If you were hurt because of another person, would you know what to look for to hire an attorney? Below, our friends at Herschensohn Law Firm, PLLC discuss the six criteria to help you make the right decision in hiring an attorney.
Look For Experience
When you’re looking for the right attorney to help you, the first thing you must do is look for someone with experience. Experience doesn’t necessarily mean how long the attorney has practice. Rather, it is based more on how much experience the lawyer has with the type of claim that you have. For example, if your claim involves a catastrophic injury, you will want a lawyer who is experienced in such claims. You wouldn’t want to hire an attorney who only handles slip and falls or car crash.
Ask For Referrals From Your Friends
If any of your friends or even family members have to hire a personal injury attorney, ask for a referral. Referrals are often a great choice. However, even if you’re given a referral, you should still use the tips here to help you determine if that attorney is a good match for you.
Check Their Online Reviews
Keep in mind that some online reviews need to be taken with a grain of salt. What you’re looking for is how many people were satisfied with the service they received. You can check:
- Yelp
- Avvo
- Lawyers.com
- Google Reviews
- The Bar Association in their state
Watch For Certifications & Awards
It’s not fully necessary to ask about certifications and awards. Most lawyers list their certifications on their website.
Ask About The Lawyer’s Retainer Agreement.
Most car accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing upfront. The retainer agreement will tell you whether you’ll be responsible for certain costs after the claim is concluded. You may be responsible for reimbursing fees like court fees, expert witnesses and charges for retrieving medical and other records.
It’s also important to understand how the attorney bills their time. They may charge you for every phone call or meeting. You may find it is more cost efficient to talk with the attorney’s Legal Assistant or paralegal.
You should also understand fee agreement. How much will the lawyer receive payment if your claim is successful? It can range from 33-45%, depending on the type of case and when it resolves, e.g. at trial or before filing a lawsuit.
Hire With Certainty
We hope these six tips help find and hire the right lawyer! Happy researching!
