Groups » Tips for Selecting an Efficient Personal Injury Lawyer
Injuries have become common and almost unavoidable occurrences that impose physical and mental trauma to the victim. In the wake of an accident, an immediate response must include medical treatment in order to recover and prevent further damage to the body and mind. If the accident injury was caused by another person's negligence, then the victim has the option of getting legal help to recover for losses suffered.
When an accident has an impact on your life, especially a harmful one, the law gives you certain rights to demand for compensation from the offender. The amount of compensation that can be claimed depends on the severity of the injury caused. The incident itself can be overwhelming and confusing, calling for an informed decision to be made regarding further actions to be pursued.
Just as you hire the services of a medical expert to help with physical injuries, a law expert will come to your aid to help you with the settlement process with your personal injury case. Once you regain composure, you must contact a Minneapolis personal injury lawyer to understand your legal rights, and the actions that you are allowed to take against the offender.
The Personal Injury Law
Personal injury law refers to the legal remedies and defenses involved in civil lawsuits brought as a result of wrongful conduct. In the case of a personal injury, the plaintiff can demand for a settlement from the offender and his/her verdict, and decide the settlement amount, upon hearing the case.
Injury law is based on the doctrine of negligence and tort, or a wrongful act leading to legal liability. A plaintiff can file a lawsuit against the offender within the time frame stated under the Statute of Limitation.
A victim can get compensation for the following, and for several other losses incurred, due to an offender's act:
• Lost wages
• Medical expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Punitive damages
• Legal expenses
Going through a lawsuit to avail justice is no easy task. An efficient lawyer can help fight the case for you, and provide all of the necessary assistance that you need throughout the process.
Selecting a Lawyer: Obtaining the Fundamental Details Helps
An efficient lawyer is as important as an efficient doctor. Losing compensation, or the lawsuit, will only add to your anxiety and distress; thus, it is imperative for you to hire a skilled and experienced attorney. The lawyer will help you understand the right decisions that you need to make to reach a settlement with the offender for his or her actions against you.
One needs an attorney who simplifies the stressful process of getting justice; for this reason, you will need to verify the attorney’s ability and credibility by checking the following aspects, when deciding to let one represent you.
Corroborate the Lawyer's Area of Specialization
Different lawyers specialize in different or multiple areas of law. Your best choice will be to focus on finding a lawyer who specializes in personal injury cases. This will take you one step closer to a verdict, or a solution, that’s potentially in your favor.
Being prudent when deciding on a lawyer is essential, as you will have to spend long hours with your lawyer discussing the proceedings of your case. Finding a comfort level with your attorney will allow you to trust his or her abilities and, therefore, worry less about your case.
Examine the Lawyer's Work Experience
Experience is the best teacher. Proficiency of any skill increases with practice and real-time experience. The chances of an attorney performing his or her best are directly proportional to the experience that he or she has gained over the years.
Most jurisdictions permit attorneys to provide information about their past cases and results, and you should take advantage of this to analyze the lawyer's ability. You may ask the lawyer to share the details of his or her previous cases, highlighting the percentage of successful results, average time taken in fighting the cases, and other details that you deem important. This may not guarantee a definite win in your case, but it will help you in comparing potentially different lawyers.
Find out about the Lawyer's Fee
Most injury lawyers work on contingency basis, meaning that they charge for their services based on the outcome of the settlement or court verdict. Until the final solution between the offender and yourself has been decided, the lawyer pays for doctor’s visits and other expenses, as the case progresses. Hiring a lawyer who charges an hourly fee may incur heavy expenses for you.
Paying on a contingency basis will be more feasible. The lawyer will charge a portion of the money that you receive as compensation, resulting from the settlement or a favorable court verdict, at the end of the trail.
Estimate the Lawyer's Intent If you are aiming for a larger payout, then you must discuss with the lawyer his/her intent of taking the case to court, as supposed to opting for an out-of-court settlement with the offender and the insurance company.
Cases going to court trials have been observed to have claimed better settlement amounts. A lawyer might intend to receive a quick payoff, instead of working to get you the maximum amount that you deserve. Don't forget that, in addition to the lawyer’s intent, several other factors come to play in determining the appropriate course for the case.
Also, know that you do not necessarily have to agree for settlement, if you do not want to; you can choose to reach out to the court. In such situations, lawyers who aim for quick payoffs withdraw from the case, leaving their client helpless. Discuss the same with your potential lawyers, to ensure that your decision will be the final one.
Check for Any Disciplinary Action(s) against the Lawyer
You may not want to settle for a lawyer who has faced any legal action to represent your case. While most attorneys have clean records, it does help to make certain of the attorney's behavior, which may have invited legal or disciplinary action.
Final Thoughts
Legal issues can, at times, have an impact that lasts a lifetime. When pursuing a case, care must be taken to abide by the laws and get professional assistance to prepare for a favorable outcome. When seeking a lawyer, it is advisable to reach out to known sources like family, friends, and colleagues to lessen the effort, when hiring a credible professional to take you through the legal proceedings. Retaining an attorney may also help you avoid unfortunate circumstances that may arise simply due to your lack of experience in dealing with such a case.
(Image Source: 1, 2)
