Put your trust in someone who knows how best to help you.
There are more than enough lawyers who would be happy to represent you, but they may not have the experience or expertise that are best suited to your specific situation. There are ways to narrow your selection and choose the attorney who brings the skills, knowledge and compassion you need.
Ask about the attorney’s legal background and the nature of the practice.
There are many “Jack of all trades” lawyers who will tell you that they handle all types of legal matters from personal injury to divorce, trusts and wills. Even self-proclaimed personal injury experts in television ads can make you tempted to call. However, you need to actually conduct your own inquiry. Ask about their actual experience with cases like yours. What percentage of their practice is devoted to personal injury? How successful have they been? What process do they follow to ensure a successful conclusion? How much experience have they had in dealing with insurance companies? What will they expect of you? What can you expect from them in return?
Find out what past clients have to say about the lawyer you’re considering.
As in most areas, past performance is a good indication of what you can expect. Don’t just ask for references, follow up with phone calls to past clients. Ask them how they were treated, how their case was handled, the outcome of their case and their overall impression about the performance of the attorney.
Meet with the attorney.
Make an appointment to meet with the attorney. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. The attorney should feel perfectly comfortable answering you. Your meeting will give you a chance to see for yourself if this is the person you want to have representing you in a court room. If this person does not impress you, imagine how it can impact the success of your claim.
*The Best Lawyers in America® 2009, 2008, 2007. Copyright 2008, 2007, 2006 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC
**CV, BV, and AV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards, and policies.
**Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell ratings fall into two categories - legal ability and general ethical standards.
