If you’ve been the victim of a personal injury, then you may want to hire a lawyer to take on your case. This professional can manage all aspects of a personal injury claim or simply provide professional guidance on settling it yourself. A personal injury law firm is a good way to get started but you need to ensure that you want an experienced professional that you feel comfortable working with.
Simply being a Charlotte personal injury lawyer though doesn’t mean that you’re right for the job. If you’re in the market for this type of professional, there are some guidelines to use to find the best fit for your case.
Choosing the Right Personal Injury Law Firm In Charlotte, NC
Whether you’re deciding on a firm or a lawyer in Charlotte, NC to argue your case, it’s best to sit down with the lawyer and discuss your claim as well as options to handle it moving forward. Make sure to bring copies of any documents that you have regarding your claim. This can include the police report, medical expenses, correspondence with your insurance company, and other related documents. Most personal injury firms do not charge for initial consultation. This consultation will be fairly short but can give you an idea if this professional is the right fit for your needs.
Consider Background and Experience
Find out more about the lawyer and the firm’s background and experience. It’s a good idea to check how long they’ve been practicing to get an idea of how experienced the lawyer is in general. Age doesn’t always mean experience as some people do become lawyers later in life. Review how much of the practice works on personal injury cases. Some firms may specialize in this, giving them valuable experience while others may handle a relatively few number each year. Ask if the lawyer most often represents plaintiffs or defendants in their work. Finally, determine whether or not the lawyer has experience with your insurance company.
An experienced firm will be able to answer these questions thoroughly and will understand why you’ve asked them as well. Discussing experience and qualifications is the first way to determine if the firm is the right choice for your case.
Who Will Work on the Case
In almost every law practice, multiple lawyers may work together on cases. In general, younger attorneys and paralegals will handle routine tasks and often work with more senior members for more complicated cases or certain parts of some cases. This can benefit you if the work gets done more efficiently then if you have to wait for the attention of the more experienced attorneys. Also, if you’re paying by the hour, having a newer lawyer may benefit you from a cost savings perspective. Depending on the complexity of the case though, you may need to have a more senior lawyer involved. It’s always a good idea to discuss who will be covering your case. If you want someone more experienced, don’t be afraid to ask for this but know that you may be paying more.
In general, law firms don’t want to lose cases so they will likely match the lawyer up with a case they know they can win. This means that if you have a less experienced lawyer, your case may be fairly straightforward. However, always verify this information before deciding.
Review Lines of Communication
The communication between you and your lawyer is an important aspect of choosing this professional. Take note of how well the lawyer listens to you and how well he or she explains. Do you get the sense that the lawyer will keep you informed and get your input before making important decisions?
You should also ask the lawyer about how communication works. A good lawyer may not need to update you constantly but should be able to give you regular updates as needed. They should also have an idea of how easily they can be reached. Some lawyers are easily accessible and others may be very difficult to reach or slow to respond. Your ability to communicate well though is important so you should review this with the lawyer before deciding on one.
Review the Settlement Goal
After you’ve discussed the facts of the case and the history of your negotiations with the insurance company, the lawyer should have a general idea of how much the case is worth and how difficult or easy it will be to get an injury claim settlement in that range. This is when you should review the different ways that the lawyer can approach your case and if they would be willing to handle it in the method you prefer.
Not all cases need to go to trial, so your lawyer may recommend a few different options such as the following:
* Obtaining a settlement amount with as few costs and hassle as possible
* Obtaining any amount more than what the insurance company has already offered you
* Obtaining as much as possible no matter how long it takes
You may have a certain method you’d prefer to handle the case but if your potential lawyer disagrees, this isn’t always a bad thing. If wanting to approach the case from a different perspective, then it may be best to ask the lawyer why they think that method is best. They should be able to provide you with a clear answer and rationale. An experienced lawyer will likely want to choose the option that seems most appropriate for each case and their expertise can be valuable.
Consider Your Options
Now that you have an idea of how to go about choosing a lawyer, it’s best to decide on the right fit for you. Most people find that they’re able to find a personal injury lawyer or law firm near them that they work with well. Since this trusted professional can make or break your case, use these guidelines to meeting with lawyers and decide if they’re a good fit. You want your case to be in the best hands possible so don’t rush into the decision to get the best outcome.
We found a personal injury attorney in Charlotte, NC that we recommend and included their contact details below: