It is normal to feel overwhelmed after being injured in a motor vehicle accident or a slip and fall incident. Attending the medical and therapy appointments necessary to rehabilitate your injuries can be time consuming. You may be faced with a loss of income and the cost of medical and treatment expenses. You may be in contact with multiple adjustors, from different insurance companies. On top of all this, you may need to decide whether to pursue a legal claim and to choose a lawyer to represent you in your claim.
So, what should you consider before choosing a personal injury lawyer?
Experience
You want the lawyer representing you to have considerable experience in the area of motor vehicle accident and slip and fall claims. The best personal injury lawyers know the nuances of the legal system and are intimately familiar with the law.
Personal injury law can be a complex area of practice. An experienced personal injury lawyer will have knowledge on the legal issues that can arise during a claim and will know how to address these issues. For example, clients are often in a position where they need early access to an advance payment to cover their expenses. Sometimes the lawyer has to go to Court to get this type of advance payment for their client. An experienced personal injury lawyer will work with you to determine what your financial needs are and will help to find the legal solutions.
You also want a lawyer that has experience representing these types of claims before the Courts. Experienced litigation lawyers are familiar with the legal rules and can leverage this knowledge strategically during your claim.
It is also important that the personal injury lawyer you choose has experience in the jurisdiction where the claim will be brought. For example, if you are bringing a claim in New Brunswick, the lawyer should have experience practicing in New Brunswick, as the law and rules differ between provinces.
An experienced personal injury lawyer will have resolved many claims and will have established relationships and a reputation with insurance adjusters and defence counsel. This will be important to ensuring that your claim is taken seriously by the insurance companies.
Communication skills
A large part of the personal injury lawyer’s role is to guide the client through the legal process for resolving a claim. It is important that your lawyer be able to clearly explain the steps of the process as they happen. Your lawyer should also help you make informed decisions throughout the process by explaining your options and providing advice. It is important to choose a lawyer who you feel comfortable communicating with and who can communicate well with you. The best personal injury lawyers aim not only to get the best compensation for the client, but also to ensure the client is well supported throughout the process. A good personal injury lawyer will contact their clients on a regular basis to keep them informed and to discuss how the lawyer will move the claim forward.
Fee structure
Personal injury lawyers may offer different structures for legal fees. Some personal injury lawyers will work on contingency fee. This means that there are no legal fees unless and until your claim is settled or there is an award at trial. At Melanson Law, we offer a contingency fee arrangement as an option for clients. Lawyers also have different arrangements for expenses incurred on the file. For example, Melanson Law will pay for these expenses on their clients’ behalf, and the client does not pay for these amounts until the claim is settled or resolved.
Passion for justice
Personal injury law, at its core, is about helping people. Often insurance companies will not provide the compensation an individual is entitled to without a lawyer getting involved to advocate for the claim. The best personal injury lawyers care about helping their clients enforce their legal rights. They want to see their clients get the compensation they deserve and will work with zeal to get an excellent result.
Conclusion
Personal injury claims can last for weeks, months, or years. Therefore, it is important to choose a lawyer that can both support you through the process and get you the compensation you deserve. Some personal injury law firms offer a free initial consultation. During this consultation, you can discuss with the lawyer how they will approach your claim and how they can help resolve the claim. It is important to consider the above factors when making your choice, to ensure that you choose a lawyer who will successfully represent you and get you the compensation which you deserve.
