How to Choose a Personal Injury Lawyer
If you have been injured in an accident that is another party's fault, you may need a personal injury lawyer. This will be a battle between you and an insurance company that most probably spends millions of dollars on high-caliber lawyers, who will do everything to give you the smallest compensation possible. That is why you need a legal expert who will fight for your rights and interests, making sure get the highest compensation possible.
Then again, not all personal injury lawyers are the same. Some are simply better than the others, so you would like to spend time to research the background of the lawyer you're considering before you actually hire them. The question is, what are the things you should consider when hiring a personal injury attorney?
Practice Record
Once you have a few prospects (personal referrals are always the best way to find them), check with your state's bar if these lawyers on your list have been subject to disciplinary action. Needless to say, you'd like a lawyer who is totally clean.
Relevant Experience and Track Record
Perhaps the most important point to consider when hiring a McAllen personal injury attorney from Patino & Assoc. is his experience. While there are many new and promising lawyers out there, you can't beat a veteran who breathes and lives his practice. Still, you don't just want any experienced personal injury lawyer out there. You need someone who is experienced in the type of case that you have.
For example, if your injuries were from a car accident, look for a lawyer who has spent at least 90% of his practice defending victims of car accidents. Not only that. You would like to know how many of the lawyer's past cases he has won. Most certainly, that will matter. For more facts and info regarding personal injury lawyers, you can go to http://www.ehow.com/how_4796798_fire-personal-injury-attorney.html.
Court Experience
When you want an insurance company to pay you for your losses as an accident victim, they will move hell and high water to keep this amount to a minimum. That is why you need a lawyer who has substantial court experience. If the insurer wants to fight your claim, a court-savvy lawyer will know how to take your case right there with a judge in such a way boosts your chances of winning and finally getting the award you're aiming for.
Chemistry
Remember that working with a lawyer requires that you spend a significant amount of time with them. So if you're not comfortable with someone, no matter how stellar his performance, he will not be right for you. Click here for more info about personal injury lawyers.
Communication
There's nothing worse than working with a lawyer who never returns your calls or emails on time. If the injuries you sustained from the accident had been life-changing, it can be very frustrating to have an attorney who never seems to be there. It's important that you know how your prospective lawyer handles these things, especially on the matter of updating you regarding the progress of your case.
Personal injury lawyers are rarely paid by the hour, which is the standard for hiring other lawyers. Instead, they are given a portion of the money you are awarded by the court when you win your case. In short, if you lose your case, you won't have to pay your attorney. That means when looking for a personal injury lawyer, don't worry about the fees. You may have to shell out some cash for miscellaneous expenses though, such as processing certain documents.