How to Select a Personal Injury Attorney: 10 Tips to Jump-Start the Selection Process By Rex Bush At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Getting injured in an accident is a miserable experience. Don't be a victim twice by hiring the wrong lawyer. Here are some tips to safely navigate the process.

1. Testimonials

Read the testimonials in his advertising. Do they sound authentic? Or are they attempting to create an unrealistic picture.

2. Certification

Is the lawyer certified in personal injury in the state where he practices. Many states don't have certification but for those who do it is an opportunity for a lawyer to gain special expertise in his chosen field.

3. Limited Number of Practice Areas

Go with a lawyer who works exclusively in personal injury or who has at most two areas of practice.

4. Published Works

Has the lawyer published books or articles on personal injury subjects? It takes work to research and write a technical article on injury law. And it helps a lawyer develop expertise in his chosen area.

5. Speaking Engagements

If the injury lawyer has spoken to lawyers on the subject of injury law that's a great sign that he has a successful reputation among fellow lawyers.

6. Bar Service

Activity in state or national bar associations shows a lawyers willingness to give back to the community.

7. Representative Cases

Has the lawyer handled a high profile case? You want to know that the attorney you are considering has been successful. Lawyers who handle high profile cases have usually already distinguished themselves in some way before getting that "big" case. It's evidence of success.

8. What claims does the lawyer make about his service?

Claims like "we answer the phone" don't cut it. You expect him to answer the phone. However, more personalized claims can give clues about what the lawyer and his firm consider important. Here are some that, if true, carry some meaning:

a. We return client phone calls within 24 hours.

b. We utilize a "team approach" in our firm.

c. We provide you the cell phone number of the lawyer assigned to your case (this shows an unusually high degree of dedication).

d. We speak Spanish, or Italian or Greek.

e. We offer weekend and evening appointments (at my firm we've found that clients who insist on late evening or weekend appointments don't make good clients so we don't offer this service but if you absolutely can't make it on a weekday then this service will be critical for you.

f. We have 20 years experience (there's no substitute for experience in the injury business as experience translates into getting the best possible dollar on the client's case).

g. We provide help on property damage claims (some injury firms won't touch a property damage claim and this can be a problem if you get offered a clearly inadequate sum for your totaled Suzuki Samurai).

h. We offer home and hospital visits if you are unable to travel because of your injuries.

9. Personality

From his website you should be able to gather some clues as to what this lawyer is like. Are there photographs of the lawyer? Has he shared why he became a lawyer? Has she described cases that were important to her?
Has the lawyer been involved in the community? Are there inspirational quotes on the site that help to define the lawyer's values? What do the testimonials say about the lawyer?

10. Guarantees

Lawyers are not permitted by their rules of ethics to make specific promises about the outcome of a case. However, they can guarantee a prompt response to your request for information. What about guaranteeing that there are no upfront costs?

Summary

With a little bit of care in perusing the qualifications and characteristics of your prospective injury lawyer, you have a much better chance of picking one who will work well with you and get you the result you are hoping for.

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