Personal Injury Law Firms

If you feel you have cause to sue someone, then presumably, you feel certain that they harmed you. Maybe you’re suing a company, or perhaps it’s a person. In either case, you will need a competent lawyer on your side who can hopefully help you get a satisfactory resolution.

Finding a law firm with a proven track record sometimes takes a little time and effort. However, it’s almost always something you can do if you put your mind to it.

In this article, we will talk about how to choose the right personal injury law firm.

Ask the People You Know for Recommendations

It makes sense to start the search process by asking the people you know if they have any recommendations. In many instances, you will know someone who filed a personal injury lawsuit at some point. These types of lawsuits happen often, so there’s a better than decent chance you can get a name from a neighbor, friend, coworker, or relative.

If someone knows an attorney in your area who they say did a good job for them, you can reach out to that lawyer or law firm. If you don’t know anyone who has a recommendation, then you will need to do some searching on your own.

Google a Keyword Phrase That Gets You Relevant Results

You can start this search online by Googling a keyword phrase that you think will get the best results. Trying something like “the best personal injury lawyer near me” will likely get you some options.

You might also try a more area-specific search, like “the best personal injury lawyer in Chicago” or “the top personal injury attorneys in New York City.” Those sorts of area-specific searches will give the Google algorithm a good idea of what you need.

Look at Online Reviews for the Likely Candidates

Once you Google a relevant phrase, you can look at the results. You should see several pages of possible lawyers or law firms if you live in or around a decent-sized city. If you live somewhere more rural or remote, then you will likely have far fewer options. That should simply your search somewhat.

You can take a look at some of the top results. It makes sense to look at the Google business feedback that comes with each lawyer or law firm’s listing.

These results will show a number of reviews and a star rating going from one to five. You probably want a law firm that has plenty of reviews. A firm with several hundred reviews indicates they’ve been in business for a while. You want a firm with an appropriate level of experience.

A firm with very little feedback probably just opened its doors to the public recently. That’s one you should probably avoid. You don’t want a neophyte lawyer who’s just learning the ropes.

You also want to reach out to a law firm that has excellent reviews. One that has two stars out of five shouldn’t get your business. One that has four-and-a-half stars out of five has a solid reputation, so they should move to the top of your list.

Look at Each Candidate’s Website

Once you create a short list of possible candidates, you should next visit their websites, one at a time. Look at the site and see how fast it loads. See whether it’s responsive.

A site that loads slowly might indicate the lawyer doesn’t care about their website, assuming it’s not your internet connection’s fault. A slow-loading landing page could mean the site’s outdated, missing plugins, etc. No self-respecting law firm should allow that to happen.

If the site’s responsive, look to see whether it seems professional and credible. Does the copy tell you immediately what kinds of cases this lawyer or law firm covers? Do you see lots of misspellings or grammar errors?

The site should feature full-color photos and videos showcasing the lawyer and their team in action. The visuals should seem professional quality. If you see stock images and it’s obvious no one’s updating the site, you should probably go with someone else.

Reach Out to the Most Likely Option

After you have looked at a few websites, you can make your selection. You will want to choose the law firm about which you have the best overall feeling.

Contact the law firm. You can send them an email, but probably calling them on the phone makes the most sense.

See what you think about the individual who you talk to on the phone. Do they seem friendly and eager to help you? Are they surly or do they sound like you’re bothering them?

Any company should want your business, and that’s certainly true with lawyers. If the person who you talk to sounds happy to help you, then you can probably move forward and set up a time for you to come in and talk to the lawyer, or one of the attorneys if it’s a larger law practice.

Meet with the Lawyer and Feel Them Out

When the time comes for you to go meet the lawyer, see what impression they give you. Do they seem upbeat and eager to take your case?

You can tell them all about what’s happening with you. You will likely have the whole story of why you’re suing someone ready.

Make sure to fill the lawyer in on all the details. Tell the truth, and don’t embellish anything. If you do, that can come back to bite you later.

If the lawyer seems like they want the case, then you can move forward. Before you do, though, ask them any relevant questions that come into your mind.

For instance, you can ask them whether they think you can win your case, and whether they’ve ever handled a case like yours. If they say yes to both questions, and they reassure you that they can help you, then you can probably hire them with confidence.