Hiring a personal injury attorney requires serious consideration. Choosing the right one for you is easier with a few things in mind.

Get Fees for Representing You In Writing

Different attorneys operate on different plans. Some have a contingency fee system, which means that they don’t get paid unless their client wins damages in court. Some require an initial retainer and then charge an hourly fee. However your attorney handles fees, you want to know all details in writing. Personal injury lawyers, however, all work on a contingency basis, which means that you don’t ever pay out of pocket. Their fees come from settlements or jury awards.

Make Sure They Practice The Area You Need Representation In

There are several branches of law that an attorney can practice, from maritime law to business to criminal and even entertainment law. Within each of these areas there can be more specialization, and practices can be split between types of sectors.

When looking for a personal injury attorney, you may find that some focus on medical malpractice, workplace injury, product liability, or car, bus, and truck accidents. Attorneys will usually post their specific areas of practice in the about section on their website, but if you’re not sure then it’s best to ask directly. You want to pick an attorney who can handle your specific case.

For example, if you were injured on the job while out at sea, then an attorney who specializes in maritime law can help you. They may have represented other wrongful death or Jones Act cases. However, if you were injured on the job on land, then your case would be handled differently. So you would want to find an attorney that knows the laws as they are relevant to your specific case. You as the client have the peace of mind that your attorney is specialized and is thus more suitable to handle your case.

Is A Member of Professional Law Organizations

Membership in either the American Bar Association or a state bar means an attorney has reached one of the highest standards of excellence in jurisprudence. Lawyer Matthew Viveiros is a member of both the Massachusetts and Rhode Island bar associations.

But memberships also provide educational opportunities. As mentioned before, attorneys can go into very highly specialized areas of practice. Within their scope of practice, there may be changes in the law due to other suits, politics, or through change in legislation. The general public hears about debates on laws in the news, or notice it when it affects them (such as changes in healthcare), but many that don’t make in the news can affect how your case is handled. Membership in a professional legal education organization, especially ones where membership is by invitation only, can show dedication and diligence.

How You Feel Matters

Your attorney is going to be the person who may get intimate details about your life, such as your income, your medical condition, and your emotions. It is important to ask yourself how you feel when you interview attorneys. Some take on too many clients, and then legal aides end up working on your case. If you call with questions or updates or new documents, such as after having a test run by a doctor, then you want to know that your attorney will talk to you about it, rather than someone else. You don’t want to be in a situation where on top of the stress of the injury, you also feel isolated from and devalued by your attorney.

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I added this. Please note that contingency-basis representation is nearly universal in personal injury law. I’d rather you assume that it’s always true and have the one unicorn attorney who doesn’t do it that way catch us rather than wasting words talking about retainer-based PI lawyers. I haven’t found one yet.