Five Things to Consider when Choosing a Personal Injury Attorney, by Chuck Philips

If you are suffering from an injury due to the fault of another, it’s important to consider the following guidelines when choosing a personal injury attorney to handle your case.

1.   Specialty
A very important factor to consider when looking for a lawyer to handle your case is finding an attorney whose main area of practice is personal injury law. The attorney you choose should have experience in the field so he or she understands the tactics involved in personal injury cases. Additionally, a lawyer who has experience in personal injury law may have gained integrity among insurance companies and thus have less to prove in order to achieve a positive resolution for his or her client.

2.   Experience
In choosing an attorney, you want to look at past practice experience in determining their ability to handle your case.  The benefit of former insurance defense experience can provide additional insight into the handling of your case because the attorney has knowledge of how insurance companies handle and evaluate cases, which can be very helpful. The attorney will also have litigation experience from the insurance companies perspective which may prove to be invaluable.

3.   Billing and Fee Structures
Personal injury lawyers usually work on a contingent-fee basis, which means the client pays for costs but only pays attorney fees if the case results in a financial recovery through settlement or verdict. Attorney fees should not be a deciding factor when choosing a personal injury attorney; however, it’s important to be familiar with the billing and fee structure.

4.   Initial Consultations
Since many lawyers offer free initial consultations to clients, you may be able to interview multiple attorneys before making your choice. It is important to choose the right attorney to handle your case in a short period of time to ensure that you don’t lose key evidence with the passing of time.

5.   What to expect from your attorney
Once you choose a personal injury attorney to handle your case, he or she should be very receptive to your needs, return your phone calls in a timely manner, and have your best interest in mind.  It is essential to choose the right attorney from the beginning to save yourself time and money in the future.

This article was contributed by local personal injury attorney Chuck Philips. For more information please visit www.chuckphilips.com