When you are deciding on a personal injury attorney to represent you, it is important to consider several factors, as choosing the wrong attorney could hurt your chances of obtaining compensation. If the attorney you choose is not experienced with cases like yours or does not often take cases to court, he or she might not be able to recover all the compensation you need.
Below, the Savannah personal injury lawyers from Roden Law break down some of the factors to look for when choosing an attorney. If you have questions about your claim, give us a call. The initial consultation is free.
Professionalism
An attorney’s professionalism is often looked at in the same manner as his or her personality. Although it is important to have a good rapport with your attorney to help build trust, there are some objective forms of professional behaviors the right attorney should practice.
Some of these behaviors include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Competence
- Good work ethic
- Appropriate behavior in every situation
- Respect for all people involved regardless of status
Choosing someone who lacks professionalism could be detrimental to your case, particularly in a trial because judges want professional behavior in their courtrooms.
Communication
If you hire an attorney to handle your claim, he or she should be available to answer your questions within a reasonable time. Whether that means answering your phone calls, replying to texts and emails, or simply contacting you to explain how your case is progressing.
Dealing with an attorney who fails to return your calls and emails may be frustrating. Victims may feel their claim is not advancing, even if the attorney is working diligently on it.
Relevant Knowledge and Experience
Having experience that is relevant to your type of case is important because there are various obstacles to go through during an injury claim. Even though every case may have different facts, the process of filing a claim is generally the same; proving liability, dealing with the insurance company and negotiating to settle the claim.
But when negotiations fail, it is also important to have an attorney with trial experience in case a lawsuit needs to be filed. Remember that taking a claim to trial is about convincing the jury that another party is liable for your injuries and thus should pay for your damages. Proving that takes time, research and expertise.
An attorney trying to build your case also needs to have knowledge of the laws in the state where the claim is filed as well as the legal precedent set by similar cases.
Time Management
Deadlines for injury claims, also known as statutes of limitations, can creep up fast, especially if a claimant takes a long time to get a lawyer involved. That is why having someone on your team who knows the timeline for filing documents related to your claim and can adhere to them, is so important.
Aside from meeting deadlines, having someone on your side who can keep up with the number of clients he or she takes on is also important. An attorney who has more clients than he or she can handle is likely to struggle to provide strong representation for each one. When choosing an attorney, it is in your best interest to hire someone who has the time to take on your claim and give it the attention it deserves.
Roden Law is Here to Help. Call Today
When you hire someone to be your legal representative in a personal injury claim, it is important to choose an attorney who has the legal knowledge and experience to build a strong case and fight for your best interests.
The attorneys at Roden Law are licensed professionals with extensive experience assisting injury victims, having recovered millions on behalf of our clients. We are well-versed in relevant laws and are prepared to take cases to court if necessary.
We do not charge you anything up front and only get paid if you do, so there is no risk to you.