There are probably 10+ pages and in some larger cities maybe 20+ pages of personal injury attorney listings in any phone book. So how do you choose the right one for your case?

Personal injury cases are serious business. Sometimes they involve big trade-offs. Victims of a personal injury will depend on their attorney’s ability to recover financial damages that will be necessary to cover medical treatments, replace lost income, and hopefully compensate for pain and suffering if the person had been involved in a personal injury. very serious injury, including permanent disability and even death.

Remember, insurance companies don’t want to see you happy. They don’t care about you. They are more concerned with paying a dividend to their shareholders than with their welfare. The insurance company’s attorneys will seek to pay you as little as possible. Therefore, choosing a good personal injury lawyer with a good track record of successful negotiations is essential to getting the most out of your case.

Personal injury cases can include car accidents, product defects, workplace physical injuries, medical malpractice, to name just a few. To make sure your case is valid in the eyes of the law, contact a legal professional in your city.

Here are some tips to help you find a good personal injury lawyer.

Experience – Of course, a highly experienced personal injury lawyer, and not just years of practice, but a track record of a favorable number of successful negotiations is a great benefit to your case. Most personal injury claims are settled out of court. But a personal injury lawyer with a fair amount of settlements can win your case if he threatens to take the case to trial. Defendants are often willing to pay plaintiffs more money to avoid negative publicity, costly lawsuits, and even the possibility of the court awarding plaintiffs more money. If your personal injury attorney has never won cases in court, the defendant in your lawsuit may not take the threat seriously.

Get a personal injury attorney to take your case on a contingency fee basis – This is a fee charged at the end of the case and only if your case is successful. This means that your attorney does not get paid unless you get paid. Lawyers who primarily represent people in accidents typically charge a contingency fee. Your lawyer will deduct the fees from the money you receive for your injuries. You can expect your attorney to walk away with around 30% of your final settlement. Therefore, it is essential that you clearly understand the payment structure before signing the retainer agreement.

Face-to-face meeting with your future lawyer – Your personal injury attorney will be your closest advisor. She must feel comfortable talking to him or her and feel that she can trust them. If for some reason you don’t like that particular lawyer and don’t feel comfortable talking to him or her, you should keep looking.

Martindale–Hubbell Rating – With a history spanning more than 133 years, Martindale-Hubbell Legal Network has a database of more than one million lawyers and law firms in 160 countries. This service evaluates lawyers based on peer reviews. Their website, Martindale.com, has a helpful lawyer locator service and will explain the rating system.

And last but not least – never, ever, give a recorded statement or speak on the phone (as the phone conversation may be recorded) to a representative of the defendant or the insurance company until you first consult with your personal injury attorney. If prompted, you can simply say, “I’m not prepared to provide any statement at this time.” A recorded statement from you could and will be used as evidence against you in settlement negotiations and at trial if you overlooked any facts or missed details in giving the statement.

Disclaimer: The author and publisher of this article have made every effort to provide you with useful, informative, and accurate information. This article does not represent or replace the legal advice you need to obtain from a lawyer or other professional if the content of the article involves an issue you are facing. Laws vary from state to state and change from time to time. Always consult with a qualified professional before making any decisions on the issues described in this article. Thanks.