How Do I Choose a Personal Injury Attorney?

February 22, 2019

Not all personal injury law firms are the same. It’s important to do your due diligence when it comes to making the important decision of choosing who will represent your best interests in a personal injury settlement or trial.

Following these general guidelines will help you to make the most informed choice and ultimately achieve the best possible outcome for your case.

How to Choose a Personal Injury Lawyer

Identify your personal needs and expectations

Some factors to consider when determining the needs of your case are:

Experience – this includes both years of practice and depth of knowledge
Trust/Commitment – knowing that your legal team cares about you and will do everything they can for you
Location – this includes location of the physical firm as well as their ability to practice law in your jurisdiction
Reputation – within your community or on sites such as Lawyers.com or Martindale.com
Reviews and testimonials – what do others have to say about working with them
Results – are they successful at winning trials or securing fair settlements
Fee structure – how do they charge (retainer, hourly), how much do they charge, and when and how do you pay

Do research online and by referral

Search online for law firms that specialize in personal injury law and view their websites. Check for things like whether they handle injuries like yours, who is on their legal team, how long they have been in business, and what credentials they have.

Asking friends and family for referrals is also a good way to find reputable firms or attorneys. Don’t select a firm purely based on referrals, however — you should still do some research on your own.

Interview your top choices

Start by calling each firm and asking some questions. They should be happy to address general questions about their firm and the attorneys on their roster. Pay attention not only to the answers you get but also to how the person you spoke with handled your call. Were they friendly and helpful or rude and dismissive? Did you feel rushed to get off the phone, or were they patient with your questions?

Follow up with the firms that made a sound impression by requesting a consultation with an attorney. You are not required to hire an attorney that you have a consultation with, even if you share specific details about your case.

Most law firms don’t charge any fee for a consultation, but ask to be sure before you sit down with an attorney.

Prepare for your meeting by having pertinent information and documents related to your case on hand. It’s also smart to have a list of questions ready so you don’t forget to ask anything important.

Questions to Ask a Personal Injury Lawyer

What percentage of your practice is dedicated to this type of injury?
What experience do you have with cases like mine? What were their outcomes?
Have you taken cases like this to trial before? What was the outcome?
Will other attorneys help on this case? If so:
- How much of my case will you actually handle?
- Who are the other attorneys?
- What is their experience with cases like mine?
Do you think this case will go to trial?
What is a typical settlement range for cases similar to mine?
How long do you think it may take to reach a resolution?
How will you communicate my case progress to me?
How are your fees structured?
What out-of-pocket expenses am I responsible for?
Do you think I have a good case?

Making a Decision

Once you’ve been able to meet with a few attorneys for a consultation, review the answers you received from each and compare what you learned so you can weigh your options. Don’t forget to consider how the attorney made you feel. You will be working closely with this person on something very important, so being comfortable is a must.

When considering the best personal injury attorney in Minneapolis for your case, call the dedicated and experienced team at Hall Law. We’ve been helping our fellow Minnesotans for decades, and we can sit down with you for a free consultation and give you the truth about the outlook for your case.