5 Tips for Choosing the Right Personal Injury Lawyer
October 17, 2024 | Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers | Personal Injury
Slip and fall accidents are the source of over eight million emergency room visits every year, making them the most frequent cause of injury. Car accidents aren’t far behind, with 5.2 million crashes resulting in medically consulted injuries. In 2022, more than 175,000 of those injuries occurred in the state of Florida.
Many attorneys offer personal injury services designed to help these victims recover damages and pursue justice. However, not all personal injury attorneys are created equal. If you’ve recently suffered an injury, here’s what you should look out for before you sign on the dotted line for anyone’s legal services.
1. Ensure Your Attorney Focuses On Personal Injury Cases
While there’s technically nothing wrong with law firms offering services in multiple practice areas, having an attorney who focuses on personal injury law ensures an in-depth understanding of the laws and statutes that affect your case.
They’ll have extensive experience with car accidents, dog bites, construction accidents, and other personal injury situations. This allows them to spot red flags a mile away and gain access to expert witnesses who can testify on your behalf. It’s unlikely that there will be many surprises over the course of your case that they won’t know how to handle.
2. Ask About the Firm’s Past Case Results
The best indicator of what a personal injury attorney can do for you is the results they have been able to get for others. All attorneys should have past case studies available for you to look through on their website. If not, ask for testimonials from past clients.
You’ll want to know that the attorney you choose has seen cases like yours before and has been able to obtain a successful outcome with similar clients. If they’ve done it for others, you can have greater peace of mind that they can also do it for you.
3. Observe the Attorney’s Accessibility and Responsiveness
Personal injury cases have many moving parts.
For example, an attorney needs to:
- Keep up with your medical records
- Contact witnesses and experts
- Analyze and gather evidence from the scene of your accident
- Help you field calls from the insurance company trying to get you to accept a lowball settlement
Consequently, you need to work with someone who is highly accessible and responsive to your needs. You don’t want to have to deal with more anguish while waiting for someone to call you back to answer your questions. If it’s hard to get ahold of an attorney at the beginning of your relationship, that will likely be the case throughout your legal battle.
4. Ensure the Attorney Has Both Trial and Negotiation Experience
Your attorney should be adept at negotiating with insurance companies to get a fair settlement. Though going to trial is relatively uncommon (especially when your attorney’s negotiation skills are strong), you’ll want to look for an attorney who knows their way around a courtroom. Being able to navigate a trial effectively is vital.
5. Check the Firm’s Online Ratings
It is rare that any attorney willingly admits their shortcomings. Consequently, previous clients are often the best source of information about a particular firm.
Take your inquiry to Google and read over what previous clients have to say about an attorney you want to work with. See if there are reviews about how supportive and responsive a firm is and how the attorney fights aggressively on clients’ behalf.
Hiring the Right Attorney Can Make All the Difference In Your Outcome
No matter how you were injured due to someone else’s negligence, you deserve an attorney who knows how to fight for your rights. By ensuring an attorney has the experience and communication skills to help you through the legal process, you’ll experience much more peace of mind and give yourself the best chance of a successful outcome.
Contact a Clearwater Personal Injury Lawyer from Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
For more information, please contact Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Clearwater today. We have five convenient locations in Florida, including Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, New Port Richey, and Lakeland.
We proudly serve Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Pasco County, Polk County, and its surrounding areas:
Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers – Tampa Office
601 W Swann Ave, Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 223-6200
Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers – Clearwater Office
600 Bypass Dr Suite 224-D, Clearwater, FL 33764
(727) 493-4418
Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers – St. Petersburg Office
111 2nd Ave NE Suite 350, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 314-5988
Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers – New Port Richey Office
5006 Trouble Creek Rd Unit #200, Port Richey, FL 34652
(727) 910-5060
Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers – Lakeland Office
1543 Lakeland Hills Blvd Suite 18, Lakeland, FL 33805
(863) 251-6196