Even though it may seem as though there are lawyers located on almost every street in America, finding a reputable and experienced personal injury lawyer can be difficult. If you are seeking the services of a personal injury lawyer in Phoenix, AZ, here are some tips:
If you have had prior interaction with any lawyer in the past, perhaps you may want to ask him or her for a referral to a reputable personal injury lawyer. If possible, get the name of the lawyer, perform an online search, read the reviews, and scan his or her website. The more you become informed about the lawyers, the better prepared you will be to make a decision. Remember, however, that just because a lawyer refers you to a personal injury attorney does not automatically mean that he or she will be great. You still need to meet the lawyer, ask questions and make the determination yourself.
Another source for referral of a personal injury lawyer is to speak to your family members or friends who may have interacted with one. In many cases, people who have first-hand knowledge can help guide you to an experienced personal injury lawyer. But, again, do not make a rapid decision about the lawyer just because your brother, let’s say, had a good encounter. Different individuals will have different interactions with different lawyers. The bottom line is that you must physically meet the lawyer to determine if he or she meets your needs.
Another way to help select a personal injury lawyer is by scanning the internet. Today, you can perform a search, such as “personal injury lawyer Phoenix AZ” and, instantly, Google will provide you with a list. Jot down on a piece of paper the names of at least five personal injury lawyers in Phoenix, AZ. The next step is to visit each lawyer’s website and determine what type of practice and experience he or she has. Furthermore, you need to read reviews about the lawyer. Please note that since not all reviews are honest, you need to read at least 10-12 to get a good overall picture of the character of the lawyer.
One great way to find personal injury lawyers in your community is to visit websites like Nolo.com or AllLaw.com. Here you can look for lawyers per specialty and their locations. These websites provide good information on the lawyer’s training, expertise, and even experience.
Plus, the websites also provide a wealth of educational material on how to select a personal injury lawyer. The websites do offer a “chat” interface where you can discuss your case online and/or be referred to a lawyer in your community. This is an excellent way to find a personal injury lawyer.
In some cases, the insurer may know of a good personal injury lawyer. However, the lawyer you seek mustn’t work for the insurance company. The reason would be that the lawyer’s interest may be to safeguard the insurer and not you.
No matter how many lawyers you are referred to, one of the best ways to know if you have selected the right personal injury lawyer for your needs is to meet with the individual. Write down all the questions that you want to be answered and see if the responses by the lawyer meet your needs. Preferably, you also want a lawyer with experience in dealing with personal injury cases and, specifically, your type of personal injury.
During the meeting, assess how much attention the lawyer devotes to you, does he/she listen well, is he or she willing to have your input, or is it all going to be the lawyer’s way? Finally, ask if the lawyer or someone from the office will continue to communicate with you regularly. If the lawyer fails to answer your questions, is hesitant to reveal his or her fees, or is abrupt, then you need to continue searching. The key is to ensure that you do not clash with each other but have the same mission.
Finally, you need to know the lawyer’s fees upfront. While you may feel that you have found the right lawyer, you may not be able to afford his or her fees. At the very first consultation, you should find out about the fee structure. The majority of personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, meaning they only get paid if they win your case. They may charge anywhere from 20-33 percent of your award. While this may seem a high figure, you generally have no upfront fees. Plus, it is a lot cheaper than to go with a lawyer who charges fees by the hour.
In general, the size of the firm of lawyers in Phoenix, AZ should not impact your case. Even if the law practice has over a dozen lawyers, only one lawyer is going to be going over your case.
The one advantage of going with a large law office is that it may have many excellent personal injury lawyers that may prove intimidating to most insurers, but, on the other hand, large law firms also tend to have higher fees, and this may eat up a significant portion of your award. Further, with most large personal law injuries, your case is often passed down to junior paralegals, whereas with a solo lawyer, your case will get 100 percent of his/her attention.
When you physically meet the personal injury lawyer, bring along all your supporting documents of the injury, including medical bills, the police report, and medical reports. In addition, any communication that you may have had with the insurer should also be brought along.
The majority of personal injury lawyers do not charge a fee for the initial consultation, and you are free to ask any questions you want. Whatever the case, it is important to have everything in writing so that there are no surprises at the end. The law offices of Richard A. Gullette serve the greater Phoenix area and will put you and your family first. Call Rick today.