If you have been seriously injured in an accident you probably should seek the advice of an experienced accident lawyer right away. Following a serious accident there are a number of important steps that your attorney can take to try to secure your future. As a result of a major accident, your life may change drastically. You may experience temporary or permanent inability to work, physical and emotional pain, loss of enjoyment of life, physical limitations and expensive medical bills. Finding and choosing an experienced and capable injury lawyer promptly is an important decision, as it can make the difference between a successful outcome and an unsuccessful one. The information on this page is provided to give you some helpful hints on choosing the accident lawyer that is right for you.

What to avoid when you need to hire an accident lawyer:

Many people do not know where to find a skilled and qualified attorney who can aggressively represent their case. The following are some common mistakes that people make when choosing an injury attorney:

• Lawyer referral from a friend: Your friend probably means well, but if they had a different legal situation from yours, they probably needed different attributes in an attorney than those which you need to recover monetary compensation for your injuries.
• Finding an accident lawyer in the yellow pages: The yellow pages are impersonal and do not give you the background information that you need to hire a competent personal injury lawyer.
• Choosing an injury lawyer because the office is local: Convenience should not be as significant as skill, professionalism, experience, and the ability to effectively represent you in your case. You should try to find an attorney who has all of the qualities that are needed for a successful outcome in your case.
• Choosing an inexperienced accident lawyer: Your attorney should be experienced in personal injury claims and up to date on current laws and current cases regarding all areas of accident law. Your lawyer should have the knowledge to answer questions about your claims quickly and effortlessly.

How to Find and Choose the Right Accident Lawyer

When you are involved in legal matters arising from a serious accident, you should hire an experienced attorney that you feel meets your needs. The personal injury lawyer that you choose should be a person that is experienced and that you feel comfortable with. Remember that you and your personal injury lawyer will be spending a great deal of time together, so compatibility is essential. The following are some characteristics that you should look for when choosing an accident lawyer:

• Choose a lawyer who has a quality legal education.
• Choose a lawyer who has experience in accident law.
• Choose an attorney who has been honored for successful case results. (Such honors include Multi Million Dollar Advocates, Million Dollar Advocates, AVVO Top Personal Injury Attorney Award, AVVO Clients’ Choice Award, ATLA Top 100, etc.
• Choose a lawyer that has positive testimonials from previous clients on third party websites, such as AVVO.
• Choose an attorney who has the time and resources available to represent you properly on your personal injury claim.
• Choose a lawyer who keeps current on personal injury law and who takes continuing education classes.
• Choose an attorney who provides aggressive representation.
• Choose a lawyer who will meet with you personally for the initial consultation.
• Choose an attorney with reasonable contingency fees (40% or lower).
• Choose a lawyer that you are confident has the skills necessary to properly represent you in your case.

10 Questions to Ask an Accident Lawyer BEFORE Choosing

When you are choosing an accident lawyer you may ask him or her about case related matters that will help you decide if they are the right attorney for you. He or she should be willing and able to answer your questions and to inform you about all the pertinent issues that are involved in your case.

• Does the attorney practice accident law? If so, what part of their practice does it make up?
• Does the lawyer have experience successfully representing cases that are similar to your case?
• How long has the attorney been practicing accident law?
• Has the lawyer been recognized by reputable law organizations?
• Has the attorney successfully settled many cases on behalf of his or her clients?
• Do former clients have positive statements to make in regards to the experience with their lawyer?
• Does the lawyer provide a free initial consultation?
• Will the attorney explain the legal process and all aspects of your case to you?
• Does the lawyer have the time and staff to adequately represent you in your legal matter?
• Does the attorney typically represent plaintiffs (the injured parties) or is he/she with a defense firm that typically represents defendants (the negligent parties)?

Summary

If you have suffered serious injuries as the result of an accident, you will want to find and choose a competent, experienced, successful personal injury attorney right away. By careful selection, you will be able to choose the personal injury attorney who is right for you.