What to Know About Personal Injury Lawyers

Suffering the physical effects of an injury can be life-changing. Coupled with the mountain of expenses and the infinite complexity of personal injury law, and suddenly you find yourself in an entirely different, confusing new world. Thankfully, there are experts who can help you to navigate this new world of personal injury, your personal injury attorney. However, this begs a few questions. How to find the right one? What will they do for me? What are the costs? How does the process work?

To find the right attorney involves more than simply calling the 1-800 number that flashes on the television screen during those advertisements that we all know and love. A good place to start is actually word of mouth. Ask your friends and family for referrals. Contact your local state bar association. Ask your doctor (really!).

Once you get a list of potential lawyers, don't just jump at the first one who says you have a case. Most will offer free initial consultations. Take advantage of these to interview prospective lawyers. Find out how many cases they've won and lost. Most lawyers specialize in one or two specific areas of law, so be sure that personal injury is their area of expertise.

Although no one works for free, most personal injury lawyers may work for what's referred to as a "contingency fee". In other words, if you don't win, they don't get paid. In many cases, an attorney may ask for 30 to 40 percent of the amount awarded by a court judgment.

However, there are additional case expenses, which are not covered by the contingency fee and which are charged to you, usually at the resolution of a case. These include fees for obtaining medical records, expert witnesses, exhibits such as photograph enlargement, etc. The important thing is to make sure that you understand the attorney's fee system up front, during the initial interview.

Be prepared to provide all of the history leading up to your injury, treatment received, doctor's names, and any other details surrounding the incident.

Once a final decision is made, and you've retained the services of a particular lawyer, the process of making your personal injury claim begins. Don't expect results overnight, as the process can be lengthy. Some cases can go on for years. Knowing and accepting this ahead of time can go a long way to staving off a lot of the frustration that can come up during this process.

On a positive note, your lawyer may be able to settle your case out of court, which can be much faster and more inexpensive way (for you!) to go.

Ultimately, no one likes to suffer an injury, particularly when it's someone else's fault. Keep in mind that if someone is at fault, then it is their responsibility to re-compensate you for damages, which can include financial and even emotional damages. By retaining a qualified, knowledgeable attorney who is familiar with this aspect of the law, you are far more likely to prevail, win your case, and receive an appropriate settlement.

Getting yourself out of a sticky situation is easy with the best personal injury lawyer beside you. However, before you choose an attorney to represent you, there are things that you need to know about the lawyer to make sure that your case is in safe hands.

Visit Bailey and Partners at http://www.baileypartners.com and let us help you.

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