Have you been injured because of someone else’s negligence? You might be entitled to compensation. Before you file a lawsuit, however, you should find high-quality legal representation to help you navigate these turbulent waters. Here are just three tips for hiring a personal injury lawyer.
1. Evaluate Their Practice Areas
“Personal injury” is a broad legal term that covers everything from dog bites to car crashes. While some lawyers claim to be experts in all of these fields, your best bet is finding a specialist who only deals with a few. For example, if you slipped and fell at work, get yourself a lawyer who has worked dozens of workplace accident cases. They’ll be the one with the skills and experience that can truly help you.
2. Talk About Money Matters
There are two important figures to discuss: the amount that you might receive and the amount that you might owe. You and your lawyer should have a frank conversation about both. How much do they think your settlement will be? How much are they expecting to get paid from it? Do they want a percentage or a fixed rate? Will they bill you by the hour or by the day? Will they still charge you even if they lose your case?
3. Ask About Their Record
Speaking of losses, that’s another thing that you’ll want to talk to your lawyer about. Don’t worry if there are a few failures scattered throughout their case history; even the best person can have an off day. However, if their failure-to-success ratio is truly skewed, you might need to cut your losses and go. If they’ve lost more cases than they’ve won, that’s when you should find yourself different legal representation.
These are just a few things to keep in mind as you seek an injury lawyer Portland. Whether you’ve been bitten, burned or blindsided by a car accident, a personal injury lawyer can help you get back on your feet with a monetary settlement. You just have to find the right legal professional for you.