How to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney

how to hire a personal injury attorney

In the wake of an accident or an injury, people may find themselves in tremendous pain, overwhelmed by medical bills, or left without the ability to work.

The person or organization responsible for the injury may not want to pay for the damage they have caused. They may not consider themselves responsible, deny that an injury occurred, or offer a meager amount that doesn’t fairly compensate the injured party.

In such cases, legal action is necessary.

Personal injury attorneys help people who have been injured to pursue their legal rights to the fullest extent.

Using their experience and expertise, they ensure victims and families understand each step of the complex legal process of filing a personal injury lawsuit and guide the case toward a successful outcome.

Can People Be Their Own Personal Injury Attorney?

People who wish to seek compensation through the legal system are free to file their own lawsuits, manage their own cases, and represent themselves in court.

The challenge with this option, especially when it comes to personal injury lawsuits, is that defendants typically have large, experienced legal teams on their side. While this is a person’s first time filing, some defendants face dozens (or hundreds) of lawsuits each year. They know exactly how to delay and deny claims, as well as minimize settlement amounts.

Whether it's an employer, hospital, or insurance company, individuals who hire a personal injury lawyer stand a much better chance of filing a timely, successful claim, and maximizing the amount of compensation they receive.

Types of Lawsuits a Personal Injury Attorney Handles

The first thing to do when hiring a personal injury attorney is figuring out the type of lawsuit you need to file. This depends on many factors, such as the kind of injury, where it occurred, and who is allegedly responsible.

Many different types of lawsuits fall under the category of personal injury, including:

  • Auto Accidents
  • Construction Site Accidents
  • Dog Bites
  • Inadequate Security
  • Long-Term Disability Denial
  • Nursing Home Abuse
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Slip and Fall
  • Social Security Disability Denial
  • Unlawful Termination
  • Unpaid Overtime and Wage Violations
  • Veterans Disability Denial
  • Whistleblower-Qui Tam
  • Workers’ Compensation
  • Workplace Injury and Abuse

Personal injury lawyers and law firms tend to specialize in particular areas. Narrow down a list of options by excluding personal injury law firms that don’t have experience with your particular case type.

Each type of personal injury lawsuit can be further broken down into different subtypes. Medical malpractice, for example, covers different kinds of claims, including: birth defects, failure to diagnose, medical errors, neglect, sexual abuse, and others.

Your best option will be a personal injury attorney that has experience in the specific legal area of your case.

Finding a Personal Injury Attorney in the Right State

Since personal injury laws vary across the country, you will want someone who has experience in the state where you plan to file your claim. An attorney who knows the specific case law and procedures in the state is going to give you the best chance of crafting a strong case.

Depending on your situation, the best state to file may not be the state in which you live. A nationwide personal injury law firm can help you make the most advantageous decision about where to file and when.

Personal Injury Attorneys: Big Firms vs. Small Firms

One crossroads that people often encounter when hiring a personal injury attorney is whether to go with a small local law firm, or one that has offices across the country. Looking at the question this way can cloud the real objective, which is to find the best personal injury attorney for your needs.

Firms large and small offer the same essential set of services. What matters is how they provide those services.

What you are looking for, regardless of the size, is a firm that treats you well and with respect. Are they prompt and polite in communications? Are they honest and sensitive to your questions and concerns?

Although a smaller firm may be closer to home, a good nationwide firm may travel to you, depending on the type of case and injury.

Larger firms also have the staff and resources to take on your case immediately. This is important because there are laws that limit the amount of time a person has to file most personal injury claims.

Statutes of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims

After an accident or injury has occurred, people have a limited time in order to file a lawsuit. This is known as the statute of limitations.

The statute of limitations varies for different types of injuries, as well as from state to state. Once a certain amount of time has elapsed after the alleged injury, the statute of limitations expires, and courts will no longer act on claims.

Hiring a Trusted Personal Injury Attorney

Sokolove Law has been advocating for individuals and families for more than 4 decades. Our nationwide network of personal injury attorneys is supported by a world-class staff and dedicated to ensuring that people receive fair and transparent representation.

When individuals or companies injure employees or deny valid claims, they are committing crimes. It’s not right, and people shouldn’t continue to suffer without compensation.

In a perfect world, there would be no need to hire a personal injury lawyer. But until then, we’ll continue to pursue the Sokolove Law Mission:

“To reinvent how people obtain legal services in order to provide everyone, irrespective of ethnicity or income, equal access to our civil justice system and, within it, superior quality of representation and service.”

Contact us today to see if we can help you move forward with confidence.

Author:
Sokolove Law Team

Contributing Authors

The Sokolove Law Content Team is made up of writers, editors, and journalists. We work with case managers and attorneys to keep site information up to date and accurate. Our site has a wealth of resources available for victims of wrongdoing and their families.

Last modified: September 23, 2020