If you want to make the most out of your settlement or trial award, you’ll need to hire a personal injury lawyer. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, just about three percent of cases make it to trial.
First let’s understand the advantages of this route.
Benefits of Hiring an Attorney
It’s true that if you decide to try a case on your own, you can save money on legal fees. However, only a small percentage of plaintiffs have the legal expertise and experience to succeed.
When you’re dealing with a personal injury, it can be a needless source of stress that an attorney-led settlement can easily compensate for. For example, you could be going through any of the following:
- Malpractice-related medical trauma
- Serious injury caused by a car accident or another sort of negligence
- Wrongful death of a loved one caused by the defendant’s carelessness
When coping with the aftermath of these situations, it’s tough to think clearly. Good luck attempting to solve a case on your own! Instead, hire a lawyer for the following benefits.
They are familiar with the legal landscape.
That’s because they have specific training that you don’t. There will always be exceptions to the norm, but they will, for the most part, display the necessary level of understanding to have an influence.
They’ve done it before.
It’s one thing to have a law degree. It’s a very different storey when you’ve actually put your law degree to good use.
Yes, you want someone who has a Juris Doctorate. You also want someone who has a track record of applying that JD in real-world situations. Most personal injury lawyers have that degree of experience, which is crucial in obtaining the results you desire.
They may be able to negotiate a better settlement for you.
What is the typical monetary award for a personal injury case? It’s difficult to lock down a phone number. Depending on the attorney you speak with, they can range from $5,000 to $75,000, and they can go much higher for high-profile cases.
This much you can be certain of. With an attorney on your side, you’ll always get a better result. That’s because they know when and how to play hardball, as well as when it’s important to go to trial.
They can help you with legal manoeuvring.
That brings us to another crucial function of a personal injury lawyer. They can tell you when to put the pedal to the metal and when to apply the brakes.
In other words, cases that could be difficult to resolve in court might be better addressed through a settlement offer. The average plaintiff isn’t going to know how to utilise that, and they can’t do much to frighten a corporate defendant with deep funds.
Paying attention to your lawyer will help you avoid making costly blunders. It might also assist you in pressing forward at the appropriate times.
They give you peace of mind.
It’s easy to become annoyed by the legal system’s slow and tedious pace. Knowing that your case is being handled by someone competent and experienced will save you from becoming overwhelmed with concern and frustration. It’ll help you keep your sanity as you go through each day!
Now that you understand why you need a personal injury lawyer on your side, it’s time to look into the criteria that go into choosing one. Don’t make a selection until you’ve answered the 10 questions below.
1. What are the different types of practice areas?
Each personal injury lawyer you meet will have a few major areas in which they specialise. It could be related to Social Security Disabilities for some. Others may devote the majority of their time to car accidents such as Personal Injury lawyer McAllen Texas.
While you may have the skills to try any case, you will have a much greater chance if you hire an attorney who specialises in your field. This makes sense because the attorney will be more enthusiastic and informed about those specific types of situations.
2. Do they have any prior trial experience?
Examine an attorney’s experience with various cases in the field where you require assistance before choosing them. Examine their trial experience in particular. What is the significance of trial experience?
Someone who settles every case may not be prepared to tackle the next step if your case deserves it. As a result, they may pressurise you into accepting a much lower settlement when you may otherwise collect millions.
3. What Are the Costs and Terms of Payment?
Before you sign any contracts or submit retainer money, it’s critical to understand an attorney’s fee structure. Know all possible legal fees ahead of time, including what they charge for, what it contains, and what actions could result in additional fees.
Good lawyers will be honest with you about such details. Others, on the other hand, thrive on uncertainty and confusion. Ignore it at your peril!
4. What qualifies them?
This is possibly the most important of the questions to ask lawyers that are a little uncomfortable. A qualified personal injury lawyer will be able to quickly point you to his or her credentials while maintaining a non-defensive demeanour.
The good ones see that you are out of your element and strive to assist you feel more at ease during the process. Never be afraid to inquire about credentials or references.
5. How Easy Is It to Work With Them?
Is it easy or difficult for you to make appointments with an attorney? Is he or she frequently out of the office and slow to reply to your calls?
You should ideally hire an attorney who is more responsive than that. You want someone who understands that you may have a lot of concerns and inquiries. Consider going somewhere else if they make you feel like they’re putting you out.
When you need an experienced personal injury lawyer McAllen, contact attorney Raúl Guajardo and schedule a FREE consultation regarding your injury case. For free consultation call us at 956-686-1977.
6. Do They Come With A Recommendation?
How did you learn about the lawyer? Did you find them through stumbling over them on Google or flipping through the phone book?
You might strike it rich this way, but it’s usually more persuasive if you can acquire references from some of their other clients, especially people who know you and have a stake in your success (i.e., friends and family). Attorneys that come highly recommended by people you know may be more committed to your case.
