Need a Personal Injury Attorney in Phoenix? Choose Carefully
Sustaining a personal injury that keeps you from performing your usual tasks can be very costly and frustrating. It is all the more outrageous if your injuries occurred because someone else was negligent. If that is the case with your injury, you may be able to get the compensation you are owed. Keep reading if you want a better chance of winning your case.
Your First Steps After An Accident
When you are in a car accident, you need to make sure you have the correct identity of the other person involved. Make sure they show you their driver's license. This should be in the police report, but make sure that the officer on the scene gets this information to you as well.
If you were injured by an animal, do your best to find out who it belongs to. If you make any mistake about who the owner is, and you file a suit, it may be difficult to sue someone else once it is revealed that this is not the owner.
If you have to purchase any prescriptions or medical equipment as a result of an injury, make sure that you get the receipts and turn them in to your attorney. He will submit them as evidence and it may help you receive a bigger settlement than you had originally anticipated.
The Benefit of Having a Personal Injury Lawyer
You might think that you do not need a personal injury lawyer and can get a settlement on your own. However, hiring an attorney could increase the amount of money you receive from your injury claim. An attorney understands the monetary damages available for an injury claim and how to maximize the value of the settlement.
An estimated 91% of people who hire a personal injury attorney get a settlement compared to just 51% who did not. In fact, the amount received could be two to three times higher with an attorney negotiating the settlement.
If you are injured due to someone else’s actions in Phoenix or the surrounding communities, and you’re dealing with an insurance company, don’t go it alone. Contact a car accident or personal injury lawyer.
How To Find A Lawyer
You may have to hire a personal injury lawyer if you are involved in an accident. If you do, make sure you consult with professional organizations in the area to obtain a list of qualified lawyers. These organizations will also know if there have been any ethical or legal troubles associated with the firm you are considering.
When visiting a lawyer's website, navigate to the About Us section. This page will give you information such as the attorney's specialty, the location of their office, and years in practice. Many lawyers also have a testimonial page. On this page, you will be able to read about different cases from the client's perspective.
Ask your friends and family for personal injury lawyer referrals. There are countless personal injury lawyers in the Phoenix area serving a large population, but that does not mean that they are all good. If you do not already have a lawyer in mind you should seek the help of those that you know and trust.
Look to the Internet for impressions on the lawyers you are considering. Others have hired these lawyers before, and they may have insights into their abilities. Do a Google search, go through local web forums, and even look them up on the State Bar of Arizona website. Anything you find can help you make an educated decision.
Not All Lawyers Are Created Equal
Your lawyer is representing you in court, so you must choose the best option for your case. That means you need someone with who you can build a great rapport to ensure they like you enough to truly care about your case. Select a lawyer you feel is on your side.
Do not hire personal injury attorneys that you've only seen on the television. This only leads to disaster. If you're considering a television lawyer, make sure you vet them properly. Otherwise, you may end up in a real mess.
After you have gathered together a list of potential personal injury attorneys, set up a free consultation with each lawyer. At this consultation, the attorney will look over the facts of your case and answer any questions you may have. After each consultation, write down notes about the interview and how the lawyer treated you.
Make sure you ask the right questions if you talk to a personal injury lawyer. Make sure the attorney has experience in personal injury cases and is qualified in your state. Ask what kind of record the lawyer has. You want a successful lawyer, of course, and one who has years of experience.
Take the time to select a reliable lawyer if you receive an injury. Look for someone who has experience with similar cases and ask about prices before you decide to hire a lawyer. Meet with different lawyers in your area and choose one who makes you feel comfortable and knows how to listen.
Talk to your lawyer about their history. It is important that you find out their track record on cases similar to yours. This is useful information as it will allow you to hire an attorney that will give you the best chance of winning your case and getting compensated.
Never hire a divorce lawyer to oversee your personal injury case. This may seem like common sense, but many people feel that the lawyer they've already dealt with is great, so why not get them to help? Instead, ask them for a referral for someone who specializes in this type of law.
Set up communication ground rules with your personal injury lawyer. Lawyers are oftentimes working many cases, and yours can get lost in the shuffle. In your initial consultation, tell your lawyer how often you want to communicate. Work something out before your relationship begins full steam.
While getting to court quickly is helpful to your case, you may find your lawyer is just too busy. Find a lawyer who is available immediately to ensure the odds are stacked in your favor. Of course, this is just one of many factors you have to consider when hiring a lawyer.
If the lawyer you are talking to normally works with insurance companies, you probably want to pass on their services. Instead, you want someone who has experience helping the injured person. These personal injury attorneys should have the background that you need to successfully win your case, and you will probably feel more comfortable with them as a result.
Never Try To Negotiate On Your Own
Never try to negotiate with an at-fault party or their insurance company without having an attorney present. They may try to take advantage of your lack of legal knowledge to make you an unfair offer. Even if you feel like you are confident and can represent yourself, call a lawyer and have them present at the time.
Final Words
Now it shouldn't be hard to predict what the future holds for you. This type of situation is never easy to deal with; however, you should be much more equipped to handle it. Figure out what you should do from here.
Good Advice for Family Law and Criminal Defense Representation Too
Although this article addressed personal injury cases, the same recommendations apply to finding and choosing a criminal defense, DUI, Divorce, or Child Custody Attorney.
Looking for representation in the Phoenix area? Below is a map of Phoenix-area Personal Injury, Criminal Defense, and Family Law Firms
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Here’s a map of criminal defense lawyers, DUI lawyers, family law attorneys, and divorce lawyers throughout the Phoenix valley and communities.