When people become involved in accidents it can be highly stressful. They often occur suddenly and unexpectedly, sending people into a state of shock. If it occurred on the road, there may be damaged vehicles and scattered debris. Worse still, people often get injured and require immediate medical treatment.
Right from the start, the involved parties try to assess what has happened and why. There may be a profuse apology or a shifting of the blame. If it seems another party has breached their duty of care or been negligent, the accident victim may be able to claim financial compensation. Because of the complexity of the law and the potential battle that could ensue, many people use personal injury lawyers to support their claims. Perhaps this is you right now, in which case this article will help you choose the most suitable attorney.
Transparency
In Oakland, California in 2019, 46 vehicles were involved in incidents, resulting in 32 deaths. Tragically, 11 of these were pedestrians. At times like these, people often make the internet their first port of call for guidance. If you visit KerleySchaffer.com you’ll learn that people want to see how much money lawyers successfully recovered from compensation claims. They desire to read what previous clients have said about them and to discover how long they have been in practice.
Accident victims also want it to be easy to gain a free consultation or to have a live chat with a professional.
Honesty About Fees
If someone has just had an accident, they may be struggling to pay their medical expenses. If they are currently not fit for work this could make things even worse.
If someone is considering employing an attorney they will want to know exactly how much it could cost them. They won’t want to be blinded by complex pricing structures or fall prey to hidden fees.
Compassion
Some accident victims suffer trauma as a result of what has occurred. There may be an uneasy time of waiting for a medical diagnosis or surgery. The individual may have been harassed by the other party’s insurance company or be struggling to prove another person was responsible.
At such a vulnerable time an attorney must be human and personable. There could be discussions about sensitive medical issues and personal finance. The client needs to feel they can relate to their attorney and that they are being listened to compassionately.
Accessibility
If a person’s lawyer lives in another state they will know little about the area in which the accident occurred. Some laws vary across the USA, so a local firm could be far superior. If your attorney works nearby, you can pop in for a chat whenever you need or to drop off important documentation.
You need to establish your required methods of communication from the very start, be it by telephone, text, or email. Define how frequently you will require updates. See if a member of staff will be your dedicated contact point and find out the hours they will be available for.
Experience
It’s uncommon to find a personal injury lawyer who can deal with any type of claim. Work-related injuries require a strong knowledge of employment law, including Workers’ Compensation. Incidents involving trucks are more complex than those involving cars. Medical negligence is a totally different arena where attorneys look for untrained or careless staff. Sports injuries are different once more and could involve faulty equipment or poor crowd control.
For this reason, most attorney websites will specify their area of specialism, be it slip and fall accidents or dog bites.
Negotiation Skills
If you read ten websites hosted by personal injury lawyers, you will be surprised how often they use the word ‘aggressive’ when discussing negotiations. This is because the party responsible for the accident will have an insurance company that doesn’t want to lose money.
If they can avoid paying out or can get away with paying less than requested, they will do so. They’ll use their own attorneys and claims adjusters to protect their interests, and seek to blind people with medical terminology wherever possible. Personal injury lawyers are fortunately adept at countering such resistance, and doggedly pursuing justice.
As we can see, the most appropriate lawyer will be the one who has all of the above competencies and qualities. Added together, they can create a force to be reckoned with in your fight for justice. As your legal advocate, you will be able to rest secure in the knowledge that they will be seeking the best possible outcome for you.