There were about 2 million car accident-related injuries in the United States in 2019. If you’ve been hurt in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence, one of the first things that you’ll want to do afterward is to find a trusted personal injury lawyer. Getting the compensation you deserve for your injuries, missed time from work, pain, and suffering is of the utmost importance.
Finding the right personal injury attorney is the most crucial part of this first step toward compensation. As such, there are a few things that you’ll need to consider when looking for the best personal injury lawyer to fit your needs.
Let’s take a look at 6 tips for finding a personal injury lawyer in Pasadena and get you on your way to financial recovery.
1. Do Thorough Research
There are so many personal injury lawyers that sometimes it can get to be confusing as far as who specializes in what area and which one to hire. You can start by asking around, reading online reviews, checking the Better Business Bureau, or doing any other research that you feel necessary.
Most importantly, make sure that you spend some time on their website while researching for a lawyer. This will help you get a feel for their credibility. You can also read or watch testimonials to hear about their successful cases and look at their qualifications and bona fides.
2. Schedule a Free Consultation
When you’re trying to hire an attorney, most personal injury lawyers will provide a free consultation to learn the specifics of your situation. During this time, you can discuss the accident details, if you have a case. Many personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, so you should ask about their legal fees.
3. Take the Attorney’s Personality Into Consideration
The relationship between a client and their personal injury lawyer is an important one because they have to be able to trust one another implicitly. If you meet with your personal injury attorney and you don’t feel comfortable with them or your personalities don’t match, it can be tough to feel confident with their services.
4. Ask About Previous Case Results
Don’t be afraid to ask about previous case results before you decide to hire a lawyer for your personal injury claim. They should have plenty of experience and some examples of cases similar to yours that can help you see their success rate, speed of case resolution, and compensation amounts so that you’ll be able to gauge what you can reasonably expect.
Learning as much as you can about their experience will go a long way in determining whether or not to hire a lawyer to represent you. While less-experienced attorneys may cost less, you might feel more comfortable hiring a higher-priced personal injury lawyer with more experience. Again, deciding on the best personal injury lawyer for you is the most important part.
5. Come Prepared to Your First Meeting
Whether your first meeting with your personal injury attorney is virtual or in person, make sure that you come prepared. Some lawyers are very highly specialized and if there is a certain aspect of your case that they are not comfortable or familiar with, so they might refer you to another attorney who is more experienced in the specific circumstances of your case.
Some things to bring or have on hand include:
- Police Report
- Driving Record
- Medical Bills
- Proof of Lost Wages/ paystubs
- Proof of Additional Related Expenses
Having these documents on hand will not only help the lawyer understand the depth of the case but how much compensation you may be seeking.
6. Make Sure They’re Willing to Go to Trial if Necessary
Many personal injury lawyers are quick to settle with insurance companies because they have a whole team of lawyers and it can feel like you may not be getting the representation that you think you should.
If you are comfortable settling for a small settlement, then it is no problem. Some personal injury attorneys have rarely if ever seen the inside of a courtroom for personal injury claims against insurance companies. However, you should take the time to make sure before you hire a lawyer that they have your best interests at heart and are willing to fight in court to get you the compensation that you deserve.
Injured in a Pasadena Auto Accident?
If you’ve been injured in a Pasadena auto accident, give Rose Accident Lawyers a call today for a free consultation. As a trusted, local personal injury lawyer, we will make sure that you get the attention that you deserve. We will fight tirelessly to help you obtain fair compensation to help you recover from your accident.