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What to Look For in a Personal Injury Lawyer: 5 Biggest Factors
Navigating the legal system after a personal injury is complex, confusing, and frustrating. And while it’s essential to have a personal injury attorney on your side, choosing the right lawyer for your unique case needs is vital.
Being injured in an accident is one of the most stressful things you’ll deal with. Between painful recoveries, lost wages, pain and suffering, medical bills, and disability, the financial losses and recovery can take a significant toll on your well-being.
The legal system is there to protect you when things go wrong. Still, it’s a complex web of rules and procedures that can be difficult to manage, especially with insurance companies working hard to minimize the payouts they give you.
But with so many lawyers out there, how do you choose the right personal injury lawyer near me?
Our expert legal team with 60+ years of experience advocating for victims will walk you through the critical factors to consider as you select a personal injury lawyer in Hamilton, Brantford, and beyond.
#1: Specialization and Experience
Personal injury law is so complex and varied that lawyers rarely practice a one-size-fits-all approach. Most Hamilton attorneys build unique knowledge and experience in an area of specialty and learn to use every detail to help fight for their clients. A car accident lawyer understands Ontario’s no-fault insurance law, for example, and slip and fall lawyers have a vast depth of knowledge on premises liability law.
During your consultation, you should also ask any potential lawyers about their specialized experience, their years of experience in that specialty, and any specific challenges they see in your case.
Beyond their years of experience, you want to determine their success rate in the specialty required to fight your case. Ask how many million-dollar settlements they’ve handled and their win rate across every case they’ve managed. Compare that rate and the settlements secured with any other lawyers you’re considering.
#2: Fee Structure and Transparency
Personal injury law is very different from other legal proceedings because most lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. If you secure a business lawyer, for example, you usually pay a retainer or hourly rate based on their services, but injury attorneys and critical illness lawyers only charge you a percentage of your fees if you win your case. If you don’t get a settlement, you don’t pay them.
Contingency fees give clients peace of mind that they won’t dig into even more debt and face a dangerous financial situation if they lose their case. In that way, contingency helps every victim fight for their rights because the costs aren’t detrimental; you either get something or pay nothing.
There’s a lot of variation between contingency fees and payments, so vet your attorney by asking about their rates. Understand the percentage of the settlement they’ll take and any other relevant fees like court filing or expert witness costs. A devoted attorney will share these fees transparently and outline fees in a clear, written agreement to avoid miscommunications.
Don’t shop for an attorney by price alone because a stronger attorney may secure a stronger settlement and put more money back into your pocket. Have a clear understanding of fees and use them as one factor in your decision, not the only factor.
#3: Communication & Accessibility
A lawyer may make big promises to win, but you want someone who will walk with you to the finish line rather than leave you in the dark. The journey can be stressful and confusing, and most victims aren’t familiar with the legal system until they’re pushed into it after a catastrophic accident, so look for personal injury lawyers who take a client-first approach to communicate and empower you through the journey.
Your consultation can say so much about a lawyer’s ability to communicate. Look for a lawyer who actively listens to your concerns, explains terms and approaches in a way you understand, and can speak on how much they’ll communicate at specific milestones and proactively update you. In the modern world, lawyers using multiple communication touchpoints like secure online portals, email, phone, in-person, video conferencing, and more have a solid system to stay in touch and put client convenience first.
If a personal injury lawyer gives you vague answers, it could be a sign of miscommunications and frustrations to come.
#4: Compassion, Comfort, & Trust
While choosing a lawyer for personal injury is a legal decision, emotion should play some role in your decision. Personal injury claims can be a drain on you mentally, physically, and emotionally, and your lawyer will be there through the most challenging times. You need someone who has compassion and genuinely cares for your well-being. Compassionate lawyers understand the challenges you face, advocate for you and ensure your best interests are met at every step.
These cases are difficult, so you want a lawyer you feel comfortable sharing with and trust enough to share your honest experiences.
If you think your lawyer sees you as nothing but another potential paycheck or you fail to connect emotionally with them, it’s best to move on until you find the right fit.
#5: Resources and Reviews
You’ll likely need resources beyond your lawyer to support your case, so look for a lawyer for injury with the right connections and resources to solidify your argument. Ask lawyers about their resource network, including medical experts, private investigators, accident reconstruction specialists, and other professionals who can provide valuable evidence and credible testimony.
Beyond great resources, look at reviews from previous clients. Don’t trust the reviews on the website alone, but look to third-party resources that are more likely to be unbiased. Check the Law Society of Ontario database to ensure the lawyer is in good standing and review a history of any disciplinary actions or complaints against them.
Find this important information and injury attorneys near me at the Law Society of Ontario’s website.
The Morris Law Group—Personal Injury Law Office Hamilton
Rushing to choose an accident lawyer could mean a smaller settlement or a denial of your claims. Choose a lawyer with the expertise, experience, compassion, and credibility to advocate for you in the fight of your life.
At the Morris Law Group, our personal injury lawyer attorney team is ready to help you through your personal injury claim. We’re health and legal advocates who help you navigate complex insurance and legal systems for the best outcomes possible. Request a free consultation with our lawyers personal injury, or call us at 905-526-8080 to learn more.
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