If you have been seriously injured in an accident, a San Francisco personal injury lawyer can help. However, finding the right lawyer for your case is no easy task. You must research to ensure your lawyer understands your unique case.
Right now, your priority should be recovering from your injuries, but of course, you also need an expert lawyer to pursue a case against the negligent party—a lawyer who can handle the lawsuit, prepare all the necessary documents for court, and help you win your claim.
With thousands of personal injury lawyers in San Francisco, cutting through the clutter is extremely difficult. A quick Google search will probably overwhelm you with dozens of choices. That’s why we’ve outlined the best ways and steps to find a personal injury lawyer in San Francisco.
A 5-Step Approach to Finding the Right Personal Injury Attorney
There’s no sugarcoating: finding a lawyer is hard. You are probably unfamiliar with law firms, and you might ask yourself a lot of questions! That’s why the first step is to do your research! Here are five steps to help narrow down your search for a personal injury lawyer:
1. Focus on law firms that practice in your state.
This is probably an obvious tip! If you live in California, then start your search with lawyers near your area. It’s always good to double-check that your potential lawyer works near you. This way, they can understand your case better. They are more familiar with the location and can easily visit you when needed.
More than their local expertise and familiarity, some lawyers are only legally allowed to practice law in their own states. So only communicate and consider a law firm in your area to not waste your precious time.
2. Know their expertise and previous cases.
Some lawyers exclusively work in a certain discipline or specialization, from personal injury law to taxation. So, if you’ve heard about a lawyer that recently helped your colleague, ask them whether the lawyer specializes in personal injury cases. If not, it might not be worth it to contact them.
3. Check reviews online.
Experienced lawyers work with different clients that might share their experiences online. Read these reviews and assess how their online reputation speaks for their professional services. You can visit their website and look at the cases they’ve previously handled. Aside from that, you can take a deep dive into any information—be it awards, accolades, or even negative reviews awarded to your potential lawyer or law firm.
4. Schedule a meeting.
Now that you’ve compiled a list of reputable personal injury lawyers, it’s time to schedule a consultation and talk to them. You can easily do this by calling the law firm and explaining your case. You can even fill out an online contact form to save more time. Just remember, you have to be honest and detailed when talking to your lawyer. The more details and information they know, the better.
5. Don’t be shy to ask questions.
What’s your goal in pursuing a personal injury case? Still unsure if this is the right move for you? Then, ask all the questions in your mind. Be clear and direct about your needs—do you simply want to settle, or do you need to take your case to trial? Some law firms simply don’t have the capacity to handle full-blown trial cases. That’s why you have to ask them their strategies when worse comes to worst. Your chosen personal injury lawyer should have pursued cases just like yours in the past.
Initial Consultation with My Lawyer: What Happens Now?
It is a must to schedule an initial consultation with potential lawyers. This way, you can have a better perspective of what they can do for you and your case. Most lawyers do have a complimentary first meeting, so use this time to really get to know them and decide whether they should take your case.
Of course, you have to come prepared and bring the necessary documents for your cases, such as your medical bills, insurance papers, police report, and other files, to help them assess your situation. Being prepared also means asking questions like:
- Have you handled a similar case like this in the past?
- How long have you practiced personal injury law?
- Do you refer cases to a third-party firm?
- What are the outcomes of your previous cases?
Discussing legal fees: Should You Pay Upfront?
To avoid any unpleasant surprises, talk to your lawyer about legal fees and the payment structure. While most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency, you still have to clarify how much you need to pay your lawyer. They usually charge a percentage of your claim.
However, they will also inform you if they’d charge you with the operating expenses, such as travel costs and document fees. Discussing this during the consultation can help give you more perspective about the claims process. Understanding the lawyer’s fees from the outset will make the entire process easier.
Work with a San Francisco Personal Injury Attorney Today!
If you have been injured in an accident involving any of these situations or other circumstances, it is crucial that you talk to an experienced personal injury attorney who can guide you through the process of seeking and obtaining compensation for your injuries.
Those who caused the accident will likely have insurance, and the companies that provide this insurance have professional adjusters who may want to settle your case for less than what it is worth.
This will not happen with an experienced accident attorney from The Cartwright Law Firm, Inc., on your side. We strive to get accident victims the maximum compensation possible, so please contact us today for a free case review.
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