If you wish to get the optimum settlement for your personal injury case, selecting the right attorney for the job is very important. Many of you will search for the best attorney to represent your case. This write up by lawyers in downtown Fort Worth office highlights some important factors in choosing the proper specialist for your case.
Table of Contents
Ask Family And Friends For Referrals
Lawyers with catchy TV commercials may not be the ones for you. You can get referrals from family, friends, and the people you trust or search in the State Bar Association. Lawyer Directories will also come in handy while shortlisting potential candidates for your case. You could always turn to Google search to find the lawyers near you.
Search for attorneys who have sufficient experience in dealing with personal injury cases. If you happen to know an attorney who specializes in fields like family or finance, you could ask them to recommend someone who has handled cases in this subject. This could help you narrow down if you have dozens of lawyers on your starting list.
Research The Lawyers
Research is very important to select a lawyer for your personal injury case. Thoroughly read the lawyer’s website once. You could get an idea about what their specialties are and the history in their profession. Make sure they are licensed and are active members of the State and National lawyer groups.
You could also check their bar status, thus ensuring that they have registered with the local bar association. This can also give you information on any disciplinary measures or suspensions taken against them.
Read Online Reviews
Even though this is not the best source of unbiased information about lawyers, you could get a head start in compiling information if you have already made up a list. Some rating sites like Avvo and Superlawyers are legitimate sites to check for reviews from past clients. Just stay away from lawyers who have a history of negative comments.
Check out the success rate of the lawyers you are interested in. See how many cases have they took up and how many they were successful in during their career.
Contact The Lawyer Via Phone
Once you have narrowed down your list of attorneys, talk to them on the phone. You can clarify your doubts with them during these interactions. Don’t be afraid to ask the tough questions. Talk about previous cases, the proceedings of the case, and what would happen if it needs a trial.
This interchange will also help you read the attorney’s knowledge and personality. Choose someone who is a wonderful listener and move to the next person if you feel uncomfortable.
Ask them whether they will appear personally for your case. Maybe the firm may have several partners or associates who may work along with the person you speak to.
Discuss The Fee Before Signing Tthe Contract
Personal injury lawyers usually work on contingency, which means you as a client pay nothing unless you win or get a settlement of your case. Contingent fees can differ, usually, the attorney gets one-third of the settlement or judgment, plus office expenses.
You should make certain things clear, including the expenses for the expert witnesses or any other hidden charges that you may have to consider. Also, read through all the paperwork that the attorney presents to you and ask as many questions to get you comfortable.