After you’ve been the victim of an accident or injury that wasn’t your fault, the best thing you can do is hire a personal injury attorney. These attorneys provide legal representation to anyone injured because of carelessness, misconduct, or a car accident and pursue compensation for accident victims.
Finding the right personal injury attorney to take your case can be challenging. If you’re wondering what to look for in a personal injury attorney, here are some expert suggestions from Swanson, Lathen, Prestwich, PC.
Look for Experience
When searching for a personal injury attorney, you’ll want to hire one with experience. The more experience a law firm has, the better your outcome will be.
During your consultation, feel free to ask how long they have practiced personal injury law and how long the firm has existed. Because it is common for law firms to switch specialties, you’ll want to clarify with them how long the firm has been practicing personal injury law.
Other questions to ask or consider include:
- How many personal injury cases have you handled?
- What attorneys will I be working with during the duration of my case?
Ask About Their Expertise
While plenty of attorneys have experience, not all have a track record of success. When searching for a personal injury lawyer, ask about their success rate. Review their case results and determine if they have consistently recovered high-dollar settlements for their clients or if they invariably settle for low-ball settlements from insurance companies.
Asking about their expertise also allows them to assess potential damages and what you can expect from your case. A knowledgeable and experienced attorney should be able to determine the different types of damages to claim to maximize your claim, increasing your chance of winning an overall payout. Consider asking if your case has any potential pitfalls and how you can be prepared.
Know What to Expect
A great personal injury attorney will clearly communicate what you can expect from the process and their firm and give you all the information you need about their fee structure upfront.
Many personal injury attorneys operate on a “no win, no fee” contingency basis, meaning you won’t have to pay if the attornies do not win your case. Though this type of fee structure is common, your personal injury attorney should clearly lay out your claim, pricing structures, and all possible outcomes so you know what to expect.
You’ll also want to ask how long it will take for your case to resolve and if the attorney expects it to go to trial. While it can be challenging to predict how long a settlement will take, an experienced attorney should be able to recall similar cases and provide examples of what you can realistically expect from your case.
Hire SLP Law, the Experienced Attorneys Who Will Win Your Case
It can be tough to know what to look for in a personal injury attorney; make things easy on yourself by hiring SLP Law. Since 1958, our personal injury attorneys have advocated for those in Salem and across Oregon, helping clients receive the compensation they deserve. Hire the law firm that will be your partner during the recovery process. Schedule your free consultation with Swanson, Lathen, Prestwich, PC today.