After suffering injuries in an accident that was caused by another person’s negligence, you may quickly realize that you’re in over your head.
With painful injuries, the mental impacts that often come with them, and the financial losses from unexpected medical expenses and lost wages, it can be too much to handle recovering compensation for a negligent injury on your own.
When you’re feeling overwhelmed in the aftermath, you can turn to a personal injury attorney to help you with your case.
However, with so many attorneys practicing personal injury law in the area, it may be difficult to determine which one you should choose.
Take a look at these top skills that personal injury attorneys need to win compensation claims to help guide you to the best one to represent you.
Experience in Representing Personal Injury Victims
As you look for an attorney to represent your case, make sure that you are choosing one with experience in personal injuries.
They should have at least five years of experience, particularly in legal matters similar to yours.
You may be sitting across from someone who is revered for their experience in representing plaintiffs in medical malpractice cases.
However, if you’ve been in a car accident and this attorney has not devoted their time to these types of personal injury matters, it is best that you keep looking for someone who specializes in your kind of case.
Additionally, ask each attorney you consult with about their track record with settlements and verdicts.
You can’t expect them to win every case, and certainly, no lawyer will ever be able to guarantee it, but you can get a bigger picture of what to expect based on their former successes.
Understanding How to Calculate the Full Extent of Your Damages
An experienced personal injury attorney will be able to calculate the full extent of your damages from the start.
When you sit down for the free initial consultation, they should be able to pinpoint your economic and non-economic damages, preparing themselves for the negotiations ahead.
This will provide them with the leverage they need to carry on negotiations with the insurance company or the at-fault party.
A top personal injury lawyer will help you go through all the costs you’ve incurred as well as estimate your non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life to arrive at a fair settlement amount.
Strong Litigation Skills
There is a high probability that your case will settle before it can ever get to trial.
Still, the top personal injury attorneys in the area have strong litigation skills and are prepared to head to the courtroom from the start.
Even though you’ll be less likely to finish this off in the courtroom, your attorney’s litigation skills can also serve your case well through negotiations.
Excellence in Responsiveness and Communication
A major distinguishing factor between top attorneys is that the best of the bunch will ensure they take the time to communicate and be responsive to you.
When meeting with a personal injury lawyer, see how they treat you in their communications.
Lawyers are certainly busy people, but the best of them will always make time for their clients.
If they are unavailable when you call, they will make a point of getting back to you quickly.
Personal injury attorneys make up the majority of lawyers in the nation.
When you find one that exhibits trustworthiness by making you a priority, even if they have other members of their legal team check in from time to time, they are showing you that they care.
Beware of any lawyers that you need to constantly chase after to get a response or an update about your case.
Honest Evaluations
As you search for a personal injury attorney to take on your case, you’re sure to come across some who will try to tell you what you want to hear.
You may not know at first, which is why it’s smart to use those free initial consultations to assess several attorneys before making a choice.
During those free case evaluations, you can ask questions that help you get to know each lawyer.
They will also provide their assessment of your legal situation.
One of the top skills you want in your personal injury attorney is honesty, where they will tell you the weaknesses they see in your case.
You want someone who is transparent and will let you know the risks of settling versus going to trial so you’ll make the best decision.
Compassionate and Empathetic Representation
In addition to honesty, choosing a personal injury attorney who is compassionate and empathetic to your legal situation is ideal.
You have likely been through an extremely traumatic experience that has completely altered the way you see the world.
If you were in a car accident and sustained permanent injuries, you may be grappling with your new normal along with fears of getting into any kind of vehicle again.
The best attorneys understand your physical, emotional, and financial impacts, and they do everything they can to help you through the challenges you’re facing.
Never settle for a personal injury lawyer who doesn’t have compassion for your situation or dismisses your feelings.
The right personal injury attorney will care about your well-being and be compelled to fight for justice on your behalf.
Tips for Choosing a Top Personal Injury Attorney
Before you pick a lawyer to represent your case, make sure you make the most of your free consultation.
This includes bringing relevant documents for your case to have them review it as well as preparing a list of questions.
Don’t waste this precious time by asking questions that you can find out online, such as their years of experience and credentials.
Instead, compose a list of questions to ask every attorney you consult with and use it to help you find the one that most closely fulfills these top skills.
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