Serious—potentially even catastrophic—injuries occur every day. Each year, nearly 100 million Americans visit the emergency room for the treatment of accidental injuries. And when these injuries are caused by another person’s negligent or reckless behavior, the injured person may need the services of a personal injury law firm to recover the compensation they’re owed.
If you or a loved one has been injured through someone else’s actions, you may wonder where to turn for help. Choosing the right injury law firm can be crucial when it comes to quickly resolving your claim for the highest recovery possible. Below are five key factors to consider when choosing an injury law firm.
Personal Injury Experience
One of the first and most important factors to consider when choosing an injury firm is the breadth and depth of its personal injury experience. Just like you wouldn’t go to a podiatrist to discuss digestive issues, a full-service attorney may not be the best choice to handle an injury claim. Instead, you want a law firm with extensive experience handling cases like yours, with a track record of wins (or successful settlements) to prove it.
Not only can this experience help your law firm handle your claim more efficiently and effectively, but an experienced injury law firm can also carry a reputation—especially helpful when dealing with opposing counsel or insurance companies that process a large number of injury claims.
Questions to Ask:
- How many personal injury or wrongful death jury trials has your firm handled?
- Who will be handling my case, and how many personal injury claims have they handled?
- Are there any areas of personal injury law your firm specializes in?
- Has your firm won any awards?
- Have you received recognition within the personal injury field?
Fee Structure
One of the most common questions personal injury clients have involves attorney compensation. Most personal injury firms work on a contingency fee arrangement, which means the firm is only paid if the client recovers damages, either through a settlement or jury award. Before you sign a representation agreement, it’s important to thoroughly understand the firm’s fee structure.
Questions to Ask:
- What fees are charged?
- Does the contingency fee percentage include additional litigation fees and costs, or are they billed separately?
- What fees am I responsible for paying if I refuse a settlement offer and then lose at trial?
References, Reviews, and Reputation
Though you should always check the law firm’s website itself to ensure that it is professional and authoritative, it’s a good idea to do a deeper dive on the firms you’re considering—after all, most law firms aren’t going to post bad reviews on their own website. Check third-party websites, message boards, social media pages, and other resources to learn more about the client experience and to obtain more objective references and reviews.
Another valuable source of information about the law firm you’re considering is first-hand references. Ask those you know—and ask them to ask those they know—if they have any experience with a particular firm or can recommend one.
Questions to Ask:
- Can you provide names or contact information for clients I can talk to?
- How would you describe your firm’s litigation style?
Location
Many personal injury firms are located in cities but cover an expansive geographic area. Other law firms have a nationwide presence, hiring local attorneys as part of the major firm umbrella.
Ideally, your law firm will be located close to where you’re litigating the case. Although it’s possible to choose an out-of-state firm to handle a claim in your home state, these attorneys may need to seek temporary admission—and what’s more, they may not be as familiar with your state’s laws and procedures as local counsel.
Questions to Ask:
- Where are most of your clients located?
- How long have your attorneys practiced in this state?
Communication Style
“A relationship with a personal injury firm is a two-way street—and this includes communication,” says Curtis C Osborne, attorney specializing in personal injury at Osborne Law Firm. “Even if a firm has top ratings and regularly recovers significant judgments, if your communication styles don’t mesh, you may find it hard to develop the level of trust you need for a successful relationship.”
Some people may prefer a more hands-off method, only receiving communication from their law firm when there’s been a development in the case. Others may prefer a law firm that has an after-hours number where they can have their questions answered quickly, no matter what time they come up. Ultimately, there’s no right answer when it comes to the “right” level of injury law firm communication, which is why it’s important to discuss these issues before you sign a representation agreement.
Questions to Ask:
- What’s the best way to get in touch when I have a question?
- Are you OK answering questions as they come up, or do you prefer a more structured way of communicating?
- Will you provide regular updates about my case?
- Do you have after-hours numbers?
- Are there other attorneys who can help you if your primary attorney isn’t available?
- How long does it usually take your firm to respond to emails?
