If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, finding the perfect attorney for your case may not be as easy as you think. With all the billboards, clients can often be misled through aggressive advertising, catchy slogans and marketing hyperbole. The big question is, how do you cut through all the noise to find the best attorney for your particular personal injury case?
Where to Look Online
If you Google “Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me” chances are, a slew of options came up. However, Google is not the best place to look. Just because firms have bigger marketing budgets or are better at investing in SEO, it doesn’t mean they are the best firm for your case. Make sure your attorney is highly rated through numerous peer review journals and outlets.
Check these online sources:
1. Martindale Hubbell – Filter your search by city and practice area. Top, peer-reviewed attorneys in your city and area of expertise will appear. Here’s my listing.
2. Best Lawyers in America – Filter your search by city and practice area. Top, peer-reviewed attorneys in your city and area of expertise will appear. Here’s my listing.
3. Super Lawyers – A highly credible source which lists only the top 5%. Here’s my listing.
4. AVVO – Filter your search by city and practice area. Top, peer-reviewed attorneys in your city and area of expertise will appear. Here’s my listing.
Once you’ve narrowed down your search to a handful of select attorneys, check out the firm’s website for a list of verdicts and settlements. If there are none, chances are they have none.
Interview at Least 3 Firms
Interview at least three firms and bring a list of questions/topics with you to the meeting, including:
- Make sure the lawyer has trial experience so the defendant’s attorney will fear them. The best settlements come when opposition knows you will go to trial.
- Make sure the personal injury attorney has a thorough knowledge of insurance. Insurance often pays the settlement and the lawyer must know all the coverages and exclusions.
- Ask who will be handling your case. Sometimes you interview one attorney only to be passed off to a junior associate. You’ll want to ensure this is not the case.
- Make sure the attorney has significant results from past cases and the capacity to handle your case.
- How will the lawyer be billing you and what are their fees?
What to Bring to the Meeting
Bring any and ALL documentation that pertains to your case. These items may include:
- Photographs of the accident and your injuries
- Police reports
- Any relevant texts, emails, phone messages and or journal entries
- Medical documents including any psychological trauma that was incurred
- Eye-witness testimony and their contact information
Beware Of:
- Be careful you are not being represented in a mill. A mill tends to overpromise and underdeliver in that it will take on too many cases and settle for a minimal amount of money. Smaller, boutique firms aren’t always inferior to the large skyscraper-firms. In fact, they may be better.
- Rarely is it a good idea to hire a friend or relative to handle your case. No matter what your neighbor says about his/her results, go elsewhere.
- Do not speak to the defendant or defendant’s insurance adjuster without your attorney present.
How Often Should You Talk to Your Lawyer?
Insist on periodic review of your case, initially once a month, thereafter quarterly. Many people make the mistake of contacting their lawyer every time they have a question or an idea. This can add up quickly. Make a list of all thoughts and questions so that they can be covered during the periodic review.
Relax & Recover
If you are recovering from an injury, relax. Get better and let your attorney do the work. If you’re looking for a personal injury attorney, at Callahan Consulting, I can pair you with the best firm for your case. I have been practicing for 42 years and have numerous awards and accomplishments, not the least of which are precedent-setting cases and cases that have the largest settlement, verdict and judgments. I am viewed as one of the top attorneys in the United States and am closely connected to the other top lawyers across various jurisdictions and specialties. Contact me today at dan@callahanconsulting.com or visit my website at CallahanConsulting.com.