How to Find a Personal Injury Lawyer
If you’ve been injured in a car accident or other type of incident, you may be wondering if you can trust the negligent party’s insurance company to agree to a reasonable settlement (hint: probably not). Great personal injury lawyers will calculate the true value of your claim and ensure you are getting the medical care you need. (Read on to learn How to Find a Personal Injury Lawyer). They will also build a strong case and fight to get you the settlement you deserve by:
- Taking over the burden of gathering evidence on your claim.
- When necessary, hiring expert witnesses who can assist in recovering full and fair compensation.
- Keeping you informed on the progress of your claim.
- Protecting your rights and fighting on your behalf with medical and other lienholders so you can keep more of your settlement monies.
- Fighting for compensation that covers all your losses, including money for lost wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and disability.
- Representing you in court, if necessary, when a fair settlement cannot be reached during pretrial negotiations.
You have nothing to lose and everything to gain: personal injury attorneys do not require any payment upfront and are only compensated out of a percentage of the settlement. If you are looking for the best personal injury lawyer Bellingham, how do you know you’re choosing the right one?
So, how to find personal injury attorneys near my location who can help you recover compensation so you can focus on your recovery?
How to Find a Personal Injury Lawyer
- Create a short-list
The first step to choosing a great personal injury attorney is to create a short-list of options based on online reviews from past clients. Referrals from friends or family may be well intentioned but do not necessarily consider the whole range of best attorneys in Bellingham. When doing a search for lawyers on Google or in the yellow pages, be aware that anyone willing to pay for a top spot can show up there. Large national firms often have unlimited marketing budgets for sponsored ads to make it appear that they are local.
- Weed out for experience
Take your short list and choose the attorneys with the most car accident experience. In general, the more experience an attorney has, the better they are at securing the best settlements for their clients. Being a great personal injury lawyer means having a deep understanding of local and state personal injury laws, a network of medical and accident reconstruction specialists, and contacts within the judicial system. All of these things come with time and experience.
- Pick an attorney who is tough with insurance companies
When it comes to injury settlements, insurance companies are the enemy. They will try to get away with paying the smallest settlement possible, often one that is far lower than fair. Pick an accident attorney who knows this and isn’t afraid to play hardball. A great accident lawyer will know a low-ball offer when they see one and negotiate or, if necessary, take a case to trial to get fair compensation.
- Choose a lawyer who keeps you in the loop
A good lawyer will communicate with you over the course of their work with your personal injury case; which can easily be one to three years. If you call with a question or request for an update, you want someone at the office to respond to you in a timely manner. You can test this before choosing an attorney based on who calls you back to set up a meeting and who answers your questions in a timely manner. Choose an attorney who treats you as a valued customer.
- Pick an attorney that you like
Interview a couple of attorneys to make sure that you feel comfortable talking to them. You should feel a certain level of trust in their character and desire to help you. Since personal injury cases can take months or even years to resolve, having an attorney you feel at ease with will make the process less stressful and ensure better communication throughout your case.
- Look for a lawyer with trial experience
Not all personal injury cases settle outside of court. If your case goes to trial, you need an attorney who is confident in the courtroom and has a history of successfully arguing cases before a judge and jury. Ask potential lawyers about their trial experience and success rates. A lawyer who is comfortable in court will have more leverage when negotiating settlements, as insurance companies are less likely to offer lowball settlements to an attorney who is prepared to take a case to trial.
- Consider their fee structure
Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if you win your case. However, it’s essential to understand what percentage they take and whether there are any additional costs you’ll be responsible for. Some attorneys may charge for expenses like expert witnesses, filing fees, or administrative costs, so make sure you get a clear breakdown of the financial arrangement before signing any agreements.
- Check their reputation and disciplinary record
Before choosing a lawyer, do a quick background check to make sure they have a good standing with the state bar association and no history of disciplinary actions. You can also check online reviews, client testimonials, and peer ratings to gauge their reputation. A lawyer with a strong professional standing is more likely to handle your case ethically and effectively.
Seek Help From a Good Personal Injury Lawyer
If you or a loved one was injured because of the negligence of another, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal rights. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a lawyer. Call the personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing people injured in Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County, and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
