How To Find the Best Personal Injury Attorney For Your Case

By Ben Glass, Esquire

Benjamin W. Glass and Associates

. https://www.benglasslaw.com/

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How To Find the Best Personal Injury Attorney For Your Case

If you were injured in an accident in Virginia, you may not need a lawyer. But if you find that dealing with the claim on your own is overwhelming, you'll probably want to consult with a nationally board-certified personal injury attorney in your area.

How can you tell the difference between an experienced personal injury attorney and a “generalist” who also “handles” accident cases, or a massive TV advertiser who may not have seen the inside of a courtroom in years?

Here are some tips

Call for written information. Don't agree to a “free consultation” without knowing who you are meeting. Usually, there is no rush with a personal injury claim. When calling a lawyer's office, ask them to send you their “information package on Virginia car accident cases.” Ask them to include anything that would convince you to hire them as your attorneys.

If they say, “The only way to get this information is to come in,” you may want to find out why, or contact another lawyer who can provide the information. Most experienced personal injury attorneys have this information.

Once you've done your preliminary homework, narrow your search to three to five lawyers experienced with car accident cases. Make an appointment to interview them. No matter how experienced or successful a lawyer is, you must feel comfortable with them. You have to trust them.

At your in-person interview, ask the right questions. Most experienced attorneys are usually selective in the types of cases they handle. They aren't insulted or put off by your questions, they will welcome them, because it shows you are taking steps to educate yourself.

Important questions to ask

1. Do you have actual experience handling my type of case?

2. Where can I read about your other cases?

3. Have you won any large verdicts or settlements?

4. Are you board certified by any state or nationally recognized organizations?

5. Do you carry malpractice insurance?

6. Have you been disciplined by your state bar association?

7. Who in your office will be working on my case?

8. What is my case worth?

9. Do you represent any insurance companies at all?

10. Can I take a copy of the written fee agreement home with me to study? (There is no “standard” fee and no standard fee agreement. Do not assume that if you have seen one, you have seen them all.)

And the best question of all Who else should be on my list of attorneys to consider? This is a great question because the names you see coming up time and time again are as close to a “sure bet” to being the right lawyer as you can get. All competent, honest attorneys share their information freely. These attorneys have as much work as they can handle. If they won't give you any other names, then leave.

Don't panic and choose a lawyer impulsively without doing your homework. There is no substitute for taking the time up front to ensure you get the right lawyer for your case.