Whether you've been injured in a car accident, while shopping at a store, or on the job, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your pain and suffering if the accident wasn't your fault. It's important to hire a personal injury attorney to help you file a claim and win you the compensation you deserve, but not all representatives are created equal. Here are a few crucial services the lawyer you choose to hire should provide you with:
Free Consultations
You need to be kept up-to-date about what is happening in your case from week to week, so your lawyer should be willing to provide you with periodic free consultations. These one-on-one meetings will help you understand what's happening as things play out and give you an opportunity to have your specific questions and concerns addressed as they come up. Take the time to create and agree on a consultation schedule in writing so you know exactly what to expect as your personal injury case progresses. Make sure you know how much any additional consultation meetings will cost you if you end up wanting to schedule more than what's included in your written agreement.
Witness Interviews
While you may have to provide your lawyer with names and contact information of people who witnessed your accident and injuries, you shouldn't have to do any more leg work than that when it comes to gathering evidence to prove your case. Your legal representative should schedule meetings, do interviews, fill out paperwork, and compel witnesses to testify on your behalf if necessary. Before hiring a lawyer, ask them to provide you with an outline of their witness and evidence gathering procedures so you understand how the process will work and what will be expected of you throughout.
Insurance Negotiations
Another service the personal injury lawyer you hire should be willing to do is negotiate with the other party's insurance company before making any other moves within the court system. If your representative can successfully negotiate a settlement, you'll save time and money on the overall legal process, which means that more of the compensation you win will stay in your pocket where it belongs. Find out how your lawyer plans to negotiate and what their next steps will be if negotiations fail so you can get an idea of how the process will play out as things progress.
These are just a few of the important services the personal injury lawyer you decide to hire should offer you. Take the time to make a list of your own preferred services and offerings, and use it as a guide when comparing prospective representatives.
