If you’ve been injured in an accident, you likely want to know what your next steps should be. One of the first steps will be finding the best personal injury attorney in California. Below are 8 tips that can help you find the best attorney to help you with your case. Remember that if you have been injured, the most important thing to do is speak with an attorney who can answer your questions and help guide you through this difficult time.
Define Why You Need An Attorney
The first thing you need to ask yourself is why you’re looking for an attorney. If you’ve been injured or have suffered some kind of loss, then it might make sense that your case requires a personal injury lawyer.
What if it’s not so clear-cut? If, for example, someone close to you has died and you suspect there may be some kind of wrongdoing involved, then a lawyer can help determine what happened and what (if anything) should be done about it. You should also consult an attorney if there are potential civil claims like those brought under negligence or product liability laws against someone else. An attorney can advise you on how best to proceed with these types of cases.
Know what You Can and Cannot Sue For ?
If you’re injured and someone else was at fault, you have a right to recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and any other damages. But there are limits on what you can recover through a lawsuit.
For example, if someone rear-ends your car while they’re texting and driving, they may be liable for property damage (the cost of repairs), pain and suffering (if it was particularly traumatizing), your economic losses (such as lost wages while you took time off work) and non-economic losses (such as your emotional distress).
But they might not be liable for additional costs like hospital fees or diminished quality of life—especially if no one else but you could reasonably have expected those consequences.
Choose The Right Firm For You
When it comes to hiring a personal injury attorney, your choices are seemingly endless. But when faced with hundreds of law firms, how do you even start looking for one? Where should you go? Who should you talk to?
What do you need to be asking? You may want answers to these questions before jumping into researching law firms and lawyers. If so, read on below and get an insider’s look at what makes up a good P.I. firm – as well as some great tips on how to search out one that best fits your needs.
These tips will put you miles ahead of where most clients begin their search…and ultimately get them nowhere! With 8 essential tips from Lawyerist Founder Jason R. Coomer, you’ll know exactly where to start looking for your ideal personal injury lawyer. And if all else fails, don’t forget:
There’s no such thing as a stupid question when it comes to hiring a lawyer or consulting with him or her about your case. Just ask away! The worst they can say is no (which isn’t really true either) but if they tell you yes, that means they’re taking on your case — which is more than halfway there anyway!
Understand What Will Happen When You Call An Attorney
Before you hire a personal injury attorney, make sure you understand what’s going to happen when you call one. Hiring an attorney will be very stressful, and if you don’t know what will happen next, it could cause more harm than good. When working with an attorney, do your research first.
Before talking with an attorney about your case, talk with other clients about their experiences. What has been their experience working with that particular firm? Are they happy? How long did it take them to get a settlement? If they had any problems or concerns while they were working through their claim, how was that resolved?
Being informed can help alleviate any stress associated with hiring a lawyer as well as give you some peace of mind throughout your claims process.
Know What To Say When Speaking With The Lawyer
During a consultation, you’ll want to make sure you share every detail of your accident and how it occurred. Give them as much information as possible regarding what happened before, during and after. This is an important part of making sure that your case goes smoothly.
Also, be honest about your personal situation when speaking with lawyers. You don’t want to say things that can hurt your case later on if it turns out that there are mistakes made later on down the road.
It is also very important for you not to assume anything about a legal case because even if you feel like there isn’t enough proof for someone else may have done something wrong, there might be more evidence than meets yours or their eye.
Do Your Research And Get As Many Quotes As Possible
When you’re looking for a personal injury attorney, there’s no better place to start than with Google. Search for the best personal injury attorney in [your city] and take advantage of free online tools like Avvo and Yelp.
You should also ask friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors for referrals. Once you have a shortlist of potential lawyers based on your research, be sure to contact them personally rather than rely on an automated email form. This will ensure they get back to you quickly with a quote as well as additional information that can help you make your decision.
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Look at Their Past Results – Not Just What They Tell You
It’s a good idea to check into an attorney’s past results before signing on. But be careful here. Yes, there are websites out there that post bogus reviews from fake clients who never even hired an attorney. It is important that you look for legitimate sources of data—or a high volume of client reviews—from respected review sites.
One of those sites is Avvo, where attorneys can create profiles that detail their practice areas and credentials, as well as see how they rate compared with other lawyers in their city or state.
Hire The Best To Win
When it comes to hiring an attorney, you want someone who has a proven track record and is willing to fight for your case. Do not settle for an attorney who seems like they will try their best or might get you out of the most trouble possible.
Instead, find a personal injury lawyer with experience and willing to go above and beyond for you. You want someone who has had previous clients with similar injuries as yours win large settlements or recover significant compensation. Once you have found such an attorney, do not hesitate in reaching out about your case! If you are injured, there is no time to waste. Call now!
