Personal injury lawyers don’t get the best reputation in the legal world as they are commonly referenced as ambulance chasers. The biggest problem that I have found is that there are some rotten apples out there that spoil it for the bunch. That is why I thought it would be good to create a list of things that you should consider before hiring a personal injury lawyer.
1. Is the Lawyer a Fast Talker?
Sometimes there is a reason that they are talking fast. Maybe they are rushing you to make a decision so that you don’t have time to ask any real questions about the viability of your case.
2. Who Does the Lawyer Represent?
Only choose a lawyer that works exclusively for injured people. If they represent insurance companies as well, you might not get a fair shake if they have a cozy relationship.
3. Did the Lawyer Guarantee the Outcome?
If the lawyer is telling you that you are definitely going to win and you should get at least so much money, you might want to run the other way. No one can predict the outcome, but it is okay to be confident.
4. Don’t Pay Ahead
If the lawyer is asking for the fees upfront they might not have the confidence to fight in court to get the maximum recovery for you. Granted that most cases are settled out of court, but disbursements are usually reimbursed to the lawyer after the case.
5. Don’t Hire the New Guy
If you haven’t seen them advertising they probably haven’t won enough cases to afford to. I’m not sayng they wouldn’t be good lawyers, but they might not have the trial experience to get you the best possbile outcome.
6. Don’t Be a Number
You want someone that calls you by name and doesn’t remember you by a file number. This is very common when you start dealing with some of the really big firms.
7. Don’t Get in the Lawyer Shuffle
At some larger firms, the lawyer that you discussed your case with might not even be the lawyer that goes to court with you. You want someone who will fight for you right from the start.
8. Hire a Lawyer That Will Inform
There are many instances that I have heard that the client is always calling the lawyer. The lawyer should always keep the client in the loop. If you have to hound your lawyer, it is not a good sign.
9. Don’t Be Bullied
Remember that you are the one in charge. You hired the lawyer and they work for you. They are paid to fight for you and respect your wishes.
10. Are They Professional?
Does the law office has a receptionist and a waiting area? Do they look like they may have one a case or two by the looks of their office? Just keep that in mind.
This list was inspired by a list on the CuperoLaw.com website. James Cupero is a personal injury attorney in Goshen NY that has been practicing law in Orange County New York since 1986 after graduating law in 1979 from Villanova Law School.