Selecting a Personal Injury Attorney
February 13, 2008A personal injury lawyer represents people who have suffered serious injury or the death of a loved one due to the negligence or unreasonably dangerous actions of others. Personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits arise out of a variety of circumstances including: airplane crashes, semi truck accidents, automobile collisions, medical malpractice, birth injury, defective and faulty products, construction accidents, and premises and workplace safety negligence. A personal injury attorney is compensated by collecting a percentage of the amount collected on behalf of a client. No attorney fee is collected unless financial recovery is made.
There are many excellent, well-qualified personal injury lawyers who can handle a serious injury or wrongful death case. How can a person who needs a personal injury attorney figure out who to hire? By using common sense and doing a little homework, you should be able to make an excellent choice.
Here are some things to consider when selecting a personal injury lawyer:
DO
■ Choose an attorney that specializes in personal injury law.
■ Hire a trial attorney with a proven track record of success in both trials and excellent settlements.
■ Consider talking with former clients represented by the lawyer.
■ Hire an attorney who has excellent credentials.
■ Hire an attorney who will commit the time to give you the service you deserve.
DON'T
■ Hire an attorney based solely on a recommendation of a friend.
■ Hire an attorney who has not handled cases like yours before.
■ Hire an attorney you are uncomfortable with.
■ Hire a lawyer unless the lawyer openly and honestly answers your questions.
■ Hire a lawyer who may need to settle your case to pay the lawyer's bills.
Here are some common mistakes made by personal injury attorneys to be on the alert for:
■ Stating an opinion about the value of a case before a comprehensive examination of all relevant facts and circumstances is completed.
■ Not properly investigating all of the facts and circumstances of the case.
■ Delegating important responsibilities to associates or support staff that do not have the proper experience or supervision to know what to do.
■ Accepting cases the lawyer cannot afford to prosecute on a contingent fee basis.
■ Recommending settlement too soon.
■ Failing to recommend trial, when trial is appropriate.
■ Recommending trial, when trial is not appropriate.
■ Failing to give the client personal attention and service from start to finish.
■ Overlooking crucial technical points of law.
■ Failing to keep the client fully informed.
RAPOPORT LAW OFFICES, P.C., AN ILLINOIS PERSONAL INJURY LAW FIRM, HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE REPRESENTING PERSONS SERIOUSLY INJURED, AND THOSE WHO HAVE LOST A LOVED ONE, DUE TO THE NEGLIGENCE OF OTHERS.