When you are involved in a serious accident or have suffered some medical malpractice, you should consider hiring a personal injury lawyer to help you fight the case and to get your rightful compensation. But it can be quite a task to find the perfect lawyer to help who is not only fit to fight for your particular case but also one whom you can trust completely. There are certain things you should keep in mind before hiring such lawyers such as:
The Right Kind of Lawyer
You should always look for a lawyer who knows who is specialized in handling your case, for instance one who has experience of fighting a motor accident case or a disability claim etc. If the lawyer is not well versed in dealing with your injury, he may not be able to fight your case properly. You should always carry all your documents like income loss papers, police reports, and medical bills and bring it to your first consultation.
The way the lawyer handles your documents in the first meeting itself will tell you whether he is fit to fight your case. Moreover, most lawyers do not charge anything for the first consultation. So, if your lawyer makes you pay before you have even decided whether he is the right fit, you can go elsewhere.
Proper Accreditation
When hiring a personal injury lawyer, make sure he has all the proper qualifications and accreditations for the job. For instance in Toronto, a personal injury lawyer must be certified as a specialist in Civil Litigation by the Law Society of Upper Canada, must be named as an expert in any plaintiff’s personal injury in expert. The lawyer must also be listed as a personal injury specialist in the Best Lawyers in Canada and should have some experience working with any of Canada’s leading Personal Injury Law Firms.
Referrals
Probably the best way to find a good personal injury lawyer is through a family member or friend’s recommendation. Since they have already dealt with the person, you will get an idea of what he or she may be like. But you should also backup such recommendations by researching the lawyers online. For instance, Clarke Law firm’s website has testimonials where you can read about the lawyers as well as what other people have to say about them.
Experience
This is a crucial element in deciding a lawyer to handle your case and you must always quiz him or her in the first meeting itself as to how much experience does he have in dealing with such cases. You should also ask him whether he is more experienced in representing defendants or plaintiffs.
Mannerisms
If your lawyer isn’t taking your calls and not responding to your emails, you should consider hiring someone else, as he may not be that committed to your case or may not be sure how to handle it. You only need the best, most assertive lawyers to handle your case as they can get you your rightful compensation.
So when hiring a personal injury lawyer, always remember to do some background research, ask for referrals, and make sure he or she has all the proper qualifications and accreditations.
References
- http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/finding-personal-injury-lawyer-29840.html
- http://claimaccident.ca/news/how-to-choose-a-car-accident-lawyer-in-toronto/
- http://torontospersonalinjurylawyer.com/choose-the-right-personal-injury-lawyer-in-8-steps/
- http://www.traumaresourcedirectory.com/lawyers
