What to look For When Hiring an Injury Lawyer

If you have spent any time watching daytime television, you certainly know what it feels like to be bombarded with loud, cheaply made commercials for a variety of lawyers that want to help you with your asbestos poisoning, medical malpractice suit or accident injury. But when the time comes that you actually need an injury lawyer, how do you know which one to pick? Are the ones advertised on television any good? There are a few things you can do to ensure your suit goes smoothly.

One way is to ask around. Question your family and friends about any experiences they have had or heard of regarding personal injury suits. A family member of friend who works in a courthouse may have made a few connections that could help you out. Even someone's bad experience can steer you back in the right direction.

It is important for them to have a good reputation, but enough time to deal with your issue. A busy office can be a sign that a lawyer is well-liked and good at his or her job. But sometimes, a widely advertised lawyer takes on more work than he or she can handle and doesn't even show up to court when you are there.

Beyond other people's opinions, there are other factors to look for. Check the lawyer's website to see their qualifications, history and area of expertise. If you are shopping around for an injury lawyer, it wouldn't be wise to call on the services of a criminal defense or bankruptcy attorney. You want to find someone who has fought and (most importantly) won cases similar to the one you need taken care of.

Have they received praise and acclaim from their peers? As in most competitive professions, awards are given out to outstanding members of that particular field. An injury lawyer with a few titles, rankings and awards will be very unlikely to let you down.

Meet with them face to face. There is no obligation involved in simply meeting with an injury lawyer to discuss your case. Remember, you are picking the person with whom you are trusting with the responsibility to fight for money you need. It is absolutely OK to meet with the lawyer and ask about costs and procedures.

You can even judge a bit by his or her demeanor on the phone. This is not to say that all good lawyers are friendly, patient or even polite, but the person on the other end should sound knowledgeable and show some concern for your situation and the urge to win your case. If you contact a lawyer and continuously get sent to voicemail or the lawyer sounds rude or dismissive, you may want to ask yourself if that is the kind of person you would like to be dealing with for the next several months.