Personal Injury Law Firms

What Does a Personal Injury Law Firm Do?

After any kind of accident, many victims of negligence or recklessness on the part of another party will contact a personal injury law firm to represent them. Therefore, a personal injury law firm will attempt to collect a settlement for the injury you sustained. To collect this lump sum, the personal injury law firm must prove that your injury resulted in the aggressive party’s (the defendant in your personal injury claim) negligence or reckless behavior.

A personal injury law firm is made up of personal injury lawyers. These legal professionals have a precise understanding of a jurisdiction’s personal injury laws. The first thing a personal injury lawyer will do to begin your filing is converse with you in an attempt to gather all of the facts and information surrounding your case. The gathering of facts is crucial, particularly at the beginning of your claim, for it helps the personal injury law firm take the following steps: determine whether or not your case will stand firms in court; help advise you as to what your legal alternatives are; and determine who exactly is at fault for hurting you.

Once these steps are fulfilled, a personal injury law firm will begin to file the necessary paperwork with the underlying courts and insurance companies. A personal injury law firm is particularly helpful in this regard because a personal injury legal professional is undoubtedly familiar with the statute of limits and regulations associated with filing claims. In this simplest of terms, a personal injury law firm does all the leg-work to ensure that your claim is filed efficiently.

During the formal trial, your representing personal injury lawyer will stand up for you and your rights to compensation for your physical and/or mental injuries sustained. A lawyer from a personal injury law firm will negotiate with the court in a skillful to ensure that you receive a settlement amount suitable for your medical costs, lost wages and other losses derived from your injury.

Will I Need a Personal Injury Law Firm?

After getting hurt—say in a car wreck or a slip and fall accident—most people ask the same thing: “Do I really need to contact a personal injury law firm?” The short answer is yes; however, it will depend on your particular injury and case.

The easiest way to examine your need for a personal injury law firm is through example. Say you are involved in a fender bender, where minimal damage is done to your car and no serious injuries are sustained. In this example, it is probably best to not contact a personal injury firm. The majority of simple accidents can be handled by your insurance company or through negotiations with the other party to the wreck. If, however, you sustain a significant injury from a wreck, it is necessary that you contact a personal injury law firm. Moreover, if your case is complicated by multiple parties with potential liability, it is suggested to contact a personal injury law firm.

In between the above examples is a significant gray area. While it is complicated to provide a clear cutoff, it is useful to understand that taking a case to trial often costs in excess of $5,000 for a personal injury case. So, if your expected payout exceeds this number and you are confident that you will win the case, you should contact a personal injury law firm.

Generally, a personal injury law firm is needed to file a personal injury claim. The personal injury attorneys who make up a personal injury law firm will expedite and build your claim through the creation of depositions, the filing of fees and the filing of medical records. Because of the work put in, a personal injury law firm will likely not represent you if your damages are below $5,000.

If you are confused about your need for a personal injury law firm, you should contact an attorney to discuss your case. Calling a personal injury law firm is never a bad move; all civil law attorneys will discuss the basics of your case to evaluate your likelihood of securing a settlement. If the personal injury law firm believes your case has legs—and if your expected settlement is in excess of a certain amount—they will take your case. If the personal injury law firm is unwilling or unable to provide assistance, they will offer referrals or provide suggestions that may aid you in finding a legal solution.

Will I Need to Hire a Specialist?

After you have sustained an injury--that you feel is susceptible to procuring a settlement--you should contact a personal injury law firm and speak to an attorney that specializes in your particular injury. For example, if you experienced a slip and fall injury, you should contact a personal injury law firm that specializes in slip and fall accidents. Moreover, if you are injured in a car accident, you should contact a car accident personal injury law firm.

How do I Find a Suitable Personal Injury Law Firm?

When searching for personal injury law firms, you must utilize all resources, including the Internet (search engines, forums, peer review services etc.) your state’s bar association and advice offered from family and friends.

When searching for a respected personal injury law firm you should:

1. The initial step to finding a personal injury law firm in your area requires you to utilize an Internet search. To conduct a search you can simply type into a search engine the specialty required plus the term “personal injury law firm.” After hitting “submit”, the search engine will offer all listed personal injury firms in your area. To conduct a geo-specific search, utilize the engine’s “maps” or “local” section.

2. After compiling a list of local personal injury law firms, you should review each firm’s reputability by checking their websites, the attorney profiles on said websites and peer review services. Also, you want to make sure the firm is in good standing with your state’s Bar association website. To gather information on each personal injury law firm you can go back to the search engine, type the name of the personal injury law firm followed by key phrases such as “peer review”, “review” or “client testimonial.”

3. Observing the above information illuminates the particular personal injury law firm’s ability to handle your case. After evaluating each prospective firm’s experience, you should contact those that you feel confident with to set-up a consultation. These preliminary meetings are free of charge and will serve as your guiding point with regards to representation.

What to Look for in a Personal Injury Law Firm:

When contacting each personal injury law firm you want to set-up preliminary meetings to discuss the viability of securing a settlement. During the consultation the prospective personal injury lawyer will decide whether your case is worth pursuing.

A consultation offers a preview as to how the personal injury law firm will litigate. Furthermore, this preliminary meeting provides a glimpse of the individual’s personality. During this meeting, you must look for the following personality traits:

• Does the personal injury law firm seem professional?

• Do the individual lawyer’s listen well? Are they attentive to my needs?

• Does the personal injury law firm explain the intricacies of my case in a lucid manner?

• Am I able to communicate with the personal injury lawyer in an efficient matter? Is this legal professional affable? Am I able to express my concerns and feelings regarding my case?

In addition to asking yourself these questions, you must take not of the firm’s experience with handling these cases. Experience is the most important attribute when evaluating a personal injury law firm. Experience denotes a solid understanding of the laws in question, as well as an aura of effectiveness and reputability.

Fees Associated with my Personal Injury Law Firm:

Because all lawyers of a personal injury law firm practice within the field of civil law, the most common payment schedule associated with said help is a contingency fee. Under this arrangement, a personal injury law firm will charge fees based on the percentage of a personal injury settlement, if one is secured. If a settlement is not attained, a personal injury law firm will not request a fee for services rendered. If you do not win the case, you will only be required to pay court fees. The percentage charged will differentiate from firm to firm. This fee arrangement is most common in property damage cases and personal injury suits.