How to Choose a Personal Injury Lawyer - The Paul Powell Law Firm

The Paul Powell Law Firm understands that you have many choices when it comes to legal representation. Whether you choose our team or not, we want every prospective client to be comfortable with the choice that they make. There are many considerations to make when seeking a personal injury attorney. To help you make the best choice for your situation, here’s a guide on how to choose a personal injury lawyer.

Preparing for Your Personal Injury Lawyer Search

The first step in finding the best personal injury attorney for you is preparation. If you’re going to choose a law firm to represent you, then you’ll need to understand your situation as best you can in order to find a lawyer that you’re comfortable with. Before you start calling personal injury firms, our team suggests the following.

Creating a Summary

Write a concise single-page document that accurately sums up your accident and the injuries that you’ve suffered. This document should include specific dates, times, people or witnesses, places, and other relevant information. Photos or videos that support your claim should be included with your one-sheet summary.

Having a List of Questions Ready

Create a list of pertinent questions that will help you choose a personal injury lawyer. These questions should be as much about how the law firm you’re considering treats its clients as they are about the quality of services provided. If you found a potential personal injury lawyer through advertising or a website, then be sure to ask questions about any claims they make. For example, The Paul Powell Law Firm’s claim of “More Lawyer. Less Fee.” isn’t just a catchphrase, but a fact documented by the State Bar. Example questions include:

What experience does the lawyer have with your particular personal injury claim?
Have they had success representing clients that have been involved in accidents similar to yours? (Car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, etc.)
What percentage of their caseload is dedicated to handling your type of personal injury claim?
How long have they been in practice?
What is their track record of success?
What are their rates and fees, and how are they structured?
Are there any additional costs above lawyer fees (postage, filing fees, copy fees, etc.)?
Do they carry malpractice insurance? If so, how much?
Can they provide references from other clients?
Do they provide written fee agreements or representation agreements?
What is their process to inform you of developments in your case?

Creating a “Must Have” List

Write down a short list of important attributes and qualities that you’re looking for in an injury attorney. Be sure to include deal-breakers as well. It’s important to know what you want and what you don’t want when you choose a personal injury lawyer. Having such a list will help narrow down your search and accelerate the process of finding the best lawyer for you.

For example, is price a major issue for you? Or are you willing to pay a little more for the right lawyer with a credible and successful track record?
Are the lawyer’s personal ethics important to you, or do you want a go-getter type mentality that will do whatever it takes to get the job done?
Is response time, reputation, background, years of experience, etc. important to you?

Doing Research to Best Choose a Personal Injury Lawyer

The legal industry is vast, full of thousands of firms that specialize in hundreds of areas of law. So, now that you’ve organized your thoughts on paper and considered what you want in an injury attorney, the next step is researching the field. By whittling down your choices you’ll find the best personal injury lawyer for your needs. The Paul Powell Law Firm suggests:

Making sure that you choose a firm that specializes in the area of law pertaining to your injury claim.

Asking family or close friends for referrals or recommendations. They may have some personal insight that could save you time in your search and help you avoid making a bad decision.
Using credible online resources to begin your search to find the right lawyer. Consider starting with your state or local Bar Association’s websites for a list of personal injury lawyers near you. Google reviews can help you get a baseline of a firm’s reputation, while Yelp can provide personal accounts with more detailed information.
Researching a lawyer’s background information, such as education, experience, track record, availability, pricing, and performance. LegalMatch.com is another great online resource when it comes to getting an overview of a specific lawyer’s background and history.
Asking lawyers that you have personal or professional relationships with about injury attorneys that you’re considering. Lawyers network and tend to know each other’s reputation.

Making Initial Contact with a Personal Injury Firm

Okay, your documents are ready and you’re armed with information after doing some research. Now is the time to start reaching out to personal injury attorneys that you’re considering. Here are some things to keep in mind.

Decide if you prefer an initial telephone call, a video call, or an in-office meeting. Some people prefer to contact the law office by telephone for expediency, while others want a face-to-face consultation to get a feel for the person they’ll be working with. There is no right or wrong here; it’s about what’s most comfortable and effective for you.
Whether you choose to speak via call or face-to-face, have your documents and questions ready. This will save you time, which is essential when pursuing a personal injury claim.
Many personal injury firms offer free consultations. Take advantage of this and use as much time as they’ll give you. Be wary of firms that charge for initial consultations; this could be a waste of your time and money.
If you’ve made contact with a personal injury firm and they haven’t gotten back to you within one business day, then move onto the next one. Your time is valuable and should be respected.

Knowledge and Preparation Will Help You Best Choose a Personal Injury Lawyer

When it comes time to choose a personal injury lawyer, refer back to the initial list of values you created and trust your instincts. Reflect back on your experiences while researching and contacting the lawyer. Did they provide prompt and courteous responses to your questions? Do you feel comfortable working with them? Is the lawyer’s experience and background compatible with your legal needs? Are you comfortable with their fees and representation agreement?

There are many qualified lawyers out there, so never discount your feelings about this professional relationship and what you’ve experienced during your search. By taking the steps above into consideration, you can be confident in making an informed decision and selecting the lawyer with the right legal skills and personal qualities that will best serve your needs.

Free Case Evaluation

The Paul Powell Law Firm hopes that you’ll consider us for your legal needs. Our team is available 24/7 to answer your questions and to schedule your free consultation. You can get in touch with us by phone at (702) 728-5500, clicking the contact button above, or visiting our Las Vegas office.

The information on this blog is for general information purposes only. Nothing herein should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.