Knowing how to choose a personal injury attorney is extremely important. The personal injury attorney you hire can make or break your case. It is important to do a little homework, interview prospective attorneys in Seattle prior to retaining them, and carefully make your selection so that you give yourself the best chances of winning your case.
There are many qualities that a good attorney will have. For the intents and purposes of choosing an attorney that will best help you with your personal injury case, the three most important characteristics you should look for are knowledgeability, reliability, and efficacy.
Does the attorney have experience with your specific type of case?
First and foremost, you want to work with a lawyer that handles your specific type of personal injury case. Many accident claims require in-depth knowledge of a subcategory of laws that pertain to those types of claims.
For instance, truck accident claims require expertise in federal trucking laws and insight into how carriers might try to deflect liability. Not all attorneys will have this knowledge. However good an attorney may be with say, birth injury claims, if he has never handled a truck accident case, he can easily overlook very important aspects of the claim. If you were in a truck accident, you want a lawyer who is well versed in that specific type of claim; after all, the more proficient the attorney is the better capable and effective they will be in pursuing your settlement.
When you research potential personal injury firms, ask the attorney about cases he has managed that were similar to yours, as well as what the outcomes were. You want an attorney that can answer your questions knowledgeably and confidently.
Is the attorney reliable and trustworthy?
The attorney you choose to facilitate your case should be experienced, reliable, and trustworthy. There are a couple of ways to check if a prospective lawyer fits the bill.
- Check his bio. Look under his “About Us” section on his website or his LinkedIn profile and see what kind of educational and work background he has. In most cases, you may want to opt for more experienced and better-educated attorneys over newer ones.
- Check their consumer ratings. One place to see how the attorney fares is to check his ratings on AVVO. The ratings are based on clients’ input and will paint a pretty clear picture on how reliable and trustworthy other clients think he is.
- Trust your gut. Schedule a consult and speak with the attorney one-on-one. You should have almost instant rapport with the attorney and have a sense that he not only cares about your situation, but also has the skill set and determination to handle your case effectively. If something feels amiss, it probably is.
Does the attorney have a good track record?
Naturally, you want an attorney that has a long record of handling cases akin to yours successfully. What was the overall outcome of some of his cases? Does he have case results posted on his site? Does he have testimonials you can review that contain positive feedback?
It is not impolite to ask prospective attorneys about their past case results, notable settlement awards, and what kind of potential outcome they foresee for your case. It is a bonus if the lawyer is a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Only lawyers who have won multi-million dollar settlements for clients are able to join this exclusive club. The higher caliber the attorney you retain, the better your chances are of maximizing your recovery.
If you are in need on a personal injury attorney in Seattle, call Max Meyers Law PLLC for a free, no-obligation consultation. Feel free to peruse our site for background information on us and bring a list of questions with you to the meeting. Contact us today at 425-399-7000, and let us prove we are the right fit for you.
