Top Five Things You Should Know Before Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer

By Casey W. Stevens, Personal Injury Lawyer

The other day I was watching television and on came an advertisement for a national law firm. The theme of the ad was “When it comes to hiring a personal injury law firm, size does matter.” I was amused by their claim because I have always agreed! Now I don’t agree that “bigger is better” by any means. When it comes to a personal injury law firm, it is the experience and reputation that matters. Herein lies the problem. When you hire a national personal injury mega-firm, you immediately become a commodity… just a number. You will be assigned a case manager and an attorney, and it could be anyone. It could be a new associate. It could be one close to retirement. It could be an attorney who is just hanging out until a better offer comes through. The bottom line is, you would be no better off than if you were to throw a dart at a page in an old phone book. If you want to know the truth about how a mega-firm is run, go to the Glass Door website and read what former employees say.

Tips for Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer

1. Beware of Law Firms that “do it all”.
2. Find a law firm that specializes in what you need.
3. Know who will be handling your case, and check their reputation.
4. Communication is key. Understand the process before you hire.
5. Payment should never be upfront.

Stay Away From the Jack of all Trades Law Firms

I cannot recall how many times I have gotten a panicked call from a frustrated person claiming their lawyer “has done nothing” with their case. Or they didn’t know what to do with their case. Let’s just say it happens a lot. Sadly, sometimes it is too late for me to help them because important deadlines have been missed. For instance, the statute of limitations to file a lawsuit in a personal injury case in the State of Georgia is two years. Miss that date and your ability to collect on a claim is over. If you were injured in a car accident, please don’t trust your cousin’s divorce lawyer to handle your case.

Find a Firm that Specializes in What You Need

So, you were injured. You are looking for a lawyer. But what kind of lawyer do you need? Every personal injury lawyer should specialize in different types of law. Were you injured on the job? You will probably need a worker’s compensation lawyer. Were you injured by a medical provider? Your best bet is with an experienced medical malpractice attorney. Even accident attorneys can specialize in different types of cases. For instance, not every car accident lawyer is an expert in maritime law that is applied in boating accident cases. Not every property negligence attorney can handle commercial trucking accident cases where the National Highway Traffic Safety Regulations are applied. When you are researching lawyers, make sure have a clear understanding of their expertise. Casey W. Stevens Law: Alpharetta Personal Injury and Car Accident Lawyers specializes in personal injury and wrongful death law in the areas of personal and commercial vehicle accidents, recreational vehicle accidents such as boats, golf carts, and ATVs, unsafe private and commercial properties, and daycare and nursing home negligence. When we are presented with a case for worker’s compensation and medical malpractice, we partner with attorneys who are experts in those fields.

Reputation Matters

Going back to my introduction of this blog post, size matters, and reputation matters. That attorney you see on the television? They will likely not be handling your case. When researching a lawyer, make sure that they will be the one handling your case. Look at reviews carefully. Make sure those reviews are from actual clients who give details about their experience working with the attorney YOU want to hire. 

Communication is Key

Casey W. Stevens Law: Alpharetta Personal Injury and Car Accident Lawyers is known not only for our case outcomes but we are also known for our stellar communication. We start with a complimentary consultation with prospective clients. We spell out the case handling process and timeline from beginning to end. We relay to our clients what the strengths and hurdles of their case are, and ensure we are set up to manage and meet their expectations. Then as the case progresses, we provide our clients copies of every correspondence sent and received on their case, so they will have confidence we are working hard for them. We always return calls.

What Does it Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?

The benefit of hiring an experienced accident lawyer is that you don’t pay upfront. We cover all of the costs of experts and our time until the case is resolved. The expenses are paid out of the settlement once the payment is received.

If you have been injured in an accident, we’re here to help! Call us today for a free case evaluation. We serve those who were injured in accidents in the State of Georgia. If we cannot help you, we’ll be happy to direct you to someone who will. 

Alpharetta – Atlanta – Canton – Woodstock – Dawsonville

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