One of the leading challenges many people face after suffering a personal injury is trying to find a lawyer to support their claim. Turning to a trusted specialist can help ensure that you succeed in your personal injury case, but the majority don’t know where to begin.
This can lead to those going through the process making significant mistakes along the way. To help prevent you from going through the same issues, we’re highlighting several mistakes made when choosing a personal injury lawyer.
1. Not completing research
Make sure that you research the lawyer first. Find out about their legal background and their experience in the industry. How many cases have they succeeded with? What is their understanding on personal injury law. Those that don’t complete their research may find their chosen lawyer doesn’t have the required qualifications for success.
2. Not keeping track of expenses
Before even choosing a personal injury lawyer, it’s important those going through the process track all the expenses related to their injury. This means tracking the missed wages due to work and the cost of having to travel to doctor appointments and other medical considerations that may also require additional expenditure. Make sure all of these costs are accurately tracked.
3. Choosing based on rate alone
The cost of the personal injury lawyer should be a leading consideration in the legal services that you choose, but they shouldn’t be the sole consideration for appointing legal representatives. Make sure that you take into consideration the full range of costs involved in the legal process. And ask that the lawyer provide you with clear details on their rate when determining their service costs. Choose also based on the reputation of the legal team and the experience they have as personal injury lawyers.
4. Avoiding medical treatment while waiting to hear from a lawyer
Make sure that you take the time to undergo all required medical treatment while you wait to hear from your lawyer. While you might have to pay some of the money now to undergo treatment, you may get this money back after your personal injury case is resolved. Work with your medical team to document all of the treatment you undergo and ensure that you have someone with you at your appointments to help you remember all the details and make sense of the next step in treatment.
5. Not asking for a referral from family and friends
The lawyer you choose should be someone that is experienced and is known within your local region. Ask you family and friends for referrals and recommendations based on their past work with the professional. Ask them how the specialist helped them in their particular case and make sure that they give you all the details on their lawyer and their legal expertise. This will give you a sense of comfort with the lawyer’s services and help further ensure that ideal professional is found in a consolidated timeframe.
6. Not booking a free consultation first
Before even choosing the lawyer and acquiring their services, make sure you have the option of booking a free consultation with them. During this free consultation you’ll have the opportunity to discuss their services and speak with them about your case. This opportunity will allow you to learn more on the case and the unique options available to you in determining your level of compensation for your injury.
Take the time now to review your service options alongside a trusted personal injury lawyer. Review the experts in your area now to make the right choice.