Mistakes People Make When Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer
After you receive treatment for injuries you sustain from an accident, your next call should be to a personal injury lawyer. Without legal representation, you could miss out on financial compensation you are entitled to. This compensation is critical to paying for medical care and other support for yourself and your family. Not all personal injury practices are the same, and neither are their lawyers. Here are the most common mistakes to avoid when choosing a personal injury lawyer:
Hiring a lawyer with little experience
Personal injury law is a specialized field, and you should be sure to select a lawyer that can represent you at the highest level. Your case will not go well if a well-seasoned lawyer is representing the other side, and a rookie is representing you. Experience and quality go hand in hand, so you will not get far with a lawyer that has less of a track record of success. You cannot gain experience as a lawyer - you must earn it, and an experienced personal injury lawyer will have proven their mettle over time.
Hiring a lawyer with hidden fees
The cost of a lawyer should be upfront and easy to understand. Any firm or lawyer that tries to hide their fees does not have your best interests at heart. The last thing you need to be thinking about after suffering a severe injury is surprise expenses. Make sure the lawyer you retain is forthcoming about how their fees are structured.
Paying too little or too much
The cost of losing your case can be higher than the cost of the legal fees. Be prepared to pay for the best legal representation or risk losing it all. Successful personal injury lawyers do not earn most of their fee unless they win their cases. Your lawyer should always represent your best interests, but investing more money in them can give them extra motivation. It also proves that you have faith in their ability to win your case. Do not balk at a higher fee because it means your lawyer has confidence in your case and is willing to put in that much more work to ensure you win.
Picking someone you do not like
You should not retain a lawyer that you do not feel comfortable with. This does not mean you need to want to be best friends with your lawyer, but you should feel confident in their abilities. Your case rests on you being comfortable enough to tell your lawyer everything, honestly and openly. If you do not feel confident telling them every detail, then they are not the right lawyer for you. Your lawyer should answer any questions you have and keep you informed on a regular basis. Lawsuits are complicated and frustrating, and even more so if your lawyer does not keep you informed.
Using a trial-shy lawyer
Most personal injury cases do not go to trial because it is often in the best interests of both parties to settle. That being said, the lawyer you choose should not be afraid of appearing before a courtroom. A lawyer who is confident about their abilities to win a trial will give you more negotiating power should your case go to trial.
Hiring the right lawyer is the difference between winning and losing your case. Do not get yourself unjustly buried in a mountain of debt - call Verhaeghe Law Office today.