How to Choose a Personal Injury Lawyer

Choosing a personal injury lawyer after you’ve been hurt in an accident can be overwhelming. A quick internet search for “how to choose a personal injury attorney” can yield an impressive number of results. Below are some helpful thoughts from the Indiana personal injury law firm, Stracci Law Group, to help you find the best representation for your case.

10 Tips for Choosing a Personal Injury Attorney

The following tips are intended to help injured victims who are wondering how to choose the right personal injury lawyer.

1. Ask for Personal Referrals

Personal referrals from friends or family members can be of great value if you need a personal injury attorney. After an injury, you may feel vulnerable and unsure about who to trust. Referrals from people you’ve known for a long time can give you peace of mind in an uncertain time.

Make sure you ask your friend or family member careful questions and pay attention to the responses. Try to determine whether your friend or family member was satisfied with the outcome of their case, whether the lawyer was available to respond to their questions and concerns, and if they felt that their attorney had adequate experience.

2. Research Personal Injury Attorneys in Online Directories

You can find personal injury lawyers in Indiana by using a web browser. You can search locally in your city or town, or you can search state-wide. Sometimes the best representation may require some travel, but the time and expense can be worth it.

In addition to popular search engines, such as Google, there are also online directories to help individuals who are asking how to choose a good personal injury attorney. It’s important to use caution because some of these websites simply advertise for any lawyers who are willing to pay a fee.

3. Make a List of Important Factors

When choosing a personal injury attorney, you may identify particular qualities that may be important to you. For instance, the kind of accident you were involved in might lead you to seek someone with expertise in a particular type of case. Criteria you might want to keep in mind when working through how to choose a good personal injury attorney might include:

• The attorney’s experience in your kind of case
• The lawyer’s availability to take your case
• The credentials and track record of the lawyer and their law firm
• How the attorney handles case fees
• Information from client testimonials.

Utilizing a list can help you quickly dismiss attorneys who do not meet your criteria and help shorten the search process.

4. Compile a List of Lawyers

After you’ve made your initial list of important criteria, you should begin to make a shortlist of attorneys you want to meet with. You will want to schedule a meeting to interview them, make them aware of the facts about your case, and try to determine whether they will be a good fit for you and your case.

This process can be time-consuming, so having a shorter list is helpful. Remember, you are hiring a personal injury attorney to represent you. They will benefit from any compensation you receive. You don’t need to feel any sense of coercion from a lawyer when you’re working through how to choose the right personal injury lawyer.

5. Review Each Lawyer’s Credentials and Track Record

While you are interviewing the personal injury attorneys on your list, take the time to consider their track record. This can help you see how to choose. Personal injury attorneys often have helpful information on their websites, including:

• Client testimonials
• Client awards through settlements or jury trials
• The length of experience of each lawyer
• The amount of collective experience in the law firm
• Resources are available to investigate and represent your case.

When looking for a personal injury attorney, a bigger firm isn’t always better, as they can be too busy to give you attention. Conversely, a younger attorney with less experience who is part of a firm with a longstanding tradition of exceptional client representation might provide you with great service.

6. Consider Firm Size, Availability, and Experience

It’s not unwise to consider the size, availability, and experience of an attorney when you're considering how to choose the right personal injury lawyer for you. An attorney who is part of a large and busy firm may be a great fit for you if you don’t require more personalized service. 

Consider the collective experience of the law firm. Many law firms operate collaboratively, so even though you may be speaking to one attorney, they will have the benefit of drawing on years of experience from their colleagues.

7. Think about Your Settlement Goal

As you’re researching how to choose a good personal injury attorney, consider your goals. If you are looking for a quick settlement, look for a firm with experienced negotiators. If you think your case is complicated and might end up in a trial, you’ll want a firm with seasoned litigators.

Each firm and lawyer has a different approach that may not reflect the way you want your case to be handled. It’s essential to understand this before making this decision. Personal injury lawyers may be concerned with:

• Obtaining a quick settlement with few costs and little hassle;
• Getting you more than the insurance company’s initial offer as quickly as possible;
• Working to maximize your compensation, regardless of how long it takes.

Considering your settlement goals can be a help for you when choosing your personal injury attorney.

8. Call Law Offices to Set Up a Consultation

Many Indiana personal injury lawyers offer a free, no-obligation consultation. Stracci Law Group is no exception. This is an opportunity for you to present the facts about your case and receive an evaluation of the merits of the case. Oftentimes, experienced attorneys may be able to provide an estimate for what you might expect to receive in compensation if your case is successful.

When you attend a consultation meeting, it’s a good idea to be prepared to share all of the details about your case. You should also arrive at the meeting with all of the documentation you think might be relevant to your case and helpful to an attorney. Remember, you are interviewing prospective attorneys and are under no obligation to hire the first lawyer with whom you meet.

9. Meet with Different Attorneys to Explore Your Options

Although you may instantly connect with the first attorney you meet, that’s not always the case. When you're considering how to choose a good personal injury attorney, it’s a good idea to give yourself time to meet with all of the attorneys on your list. 

Since personal injury claims can take several months or sometimes years to settle, it’s a good idea to choose a lawyer with whom you get along. It’s also important to work with an attorney who makes themselves available to answer client questions and concerns as the process unfolds. Before you sign on with any personal injury attorney, make sure your expectations are clear and that the lawyer agrees to honor your desires about how your case is handled.

10. Choose the Best Lawyer for Your Case

After you have done your research, which includes meeting with your top personal injury attorney contenders, it’s time to make your decision. Once you’ve made your choice, resist any temptations that may arise to second-guess yourself.

If you have asked good questions and spent time discussing your case with prospective attorneys, you will probably have a good sense of a lawyer’s style, experience, and availability. The best personal injury attorney for you will be one who is attentive to your wishes and willing to do whatever it takes to pursue your goals for your personal injury settlement.

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer

“How do I choose the right personal injury lawyer?” It’s the most common question everyone faced with the prospect of hiring a personal injury attorney will ask themselves. When interviewing prospective attorneys, be sure to ask them the following questions:

• Can you explain your fee structure?
• If my claim is not successful, will I be required to cover any costs?
• How involved can I/should I be with my lawsuit?
• How long do you think it will take my case to resolve?
• How much do you think my case might be worth?
• Do you have trial experiences for cases that can’t be settled through negotiation?
• Do you have dedicated time in which you respond to questions or concerns from your clients?

Are you wondering how to choose an attorney? Personal injury lawyers are not put off by your questions. Have your list of questions with you as you meet with potential attorneys.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Personal Injury Lawyer

Choosing the best personal injury lawyer for your case is a big decision. Stracci Law Group in Indiana has some final considerations on this topic.

Level of Dedication

If you are contemplating the question “How do I choose a good personal injury lawyer?” it’s likely because you understand the importance of the decision. You will want to choose an attorney who will be dedicated to your case and give it the attention it needs.

How Quickly and Easily You Can Reach a Lawyer?

When your personal injury claim is working its way through the legal system, you will undoubtedly have questions and concerns. During these times, it will be of great value to have access to your attorney, who has the knowledge and experience to answer your questions and address your concerns. Make sure you hire a lawyer who makes time for their clients.

Competency of Staff and Attorneys

Walking into an office that is well-organized and clean is a good sign. When you sense disorganization or incompetence in a law office, you want to find a different one. You are deciding to trust someone with an injury case that could have a lifelong impact on you and your family. Attorneys who are organized and confident can help you have peace of mind that you’re making a good decision by hiring them.

Find a Personal Injury Lawyer Near You

The decision of who to hire to represent you in your personal injury case is an important one. Keeping the above points in mind will help you narrow the field and can lead you to a lawyer who is the best fit for you and your case.

If you’re looking for a personal injury law firm in Indiana, consider the Stracci Law Group. We have the experience and personal attention you require for your personal injury case. Contact us today.