How to Hire the Best Personal Injury Lawyers in Atlanta

Dealing with a personal injury can be scary and uncertain. When an event like this happens, it's crucial that you contact an attorney as quickly as possible. There are deadlines for filing your case and time-sensitive evidence that needs to be collected, so don't wait too long. If you're wondering how to hire the best personal injury lawyers in Atlanta, we can help. Don't hesitate to reach out to Morgan & Morgan. Call us today at 877-667-4265, or fill out our easy-to-use contact form and schedule a free case consultation today. 

Why You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer

If you've suffered an injury and believe that you may have a legal claim, it's imperative that you find a highly experienced and determined attorney. There are a lot of intricacies in the legal system that you likely aren't aware of. This is where your attorney comes in. There are deadlines that have to be met to ensure that your case can be filed. There is discovery that has to be obtained. There will be expert witnesses to consult with. There are many moving parts that an experienced attorney will have no problem handling. Additionally, when you speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer, they will be able to give you a better idea of whether your claim will be successful or not.

How to Hire the Best Personal Injury Lawyers in Atlanta

If you've experienced an injury in Atlanta and believe you have a personal injury claim, it's important to figure out how to hire the best injury lawyers in Atlanta. If you've never had to hire an attorney before, this can be an intimidating and daunting task. Listed below are some helpful tips to help you figure out who to hire.

1.     Know what you're looking for

If you want to know how to hire the best injury lawyers in Atlanta, you need to determine what you're looking for. Do you care about their 'bedside manner' or do you care only about the results? Do you want a big firm or a small firm? Does the attorney specialize in your type of lawsuit, or do they do a little bit of everything? These are questions that only you can answer, and it's important to know these answers before you start reaching out and speaking to attorneys. If you walk into a meeting with a lawyer and have no idea what you’re looking for, it will be difficult to determine if they’re a good match for you and your case.

2.     Do your research

One of the most important things you can do before selecting a personal injury attorney is research. The best way to do this is to look online. Check past reviews and see what former clients are saying about the firm and the lawyer you're considering to hire. Make sure you look closely at Google reviews and not just the attorney's website where reviews can be filtered, allowing you to see only the good ones. Keep in mind that no matter how experienced and celebrated anyone is, it’s likely that there will always be a couple of bad reviews. Take a look at as many as you can and make an informed decision when you have a chance to see the bigger picture.

3.     Set up a free case evaluation

Most reputable personal injury lawyers will offer a free case evaluation before you hire them. This is an excellent way to see if the lawyer and their firm is a good fit for you and your case. The case evaluation is also a way for the attorney to determine if they think you have a successful claim or not. It's not in anyone's best interest for a lawyer to take your case if they genuinely don't believe you can win. If you're looking into a firm that doesn't offer this service, it's probably a good idea to keep looking. Paying a lawyer to discuss your case with you before they’ve even decided to take your case is a red flag. There’s no reason you have to do that.

4.     Find a firm with the necessary resources

While many small law firms and solo practitioners handle personal injury claims, it's really important to make sure that the attorney you hire has all the resources needed to successfully negotiate your case and take it to trial if negotiations don't work out. In some instances, personal injury claims might involve suing insurance companies and hospitals, who always seem to have unlimited resources at their disposal. They can drag a case on for as long as possible. You don't want to go up against them unless your lawyer has the ability and resources themselves to handle your case properly. At the same time, you may not want a firm so big that you’ll never be able to speak with someone about your case. However, most big firms have a lot of support staff who will be able to update you as necessary. 

5.     Find a firm that has experience

All lawyers have to take their first case at some point in their career, but that doesn't mean it has to be yours. When you're dealing with something as serious as a personal injury lawsuit, it's an excellent idea to make sure the lawyer or firm you hire has significant experience handling personal injury cases. It's not enough for the lawyer you choose to have experience as an attorney. Make sure their firm is specifically able to handle personal injury cases and has a proven track record of doing so. 

6.     Talk to past clients

Reputable attorneys and law firms should have no problem allowing you to speak to their past clients. Before an employer hires you, they speak with your prior employers. Likewise, before hiring an attorney or law firm, you should speak to their former employers – their clients. If an attorney is unwilling to let you do this, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re hiding something, but it’s a piece of information to keep in the back of your mind when you are making your decision.

7.     Choose an attorney who has a track record of successfully taking cases to trial

The last thing you want to do is hire an attorney who is afraid to go to trial or just doesn't want to do the work involved in taking a case to trial. When you have your free consultation with the attorney or the law firm, make sure you ask about their past trial record. How many trials have they done? How many have been successful? It's important to note that almost all cases are settled before it gets to court. Are they good negotiators?  
 
Still, you absolutely want to hire an attorney with significant trial experience. If you're hiring a large firm that practices all across the country, they probably handle thousands of cases per year. If none of these cases have gone to trial, that's concerning, and you should probably keep looking. They may be looking for a quick settlement, which in some cases is the correct or acceptable course of action, but other times, this might not be the right move. You want to make sure you choose someone who has your best interest in mind.

8.     Select an attorney who has recovered large settlements 

In addition to finding an attorney who isn't afraid to go to court, you also want to find an attorney who has been successful at negotiations, and someone who has won large settlements after a trial. One of the main goals of a personal injury lawsuit is to recover the compensation you deserve. A proven track record of major wins can prove an attorney’s reliability with your case.

9.     Hire an attorney that takes cases on a contingent fee basis

If you are speaking with an attorney who will charge you before they've successfully settled or won your case, run in the other direction. Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingent fee basis, meaning they don't get paid unless you get paid. If you pay them before you receive any kind of payout, there's absolutely no guarantee that you will ever recover any compensation. Then you are left dealing with your injury, and you've also spent a lot of money unnecessarily.