Table of Contents
How Do I Find Personal Injury Lawyers Near Me?
After an accident, it can be difficult to know what to do next. To help protect your legal rights, consider hiring an accident lawyer who can evaluate your case and determine your legal options.
An experienced legal professional will advocate for your rights throughout your case. A lawyer can help identify all possible sources of compensation and pursue claims against potentially responsible parties for your injuries. But how do you find the right lawyer for your particular case?
It can be more complicated than simply doing an internet search for “personal injury lawyers near me.” Learn more about how you can go about finding an experienced lawyer who is right for your particular injury case.
How To Find Personal Injury Lawyers Nearby
The first step to finding your injury lawyer is to make a list of potential candidates. You want to have several lawyers to choose from so you can find the right one. You can start by searching the internet for personal injury lawyers in your area.
The State Bar of California has licensed more than 266,000 attorneys to practice law in our state, and about 190,000 of these lawyers are currently practicing. Personal injury is also a popular practice area. This fact means that you have many options to choose from for personal injury lawyers in your area.
Start by compiling a list of personal injury lawyers in your area. Try to find lawyers who mention your particular type of accident on their website. A motorcycle accident, for example, can present different legal issues than an Uber accident.
You want to work with a lawyer who has experience handling your specific type of accident, such as those involving lane splitting. Once you have a pool of local candidates, you can begin to investigate their ratings.
How To Find Experienced Lawyers
Many clients want to work with lawyers who have produced good results in the past. So, how do you find a lawyer’s ratings? The first step is to check out the lawyer’s history with the State Bar of California. Every lawyer in California must gain admission to the State Bar to practice law.
The Bar maintains a public database of all attorneys. This website provides information on when the lawyer was admitted to the Bar, whether they have faced any disciplinary actions from the Bar, and whether they are currently in good standing to practice law in the State of California.
Some attorneys also register with local bar associations. Doing so is voluntary, so you might not find a particular attorney listed with your local bar association. However, if they are, there may be additional information available to assist you in making your decision.
Several websites allow clients to rate their attorneys. Reviewing these sites is a helpful way to gauge how other clients perceive an attorney’s work. However, there are likely to be a few cranky customers who want to rant about their experiences, like any online rating website.
A single bad review might not mean that an attorney is “bad.” Look for patterns. If a series of clients all say that a lawyer didn’t return their calls, or was not a good negotiator, or had other specific problems, this might be a sign that they are not the attorney for you.
Arash Law has handled a wide variety of personal injury cases, including car accidents, truck collisions, and dog bites. We assist clients in pursuing legal claims against potentially negligent parties. We aim to provide personalized legal representation and advocate for the rights of injured Californians.
Questions To Ask When You Are Interviewing Personal Injury Lawyers
Once you have compiled a list of qualified injury lawyers in your area, it is time to set appointments to meet with these lawyers in person. Many personal injury lawyers offer free initial consultations. When you meet with a lawyer, you will get a sense of their personality and determine whether it will be a good fit to work with them.
Remember that you are establishing a professional relationship. It is important to hire someone with whom you can work easily.
You will also need to get a sense of the lawyer’s ability to handle your particular case, so it is important to ask specific questions. Here are some key areas in which to ask questions when you are interviewing a personal injury lawyer:
Experience
The Bar website can give you basic information about when an attorney graduated from law school and obtained admission to the Bar. Having said that, this does not tell you how much experience they have or what kind of work they have done since they started practicing law. Ask a lawyer:
- How long have they been practicing law?
- What areas of law have they practiced?
- What types of cases have they handled?
- How many cases similar to yours have they handled?
- Did these cases settle or go to trial?
An attorney with experience handling cases similar to yours is more likely to be a good fit for your situation. Factors to consider include the type of accident in which you suffered injuries, the types of injuries you have suffered, and the party responsible for your injuries.
Fee Arrangements
It is very important to thoroughly understand all the details of your fee arrangement before hiring any personal injury attorney. The amount of attorney’s fees and case costs should be considered because they can influence your decision to pursue a claim. These expenses may affect whether pursuing compensation is worthwhile based on the potential value of your case. Understanding these costs upfront helps you make an informed decision about whether filing a claim is viable.
Personal injury lawyers often work on a contingency fee basis. This arrangement means that you do not pay any attorney’s fees upfront. Instead, you agree to pay the attorney a set percentage of the amount actually recovered through a settlement or lawsuit, in addition to any costs that the attorney must advance for your case.
Costs typically include fees for obtaining police reports, medical records, and other administrative fees. If your attorney must file a lawsuit on your behalf, the amount of work that must be done on your case increases significantly.
This fact is why many personal injury lawyers require a higher percentage for attorney’s fees if they end up filing a lawsuit. Talk to the attorney to understand what percentage applies to your case and other case-related costs you are responsible for.
Expectations For Your Case
One of the best ways to determine if an attorney is right for you is to get an idea of their expectations for your case. Here are some questions that will give you a sense of how the lawyer intends to handle your case:
- How long do you think it will take to resolve my case?
- How much do you think my case is worth?
- What defendants (or insurance policies) do you intend to pursue?
- What will your case strategy be if the insurance company refuses to make a fair settlement offer?
- Have you handled cases similar to mine before? How long did it take to settle? Do you think my case will proceed similarly? Will it take longer or be worth less?
- Do you see any legal challenges to proving my case?
As you ask questions like this, you will get a sense of what the attorney intends to do with your case. Do they have a strategy in mind? Does the lawyer appear comfortable with a case like yours? Does the attorney have answers to your questions, or do they seem to be struggling for answers? Simply asking about the attorney’s expectations for your case can give you a good sense of whether they are the right fit for your case.
Searching For Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys Near You?
Finding the right accident lawyer is a critical step toward pursuing a legal claim. If you are searching online for “personal injury lawyers near me,” take all necessary steps before making a decision.
Our experienced auto accident lawyers at Arash Law have decades of experience representing clients in various types of personal injury claims throughout the state.
We serve clients in San Francisco, Riverside, San Jose, San Diego, Sacramento, Sherman Oaks, and throughout California. We aim to assist accident victims in addressing the complexities that may arise in pursuing compensation for their injuries and losses. Contact Arash Law at (888) 488-1391 or fill out our “Do I Have A Case?” form here to schedule your free initial consultation.
We will handle the paperwork so that you can focus on getting better. We are ready to advocate for your rights, whether through negotiations or litigation.
