What to Look for in a Personal Injury Attorney?
You are more likely to get more in compensation when you hire an attorney as opposed to representing yourself against insurance adjusters equipped with time-tested training, a seemingly unlimited amount of resources, and proven intimidation tactics. Unless your case is an easy, straightforward one, representing yourself is an uphill battle. An attorney, however, can make all the difference. It gives you, among other things, some leverage. But not any attorney will do.
You need a personal injury attorney in Los Angeles who possesses specific qualities aligned with your interests, your case, and your goals. Here, we provide an overview of what qualities to look for in an attorney and how those qualities may align with your specific goals, which are namely two-fold: (1) the most in compensation; and (2) a settlement or verdict in the least amount of time. These two goals can sometimes work against each other, but a smart attorney will know.
Experience
Experience is similar but not the same as a specialization in personal injury law. You want to look for quite a few different things that can testify to an attorney’s experience.
First, you want to know if the attorney has specific experience with your type of personal injury case. There are many different sub-groups of personal injury cases, like:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Boat accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bus accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Scooter accidents
- Ride-share accidents
- Bicycling accidents
- Premise liability
- Slip and fall cases
- Medical malpractice
- Birth injuries
- Product defects
- Dog bites
- Animal attacks
- Defamation
- Emotional distress
- Other personal injury cases.
An attorney may focus the bulk of his or her experience in auto accidents and may have never touched another type of personal injury case. Maybe you want to sue for defamation––an auto accident attorney won’t have the insight and knowledge of the law as a lawyer who routinely represents clients in defamation cases.
Second, you want to know the ratio of cases won versus those that lost and what the attorney’s definition of a win or loss is. You can also ask about the compensation the attorney has won for clients in similar situations. Experience with successful cases can be an indicator of how well your case may move along.
Third, you want to know if the attorney has proven trial experience. Though most personal injury cases settle before trial, some cases will require a trial. But more than that, an attorney with trial experience isn’t afraid of trial as some attorneys may be. Attorneys acquire a reputation among insurance adjusters. The latter keeps track of attorneys who try to settle at all costs so that they do not have to go to trial. This sometimes means that the adjuster has an advantage and can settle for less than for what’s fair and just. So, though your case may never see the inside of a court, let alone a trial, it still holds true that a personal injury attorney experienced in litigation can help you in more than the obvious ways.
Fourth, experience doesn’t have to mean big budget advertisements but can best be found in an attorney who chooses his or her cases wisely; cases that develop his skillsets as well as allow him or her to best apply his or her skills and knowledge. So, the experience is not the same as a personal injury mill where attorneys churn out personal injury cases like hens lay eggs.
Why does experience matter?
Experience matters because with it follow knowledge, insight, skills, and expertise. The experience opens doors and creates room for opportunity. It is what allows an attorney to negotiate better, to investigate better, to assess damages better, to communicate better. All of these and more will mean a better outcome for you and your recovery. You get one opportunity with your personal injury case, so you don’t want to ruin it by choosing inexperience over experience.
Do you really need a personal injury lawyer with extensive experience?
You do. Experience doesn’t have to mean years in law. It simply means the attorney has had ample opportunities to build and develop his or her skills and capabilities to help you. An attorney with five years’ experience could be the right attorney for you if his or her experience is specific to your needs. On the other hand, an attorney who takes the same cases and argues the same arguments, even with ten years of experience as a personal injury lawyer, may not always have the “experience” you need for your case. This type of attorney keeps options closed and professional development limited. Therefore, you need help to find the most suitable attorney for your legal matter, and to have a personalized approach based on your specific needs.
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Personalized Service
Personalized service is something you think you get from a shop or another type of merchant. But you also deserve it from your personal injury attorney. Your claim or lawsuit is not the same as anyone else’s even if it is similar to other cases. Plus, you likely have never been in a position to need a personal injury or another lawyer before. Personalized service means you get representation specific to your needs and case. It also means that you should have direct contact with your attorney.
Personal injury cases are just that: highly personal. What happens during or to your case directly affects you and your recovery. Whether your injury is minor or catastrophic, you need to know what’s going on and you need to have a say in it. To determine if an attorney offers personalized service, don’t trust his or her word for it, look at these things:
1. Client reviews––one of the first things former or current clients will say about their attorney is whether or not they were personable, compassionate, or understanding.
2. First contact––how were or are you treated during the initial consultation? Did they show any kind of care for you? Did the attorney actively listen to what you had to say? Were the details of your case considered or were you hushed by the swipe of a hand or interrupted repeatedly.
3. Thoroughness––Were policies clearly explained to you?
4. Communication––Were you advised how, when, why, and who would contact you? How long will it take for you to get a response?
5. Technology––advancements in technology occur regularly, and a lawyer or law firm keeping up to date with technology means they have the resources, they care, and they want to provide the best services to you.
6. Commitment––You don’t get personalized service when the attorney or law firm could care less about your case and more about their own paycheck.
Why does personalized service matter?
Personalized service is a right. It is about ethics though so many attorneys today do not offer it. They fail to communicate. They fail to assess your case and customize arguments, damages, and strategy accordingly. They fail to see you as a unique individual in a unique situation with unique injuries and damages. Personalized service makes sure you get compassion, communication, and commitment.
Do you really need personalized service from a personal injury attorney?
You do. Personal injury cases are different from any other type of legal matter: they are personal in the most personal sense of the word. Without personalized service, your case gets the same attention (or lack of attention) as any other case.
Specialization
When an attorney focuses on a field, say 80% or more of his or her cases are within one law practice (e.g., personal injury law, criminal law, estates and trusts, family law, etc.), then it indicates the attorney must have a pretty good handle on the law for that specific practice. Some attorneys can be easily distinguished from their peers if they are certified as a specialist or expert in one area of law.
In California, the State Bar Board of Legal Specialization certifies legal specialists in 11 practice areas. Personal injury law is not one of them. The State of California also allows a few organizations to certify lawyers in California in certain other law practices, but still––personal injury is not one except for medical malpractice, which is certified by the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys.
So, how do you know if an attorney specializes in personal injury law? It’s not easy, but you want to look at things like:
- What’s the ratio of the attorney’s cases: personal injury versus other practice areas?
- How long has the attorney been practicing personal injury law generally and in California specifically?
- What do client reviews or peer reviews say about the attorney?
- Has the attorney taken a personal injury case to court, and if so, what was the result?
- What are some successful personal injury cases and how do successful ones compare with unsuccessful cases?
These and other questions can be answered by the personal injury attorney during a free initial consultation or can be––to some extent––relatively easily discovered by a simple Google search of the attorney.
Why does specialization and practice matter?
Specialization matters because it attests to the attorney’s capabilities. Consider an attorney concentrating in personal injury law versus an attorney who practices general law. The attorney focusing primarily on personal injury law will have a portfolio full of more types of personal injury cases. The more cases the attorney has in personal injury law, the more exposure the attorney has in terms of situations and circumstances as well as problems and challenges. It provides opportunities to engage in negotiations on different levels and to build a network of experts and other professionals who may be needed in future cases. It essentially means you build a business specific to personal injury and not only personal injury law as part of your business.
Do you really need a personal injury lawyer who focuses on personal injury?
You may think you don’t necessarily need an attorney who focuses primarily on personal injury. Many personal injury cases can theoretically be handled by an attorney with a general understanding of the law so long as that attorney can research and investigate cases well enough or has the resources to have it undertaken thoroughly. If your personal injury case is straight forward, meaning you have a solid idea of the damages and liability is not questioned, you may think you do not need a specialist. Nevertheless, an attorney specializing in personal injury will be in your best interests, and will obtain much more reimbursement for your damages than a general attorney or you are able to do alone. In either case, having a free consultation for evaluating your personal situation would never hurt.
Legal Fees and Rates
Though you don’t want to focus on rates as much as you do other factors that matter with regard to strong personal injury representation, it goes without saying that attorney fees matter. In most personal injury cases, attorneys will take your case on a contingency fee basis. This means the attorney will receive a portion of your settlement or verdict award, after settlement or judgment amount is obtained on your behalf. Contingency fee rates may vary, too. You definitely want to know what that rate is. You also want to know exactly what other costs (e.g., professional fees, expert testimony costs, etc.) will be taken from the settlement or award.
Alignment
Is the attorney a good fit for you? This can sometimes be hard though it seems easy enough. If the attorney has experience in your type of case and is committed to your recovery of just and fair compensation, then it may be safe to say it’s a good fit. But what about other things, like:
- Does what the attorney says align with what and how you think your case will go?
- Do you like your attorney’s personality?
- Can you speak with ease in front of the attorney?
- Does the attorney answer your questions or put them off for another time?
- What are your goals and do they align with the attorney’s assessment?
- How do you feel about the attorney’s rates?
These and other questions can help you eliminate attorneys who may not be right for you. But if you are unsure, we can help with the vetting process. We know our attorneys and take pride in matching you with the best attorney for your situation and needs.
Follow-up & Research
Don’t take anyone’s word for it. Do your follow-up and research:
- Make sure the attorney doesn’t have any disciplinary actionsagainst him or her.
- Make sure reviews are strong and consistent with what you saw and heard.
- Make sure he or she belongs to the associations or won the awards and recognitions they claim online or in-person.
Follow-up is easy enough and takes little time but can save you a lot of heartache in the long run. But as mentioned, we also vet the attorneys we work with. So, if you don’t have the time, trust that we’ve done it already.
Ready to Retain the Right Personal Injury Attorney in Los Angeles?
If you are ready to find the right personal injury attorney, you have come to the right place. It’s what we do. We are committed to you. Our personal injury attorneys are also committed. Their collective experience, expertise, dedication, and insight is why people like you routinely come to us for help. Contact us today to ask questions or to get started finding the right personal injury attorney for you in the Los Angeles metro area.
