We’re sorry you’re having to ask this question. No one plans on getting injured and we understand that you’re now in the frustrating position of having to deal with a personal injury claim. However, by asking “how do I choose a personal injury lawyer?” you are starting with the right question. A personal injury attorney is going to help answer all the other questions you have and deal with the claim for you.
Yet, with so many attorneys out there to choose from, how do you know if you’ve found the right one. Below we’ll give you some tips and tricks to find and interview personal injury attorneys and select the right one.
Please know that it’s important to us that you find the right attorney, even if you don’t hire Jordan Law. The reason for this is that when injury victims have skilled and ethical legal representation, it portrays our industry and a more favorable light. The reputation of “ambulance chasers” does exist but many personal injury attorneys are in the business because it’s one of the few areas of law where you can help individuals, like yourself, against big corporations. We want you to find those passionate and experienced attorneys and avoid ones who give our industry a poor reputation.
With that said, let’s get started.
Tip #1: Make a list of personal injury lawyers in your state
Lawyers are licensed by state so start with a list of attorneys in state of residence. If you think you will want to meet the attorney in person, look for lawyers who are local to your city or town. Go to Google, Avvo.com, or call your local bar organization to generate a list of personal injury lawyers. Look for attorneys who specifically handle personal injury law and focus on the type of case you are dealing with. For example, if you’ve been in a car accident, look for attorneys who handle car accidents.
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Tip #2: Do your research
Use the attorneys website, Google reviews, Avvo reviews, Yelp and social media accounts to get a sense of each attorney. Pair down your list to five or so attorneys who meet your criteria.
Tip #3: Meet with at least three personal injury lawyers
Don’t just hire the first lawyer you see. Just because a lawyer can afford to run ads on television or put up billboards around town, does not mean that the attorney is the best lawyer for you or your case. Many of the best lawyers do not need to advertise. We suggest meeting at least three lawyers so that you are able to compare them to each other. Almost every lawyer will offer free consultations so while this may take time, it will not cost you any money.
Tip #4: Interview the attorney and ask good questions
When you meet with an attorney for a free consultation, the attorney is going to want to ask a lot of questions. They will want to learn about you and the details of your case. It is equally important that you ask the attorney questions as well. It’s important that you feel comfortable with the lawyer, have a good understanding of their experience level, and see some proof of their abilities by seeing the results they were able to get for similar clients.
Ask the attorney how long they have been practicing personal injury law. Ask the attorney if he or she focuses specifically on personal injury law (this is preferred) or handles other types of law as well. Ask attorneys about the other lawyers you are meeting with. What is their reputation amongst other professionals? Ask the attorney to tell you about a case that is similar to yours and what type of outcome the attorney was able to get for their client. For more questions, see our list of 10 Important Questions To Ask Your Personal Injury Lawyer.
Tip #5: Make sure you understand the client agreement
Almost every personal injury lawyer will offer to take your case on a contingency fee basis. This means that the attorney will collect their fee as a percentage of the settlement or verdict they collect. This type of arrangement means that you, the client, never have to pay the lawyer a retainer or hourly fee out of your own pocket. You only pay the attorney out of the settlement amount and only if you win your case. If you lose, you owe nothing.
However, there is still a question of what is a fair percentage of the settlement for the attorney to collect. Most personal injury lawyers will ask for 33 to 35 percent of the settlement as their fee. Typically if your case cannot be settled and needs to go to trial, the fee percentage will increase. This is because the attorney needs to put in additional time and money to be successful at trial.
Keep in mind that the attorney will be fronting all of the costs of your case. These costs can include expenses related to retrieving medical records, expert witness costs, postage, travel and more. These costs will be paid back to the law firm from the client’s percentage of the result.
Here’s an example of how fees are calculated. Let’s say the client’s settlement amount is $100,000. If the attorney collects 35%, than the attorney would receive $35,000. This means the client share is 65%, or $65,000. From the client’s share, the attorney will recoup the case costs. If case costs were $7,000, the client would receive $58,000 ($65,000 – $7,000).
It may be possible to find an attorney who is willing to take less of a percentage as their legal fees. But keep in mind, you may get what you pay for. If an attorney takes a 25% fee, but only is able to settle the same case for $75,000, the math is not in the client’s favor. In that example, the attorney would receive $18,750 (25% of $75,000). The client share would be $56,250 (75% of the settlement) before case costs. After the costs are recouped by the law firm, the client would receive $49,250 ($56,250 – $7000). In this scenario, the client receives $8750 less than in the first example.
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Tip #6: Be reasonable about your settlement expectations
As Jason Jordan always says, “personal injury cases are not a lottery ticket.” The clients who receive huge settlement amounts would gladly give the money back in exchange for their health. Talk to an attorney to get a sense of what your case could be worth but know that nothing is a guarantee. The worst thing a client can do is to start spending money before a result has been achieved. This even includes thinking about how you would spend a settlement check. This can be dangerous because it can prevent you from settling for a lower amount if the case turns out to be less valuable during the investigation or settlement phases.
Tip #7: Hire A Lawyer With Experience In the Courtroom
Insurance companies know who the personal injury lawyers and know their reputations. Here’s what happens if you hire a lawyer that has a reputation for settling ever single one of their cases and never challenging the insurance company to go to court. The insurance company is likely going to make a low-ball offer for your case. They will do this because they know your attorney will advise you to accept it.
You want to hire a lawyer who has experience in the courtroom. These attorneys will receive higher settlement offers for your case. Most personal injury cases settle out of court, but having a lawyer with the reputation for being a “true trial lawyer” will lead to a better outcome for you.
Jordan Law prides itself on being a “true trial law firm.” All you need to do is look at our results to see that we have experience winning verdicts in a courtroom. Contact Jordan Law today for free consultation. Whether you need a Colorado car accident lawyer, truck accident lawyer, dog bite attorney, explosion injury lawyer, etc., we have you covered with over 20 years of experience.
Not ready to hire a lawyer because you’re unsure if you have a claim? Try our Personal Injury Case Evaluation Tool.