It might be highly useful to hire a personal injury attorney to manage your injury claim. Victims who are represented by an attorney are more likely to receive a higher settlement offer.
The insurance company is aware that the attorney is prepared to take the case to court if required, which would result in a higher cost to the insurance company.
Having a personal injury law company on your side evens out the odds. Insurance companies and corporations have vast resources at their disposal to investigate and defend an accident claim. You require a legal team with the resources and expertise to fight for you.
Your lawyer also safeguards you from bad faith insurance tactics, the stress of dealing with an injury claim, and mistakes that could jeopardise your chances of achieving a reasonable payout.
It might be comforting to have someone to provide support and guidance during a stressful and challenging time as you recover from your accident injuries.
WHAT SHOULD YOU THINK ABOUT WHEN SEARCHING FOR A PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY?
When you meet with Tampa Personal Injury Lawyers to discuss your personal injury case, you should ask as many questions as you need to evaluate if this is the appropriate lawyer for the job. However, there are four questions you should always ask before selecting a personal injury lawyer:
1. WHAT KINDS OF CASES DO YOU WORK ON?
The field of specialisation is one of the most significant factors to consider when picking a personal injury lawyer. Look for a personal injury lawyer who specialises in these types of situations. It’s even better if you can discover an attorney that specialises in instances similar to yours.
For example, if you were hurt as a result of medical malpractice or a defective product, you’ll want to make sure your lawyer has a lot of expertise with personal injury cases like yours. When an attorney handles the same type of case on a regular basis, he or she acquires significant skills, information, and resources that benefit you when the attorney handles your case.
Furthermore, personal injury lawyers who establish a reputation in the field may be required to labour less to secure a favourable settlement offer.
Insurance companies are aware of personal injury lawyers’ reputations and success rates in each jurisdiction.
Jurors may also recognise the lawyer as a dependable legal advocate for accident victims, which can help you if the case gets to trial.
2. WHAT ARE YOUR CHARGES AND BILLING PRINCIPLES?
The majority of personal injury lawyers practise on a contingency basis. The attorney does not be paid unless he gets money for your claim. You do not owe the attorney any money for attorneys’ fees if the attorney does not recover compensation for you.
Most personal injury claims, including vehicle accidents, slip & falls, construction injuries, pedestrian accidents, motorcycle wrecks, and many other forms of damage cases, use contingency fees.
Make sure you understand the price structure before choosing an attorney. Confirm that you will not be responsible for attorneys’ expenses if the attorney is unable to obtain recompense. Also, inquire about whether the contingency fee % increases if the matter proceeds to trial.
Attorney’s fees are not included in the costs. Postage, travel expenses, deposition fees, expert witness fees, copy charges, and court fees are all possible expenses in a lawsuit. Attorneys deal with expenditures in a variety of ways.
Costs may be billed as they are incurred or at intervals throughout the litigation by some lawyers. Other lawyers may choose to deduct all fees from the settlement profits once the matter is settled. However, regardless of whether you receive compensation for your claim, certain lawyers may hold you liable for fees.
Always double-check to see when you’ll be responsible for fees and expenditures.
3. WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE OF CASES THAT HAVE BEEN RESOLVED?
Many personal injury claims can be resolved without the need to file a lawsuit. The parties could either negotiate a settlement or proceed to mediation to reach an agreement. However, some cases will go to trial because the parties are unable to reach an agreement.
As a result, you need an attorney who is a strong negotiator as well as a skilled, aggressive trial litigator. Whether your matter is settled or goes to trial, you can rest assured that your lawyer is ready. You should speak with numerous different lawyers if the attorney has minimal trial experience.
Insurance companies keep track of how many instances legal firms resolve.
When an attorney has a reputation for being willing to go to trial to preserve a client’s best interests, the insurance company may be more inclined to negotiate a larger settlement to avoid going to court.
Lawyers who have never tried a case in court may have a harder time negotiating with an insurance company.
4. WHO WILL BE IN CHARGE OF MY CASE?
Some lawyers delegate all of their cases to an associate lawyer or a paralegal. You expect the lawyer you engage to work on your case when you choose a personal injury lawyer to handle your claim.
A law firm’s employees and resources must be sufficient to handle the cases it takes. When a law firm works on your case, you benefit from having a talented, experienced team of legal professionals on your side. However, you should double-check that the lawyer you hire will be the one in charge of your case.
Another topic to consider is who handles direct negotiations with the insurance company. The legal team works together to gather evidence, investigate legislation, and put up a demand settlement package. Who, on the other hand, will speak with the insurance claims agent in order to negotiate a settlement?
Confirm that your lawyer, who has the experience, reputation, and negotiation abilities to get you the most money for your injury claim, will fight to get you the most money possible.
Contact award-winning Sarasota Personal Injury Lawyer at Matthews Injury Law. When you have been injured, and it wasn’t your fault, it can feel like the whole world is against you. For a free consultation call at (941) 877-5800.
ANOTHER THING TO THINK ABOUT WHEN HIRING A PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY
During a personal injury case, effective communication is critical. Your attorney might need to contact you for information. You may also need to talk to your lawyer if a problem arises or you have a concern.
Ask the lawyer how he communicates with clients and how often you can expect to receive updates about your case. Ensure that the forms of communication work best for you, such as email, text messages, regular mail, and telephone calls.
Also, ask the lawyer how quickly he returns messages, both urgent and non-urgent messages. When you need to talk to your lawyer, you want to know that he will be available to address your concerns.
