When you or a loved one has been hurt in an accident, it can be tough to know where to turn. If you’re considering hiring a personal injury lawyer in Texas, making an informed choice is vital. The personal injury lawyers at Leinart Law Firm believe that the more information clients have about how to choose an attorney, the better. These tips can help you find an experienced personal injury attorney who will fight for your rights and help you obtain a full and fair recovery for your damages.
Finding the Right Personal Injury Lawyer
There are thousands of personal injury law firms in Texas, which can make selecting the right attorney daunting. Personal injury is a specialized area of the law, so you want to find someone who is well-versed in Texas tort law and has experience handling — and winning — personal injury cases. Even then, extra research should be conducted to find which type of personal injury claim best suits your case. If you are in need of an experienced construction accident attorney, hiring a lawyer who primarily handles motorcycle accident claims would be ineffective. The best way to accomplish this is to do your research and speak to several lawyers before making a final decision.
Talk to Friends, Family and Coworkers
If you know anyone who has been represented by an attorney in a personal injury case, ask them how satisfied they were with their lawyer’s services. If they have positive things to say, add that attorney to your list. However, don’t make a snap decision based on someone else’s recommendation. Each case is different, and each personal injury lawyer has their own personality and style. Finding someone you feel comfortable with is important, and you may not mesh with an attorney the same way a friend or acquaintance does.
Ask a Lawyer You Know
It can be tempting to just ask an attorney you already know to take your case, but finding a good Dallas Fort Worth personal injury lawyer can help ensure you recover maximum compensation for your injuries and losses. If you know someone who’s a lawyer or have an attorney who has handled other legal matters for you, ask them for recommendations.
Check Out Professional Associations
Most state and local bar associations have attorney referral services, but they don’t do a thorough review of the experience of lawyers on their lists. If you’re thinking of hiring a lawyer who was referred through a professional organization, make sure to interview them before making a choice about whether to hire them.
Research Personal Injury Law Firms Online
Anyone can make themselves look good online. When you search online for a personal injury lawyer in Texas, make sure to get a good look around their website and read customer reviews. Again, don’t just choose the first attorney or law firm that pops up. Due diligence is an integral part of most claims, so doing your own when searching for a lawyer is vital.
Questions to Ask a Personal Injury Lawyer
When interviewing attorneys, it’s a good idea to ask certain questions and get a feel for whether they will be compatible with you and your goals.
Have You Ever Handled a Case Similar to Mine?
Experience matters. If you’ve been hurt in a car accident, you wouldn’t want to hire a personal injury lawyer who has only handled medical malpractice cases. Ask how long an attorney has been practicing personal injury law, which types of claims they have handled and their success rate with claims like yours. A track record of winning personal injury cases inside and outside of the courtroom shows that an attorney is tenacious and dedicated to fighting for their clients’ rights.
What Is My Case Worth and How Long Will It Take?
After giving a personal injury lawyer the details surrounding your case, they should be able to tell you whether you have a viable claim and how much it may be worth. Although there’s no way to determine exactly how long a case will take, your lawyer can give you a general time frame and advise you of whether it’s likely that your case will go to trial.
Do You Have Experience Taking Personal Injury Cases to Trial?
This is an important question to ask, because there’s always the possibility that you’ll need to take your case in front of a judge or jury to seek compensation if your lawyer is unable to settle your claim. A significant number of personal injury attorneys have little to no experience taking cases to trial. If you hire a lawyer who always settles out of court, you may be selling yourself short down the road.
Who Will Be Working on My Case?
You want the personal injury law firm you choose to have the time and resources to take on your case. This might mean that the attorney you first speak to will delegate your case to another lawyer. Paralegals and support staff will also handle certain aspects of your claim. Make sure to find out who your main contact will be and talk to the personal injury attorney who will be spending the most time on your case.
What Is Expected of Me During the Personal Injury Claims Process?
Although you’re hiring a lawyer to represent your interests, there are certain things they will ask you to provide. Some attorneys prefer little client involvement while others may expect you to be heavily involved in your case. Make sure you know what is expected of you and the level of involvement you’re comfortable with before committing to a particular lawyer.
Do You Have References from Former Clients?
Don’t hesitate to ask for references and speak with former clients about an attorney’s services.
Reviews on the internet can be helpful, but that doesn’t mean they’re accurate. A skilled personal injury lawyer will be able to provide you with references from former clients.
What Are Your Fees?
Most personal injury lawyers offer free consultations and work on a contingency basis. This means you won’t incur any immediate up-front costs or owe attorney fees unless they recover compensation for you. However, it’s vital to ask whether you’ll be responsible for paying for filing fees, expert witness costs and medical records retrieval fees. Contingency fees vary depending on the complexity of the case. Typically, attorney fees for personal injury claims range from 30% to 40% of the total settlement or award you receive.
Choosing a Personal Injury Lawyer
It’s vital that you trust your attorney and have confidence in their abilities. What is your gut feeling about each personal injury lawyer you interviewed? Who has the most experience and best record of successfully recovering compensation for their clients? Which lawyer’s communication style do you prefer? Who made you feel the most comfortable? Taking these questions into consideration can help you pick an attorney who’s right for you.
Contact a Dallas Personal Injury Attorney
If you’ve been injured or have lost a loved one in an accident, our compassionate, knowledgeable team at Leinart Law Firm can help. Call us at 469-232-3328 in Dallas and 817-426-3328 in Fort Worth, fill out the contact form on our website, use our convenient chat feature or email us for a free case evaluation. Our personal injury lawyers represent clients throughout north Texas.
