How to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer

When considering a personal injury lawyer, it's crucial to learn if they would be willing to take your case to trial if negotiations fail or if the other party offers a settlement that is not acceptable. With that said, we admit that the majority of civil disputes are resolved through negotiations. This is true of personal injury law firms across the board. This is because litigation is time-consuming and expensive for both plaintiffs and defendants.
 
In some instances, the plaintiff may have little time and wants to avoid pursuing a long, drawn-out legal battle. However, when it comes to personal injury, the expense shouldn't be a factor as we work on a contingency fee basis. This means we don't get paid until you do. If for some reason, we fail to recover any compensation, you don't pay a thing. Still, we never settle for less than what your case is worth unless you've made the decision to do so.
 
When we take on a case, we're in it for the win, so if we need to take it through the justice system, we're prepared to do just that. In fact, some of our most significant verdicts have been won because we recognized the defendant wasn't offering our client a fair settlement. They had to be taught the hard way, and our client was the beneficiary of the other party's poor judgment in taking on one of our skilled attorneys.  
 
If you're not convinced by our track record of billions recovered over the last 30 years in the industry, be sure to make sure any other law firm you're considering has sufficient experience taking cases to trial and winning.

There are many essential aspects to consider when hiring a personal injury lawyer, but one of the most important is specialization in cases similar to yours. Having experience in comparable cases greatly benefits your lawyer because they will be familiar with case law and have success stories they can present to the defendant. Being able to show the other party the outcome of similar cases as yours may make them realize their chances of winning at trial are far from guaranteed, and they may conclude that paying a fair amount for your damages is in their best interest.

As a society, we research almost everything before we make a commitment these days, and hiring a personal injury lawyer shouldn't be any different. You have the ability to shop around and should ask an attorney you're considering where you can find former client reviews and testimonials. Find out if they've been involved in noteworthy cases or contributed to industry publications. Likewise, it would be best if you looked at their law firm's reputation. Have they been featured in magazines or received any awards? How many clients have they represented, and what is their percentage of winning results?
 
A search in the local state bar association or other legal organizations should reveal the qualifications of an attorney you're considering to handle your case. You may also discover if they have helpful connections within the legal system.
 
Another thing to consider when researching reputation is whether they have been involved in any disciplinary action with their state's bar association. When a lawyer is admitted to the bar, they are granted permission to practice law in that system. Any disciplinary action denotes misconduct.

You might be working with your lawyer for a few weeks or a few years, so it's important that you feel confident in their abilities and you'll be able to work well together. We understand that your personal injury case is special, and we'll be involved in dealing with some sensitive issues together. As we build a strong case, you will feel stress and anger and have to recall uncomfortable memories concerning your legal matter, so it's essential to get along with your lawyer and have faith in them.
 
Not everyone is a great match. Fortunately, we have hundreds of lawyers within our law firm to choose from if you don't feel synergy with the first lawyer you meet with. Always trust your instincts when it comes to making a choice about a relationship that may turn out to be lengthy.

Are They Familiar With Your Jurisdiction?

Matters of jurisdiction can further complicate some areas of personal injury law. Contract law, for example, can be very challenging because you may have signed a contract with an out-of-state client with a "jurisdiction clause." Jurisdiction indicates which courts apply for your specific case. If a lawyer is unfamiliar with your local courts or the courts that apply in your case, they probably won't make a good choice to be your legal representative.

Do They Have Support and Resources?

When it comes to matters that are as crucial as your personal injury case, the law firm's size means something. At Morgan and Morgan, your personal injury lawyer will have all the resources and support necessary to ensure your case is concluded favorably.
 
We have more than a thousand support staff and have prioritized technology and networking to increase the likelihood of more success stories. Technology is crucial so you will know the status of your case up to the minute. Nothing is worse than not knowing where your case stands, even if it's in the middle of the night.
 
Having access to a vast network of expert witnesses and other professionals that assist us with cases is  instrumental to achieving results for clients. Your case may require experts in varying fields, such as medicine, product engineering, car accident reconstruction, or safety. Over the course of 30 years, we have made alliances with some of the leading experts in their fields that we use for your benefit.  

Can Your Lawyer Be Flexible With Your Schedule and Needs?

When you're seriously injured in a motor vehicle, slip and fall, or a work accident, you need a lawyer who can be flexible. That means someone who is willing to come to the hospital or your home to conduct an interview and work around your schedule. Likewise, you want someone who has the resources to hire investigators to examine conditions on-site if necessary.

Be Wary of Churn and Burn "Mill-Like" Law Firms

If a lawyer works at a law firm that rarely—if ever—takes a case to trial, you might be looking at someone who works at a settlement mill. These types of law firms don't have much of a vetting process for taking on new clients because their goal is to settle for any amount they can get, whether that’s in your best interests or not.
 
When working with this kind of operation, clients seldom have any meaningful contact with an actual attorney. Instead, they are pushed off to support staff. Settlement mill law firms may also incentivize their staff to settle as quickly as possible without considering what's best for the client.
 
Because our law firm works on a contingency fee basis, and we value our reputation, we vet our clients to ensure their case has merit. While everyone has a right to use the legal justice system, it goes against our standards as a company to pursue litigation that doesn't have a very good legal standing. That's not to say we're afraid to pioneer in areas where case law is unsettled. For example, there are new frontiers in areas that involve technology and securities.
 
We understand that getting a promise of a quick settlement can be tempting. Indeed we want our clients to get financial relief as soon as possible. Still, legitimate cases often require in-depth investigation to add strength to your case so we can recover the maximum possible. It's far better to work with an attorney at a law firm that has built its reputation on big wins for clients rather than bottom-dollar quick settlements.

You can usually find plenty of information online. Still, first-hand interaction with a personal injury lawyer and their law firm is essential to get a feel for how your case will be handled. Notice if you're treated with respect by the receptionist and if they make you feel like a priority.
 
Getting an expert opinion on your case is the first step toward recovering compensation. We make the process as easy as possible for potential clients because we know you're already in a stressful situation if you need the guidance of a legal professional.
 
We'll first ask you some questions about your legal matter and then schedule an appointment with an investigator. If you're unable to travel, we will come to you and should be able to meet with you within 24 hours. Once our investigator has learned the pertinent facts concerning your case, they will refer you to the appropriate department that specializes in cases like yours. You'll be assigned a legal team, including the best personal injury lawyer for your legal matter.
 
Now that you know the basics of how to hire a personal injury lawyer, contact us today to get the process started. Again, there's no fee unless we're able to recover compensation on your behalf.