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Are you currently attempting to find legal representation? According to the American Bar Association, there were at least 1.33 million active lawyers across the country in mid-2023.
That said, not every lawyer provides the same quality of service. What’s more, different attorneys have specific areas of expertise, differing knowledge about local laws, and varying levels of availability.
Considering so many choices is quickly overwhelming if you need legal representation after experiencing an accident and you’re not sure what to look for. Below, we’ll go over exactly how to find the best personal injury lawyer to fit your needs.
Importance of Selecting the Right Attorney
The attorney you choose to hire will have a major impact on the overall success of your claim, so it’s crucial that you know how to choose a personal injury lawyer who will lead you in the right direction. A subpar attorney may not give your claim the time and attention it deserves, which could leave you scrambling or with a payout that is far below what you lost and deserve to collect.
Unfortunately, you only have one shot at securing justice.
If you accept a lowball settlement, you won’t have an opportunity later to collect what you really deserve. Since you’re relying on your attorney’s knowledge and expertise, you need to ensure you hire a solid representative. Otherwise, you could be leaning on poor advice that leads you down a bad path.
Even worse, a bad attorney can have you going around in circles trying to collect what you owe. A poor negotiator can leave you feeling like you’re going up against Goliath, and you could get left in the dark about certain damages you could’ve filed for but may not have thought about until later on in the settlement process.
Considering the extent of your losses and the seriousness of the situation, do the work upfront to ensure you hire the right lawyer. Your future self will thank you!
Qualities to Look for in a Personal Injury Lawyer
Now that you have more perspective on why choosing a personal injury lawyer is so important, you need to know how to choose the right one. After your accident, you will be fully responsible for proving your case. That said, you’ll want a strong representative with proven past results. That’s not the only thing you’ll need to consider, though. From the location of the firm to the attorney’s past client reviews, there are many factors you need to take into account.
Below, we’ll go over the specific qualities you’ll want to look for as you look for the best possible lawyer to help you with your claim.
Experience and Expertise
When searching for an attorney, you first want to look at what types of cases they’ve handled in the past. In general, an attorney with specific experience handling claims similar to yours will be better prepared to represent you.
Look at an overview of the firm’s services. Does the attorney handle mostly car accidents and other personal injury situations? On the flip side, does the firm not have a clear niche but instead has a broad range of cases they handle, from criminal law to product liability claims?
Depending on your specific situation, it might make the most sense to find a very niche attorney that focuses exclusively on your claim type. More experience generally equates to a higher level of expertise and better legal representation overall.
Track Record of Success
Don’t just take the firm’s word on what types of claims they handle. Check out the attorney’s past case results to see what type of settlement awards they’ve actually achieved for clients. A positive track record of success will show you what the attorney is capable of.
Kermani LLP team has secured several million-dollar settlement awards for clients. For instance, a 2019 wrongful death claim resulted in a $7.5 million settlement for our client. A 2018 premises liability claim resulted in a $3.1 million settlement for our client.
Reputation and Credibility
Next, you’ll want to consider the firm’s reputation and credibility. This type of information can be tricky to discern, but you can utilize a quick Google search to get some information about how the firm has operated in the past. By searching the firm online, you should be able to see some reviews from past clients. You might also reveal certain industry information about the lawyer or firm. For instance, if you see the attorney’s name listed in several different legal-related award categories, then that’s a good sign. On the flip side, if you see the firm’s name listed in several negative reviews from former clients, then that might mean you should look elsewhere.
Legal Fees and Payment Structure
Another important consideration you’ll want to factor into your decision is how much your attorney will charge and how their payment structure works. Every law firm and lawyer will have different legal fees and charge a different amount based on their level of service and your needs.
Generally, a personal injury attorney will work on a contingency fee basis. Since you’ve already been injured in an accident, it would cause further financial distress to pay an attorney to represent you and get the money you need to recover. So, a contingency fee payment structure lets you get the legal services you need and wait to pay until you receive your settlement check. Once you do get your settlement, your lawyer will get a percentage of that check. You and your attorney will agree on a percentage before hiring them, but this fee will often range from 10 to 40%.
Communication and Accessibility
Your chosen lawyer could have all the best qualifications, experience, and knowledge necessary to represent you, but none of that will amount to quality services if you can’t communicate well with them or they’re generally inaccessible. Unfortunately, many lawyers will take on a case but then quickly hand it over to legal aides at their firm. They won’t handle your situation personally, and they may not have time to take your calls or answer your questions.
Initial Consultation and Evaluation
You'll want to schedule an initial consultation with them to get a clear idea of your lawyer’s availability, personality, and general willingness to work with you. During this meeting, you should go over exactly what happened, getting a chance to talk in more detail about your losses and how the accident has changed your life. Your lawyer should be attentive and interested in your claim.
Compatibility and Comfort
If you notice your lawyer’s personality isn’t melding with your own, don’t take it personally. Simply move on and keep looking for a representative who you feel more comfortable with.
Additional Considerations
As you go through the legal process, you’ll also be dealing with recovering from your injuries. You could have to deal with insurance adjusters, calls from your workplace, and other problems. Meaning, there are a few other considerations you’ll also want to consider when looking for your attorney.
Location and Convenience
For one, you’ll want to make sure the legal company you work with is local. A convenient location is going to make your claim much easier if you can talk to your lawyer face-to-face. Plus, a local lawyer will know the laws that are in place in your community that will apply to your lawsuit.
Resources and Support Staff
A good law firm will have access to various resources, and they will have support staff that can help assist you. While you don’t want the support staff to be fully in charge of your case, it can be helpful to have an assistant to field your phone calls, help schedule interviews, and keep your claim on track. Resources can also be a huge advantage to your claim. For instance, the firm you hire might be in consistent contact with a medical expert witness who can help testify about serious injuries. Your firm might also be in touch with various medical professionals who can work to get you the treatment you need if you’re going through a personal injury lawsuit situation.
Conflict of Interest Checks
Finally, you may want to make sure that the lawyer doesn’t have any conflict of interest representing your claim. For instance, if your lawyer is related to the doctor you’re using, then it might be best to simply get a different legal representative.
Why Choose Kermani LLP’s Personal Injury Lawyers?
So, how do you find a good attorney while keeping all of the qualities above in mind? First, start your search locally. Take things one step at a time as you research the firm, how they’ve handled past cases, and what previous clients think about their services. As you go through the process, you’ll learn more about the attorney’s personality, availability, and overall ability to take on your case. You’ll also weed out plenty of lawyers who aren’t up to par.
Here at Kermani LLP, the team of lawyers that created the firm back in 2011 handles every case as if it will go to trial. This bold strategy is why the firm is considered such a powerhouse in the personal injury field. We aren’t willing to settle for less than what you deserve just to stay out of the courtroom. If you’re looking for a team of legal representatives who are ready to fight for you, then look no further.
Schedule your legal consultation with Kermani LLP now to get started on your claim and work towards getting justice.
Every case is unique, so we tailor our approach to meet your specific needs.
Due diligence got me only so far as I went through three seemingly great law firms before finding Kermani LLP right here on yelp. They were fantastic.
When I was hurt in a bike accident last year, a friend recommended I get a lawyer and sent me to Ray Kermani. Ray and his team knew exactly what needed to be done and took care of everything.
Ray is one of the easiest people to work with. His communication is great and he always walks you through the steps. I was little down after my accident. He got me paid quickly and way more than I thought was even possible. He goes the extra mile.
The staff is super friendly, approachable and responsive. They provide one on one attention, unless most law firms that just answer calls and want you money.
They took what was a complicated case that most law firms wouldn't touch, and turned it into a large six figure judgment.
Best law firm. They know how to win a case at trial, unlike most law firms that advertise as such. They will push every button that needs to be done to win your case. I was super satisfied.
