfront – you only have to pay if they successfully win a verdict or negotiate a settlement on your behalf
Do They Have the Resources to Handle Your Case?
If your case ends up going to trial, your lawyer may have to invest plenty of their own financial resources to reach a successful resolution. A serious auto accident case may require testimony from medical professionals and accident reconstruction experts, which can cost a lawyer a lot of money.
Make sure your attorney has enough resources to support your case. Otherwise, they may talk you into accepting a lesser settlement than you deserve because they can’t afford to put together the best possible case.
Do They Have Trial Experience?
Many personal injury cases can be successfully settled outside of the courtroom. However, a lawyer who sees they’re not getting a fair settlement for their client won’t hesitate to take the claim to court.
If an attorney tells you they’re a trial lawyer, make sure they have adequate proof to back up their claim. Going to court won’t guarantee a bigger settlement, but a good personal injury lawyer won’t be reluctant to do so if there’s a chance of helping you get the amount of money you deserve.
Get Connected with a Skilled Personal Injury Lawyer in Atlanta
If you’ve been injured in an accident and need legal help, you want a skilled and experienced personal injury lawyer who won’t hesitate to take your case to court.
We’ve found accomplished, trusted lawyers in Atlanta who are committed to fighting for clients. Look through our lawyers page to find an Atlanta personal injury attorney who will fight for you.
