Injuries may heal over weeks or months, but the psychological scars of an accident can persist much longer. Activities you once performed with confidence you may now find overwhelming.
Taking care of your family and going to work may feel like an insurmountable challenge. That’s why you need to act fast and find a lawyer who understands what you are going through and can fight for the compensation you need to make you whole again.
With so many personal injury lawyers out there, how can you find one who can provide a professional yet compassionate service? One that can play hardball with the opposition while treating you with care and kindness? It is possible to find that balance, but there are a few steps to follow to find the right personal injury lawyer for you.
Step 1: Identify Important Qualities in a Personal Injury Lawyer
To attain justice as fast as possible, it pays to work with a legal team known for getting faster outcomes for accident victims. Nonetheless, you will still have to work with your personal injury attorney for several months as you try to recover damages.
If you are hurting emotionally, look for the following qualities in a lawyer to ensure a successful attorney-client relationship.
Empathy
In most personal injury cases, it’s possible to seek fair compensation for your emotional suffering. If an injury lawyer is going to fight for those damages on your behalf, he or she needs to listen with empathy and understand the full extent of what you have been through.
An empathic lawyer will be motivated not just to settle your case but also to fight tenaciously for what you truly deserve.
Patience
Impatient people tend to cut others off when speaking, jump to conclusions, and get the wrong idea. You cannot afford to hire a personal injury lawyer who acts like this. Rather, you need a patient attorney who listens to injury victims as they explain every aspect of their story.
Look for an injury lawyer who patiently asks questions. This shows that he or she truly cares about fully understanding your case and providing tailored legal advice.
Knows the boundaries
The right personal injury lawyer also knows where to draw the line. Expect him or her to be friendly without being overly friendly or familiar. This professionalism gives you confidence in your attorney’s integrity while allowing you to express yourself freely.
Step 2: Let the Search Begin
While these qualities may be what you are looking for, you might wonder how to determine whether a personal injury lawyer has them before you sign a contract with the law firm in question. The following suggestions can help you get valuable insights into the kind of attorney you are dealing with.
Ask friends and family members
A personal referral from a trusted friend or family member is still the type we trust the most. You may not even be aware that some of your contacts have gone through tough legal proceedings and have had the help of a fantastic local personal injury attorney.
One great way to reach out is to ask for recommendations via text or social media, such as a WhatsApp status or Facebook/Instagram post. However, whenever you are contemplating or going through any legal process, be extremely careful about what you post online. Never share any details of the case or express an opinion, as these posts could be used against you in the future.
A simple message stating that you are looking for recommendations for potential lawyers should be enough for messages to flood in fast. Personal referrals can be a great starting point; you can follow up with more research.
These referrals tend to focus on feelings rather than qualifications, which is what you want at this stage. Also, expect to get a few warning messages about law firms to avoid, which could be just as valuable advice.
Read client testimonials
Now that you have a list of law firms to investigate, you should check out their websites. Think about the image each firm projects. Do they seem sincerely interested in the welfare of their clients? How do they work to get fast results for their clients?
The testimonial section will likely contain five-star reviews from satisfied clients. While this section does not provide an objective overview of the legal team, it can provide valuable insights. Do you see words like “friendly,” “kind,” or “caring” mentioned? If you pick up on themes like these, it can give you confidence that you have found a law firm that cares.
Check out online reviews
For a more unvarnished view, head to online review sites and see what former clients have to say. Again, look for comments about the lawyer’s communication skills and personal qualities. While it is important to take reviews with a grain of salt, they can provide valuable insights into the kind of experience you are likely to have as that firm’s client.
Step 3: Choose a Lawyer That Gets Results Fast
There are many law firms in Connecticut to choose from. However, they cannot all boast the same track record or dedication to obtaining fast results for their clients. Now that you have a list of potential personal injury lawyers with the qualities you want, we will explore how to find a law firm with legal skills and a winning record that will give you the best chance of success.
Evaluate experience
If you choose a lawyer who is compassionate and empathic but does not have the legal experience you need, you are not giving yourself the best chance of obtaining the financial compensation you need to put your life back together.
Some law firms are generalists, covering many aspects of the law, while others focus on a single area. Choose a firm that focuses on practicing personal injury law and has specific experience in your type of case.
Some common practice areas include:
However, your case may be more niche. For example, not all personal injury lawyers handle nursing home abuse or medical malpractice cases. So check that they have not just general personal injury experience but also a proven track record in the aspect of tort law related to your case. Otherwise, you may not obtain the fast and fair results you seek.
Next, find out how long they have been practicing personal injury law. An experienced lawyer brings more to the table than just knowledge of past cases. He or she also has networks of financial experts and medical professionals to draw on that could benefit your personal injury case. These experts may help you obtain faster results or even a fair settlement that reflects the full impact of your injuries.
Choose a winning team
The best personal injury lawyers are rightly proud of the track record they have built up. So feel free to ask them about their success rate. If they do not want to tell you, the chances are it is not high. That is a sign to strike them off your list and keep searching.
Most personal injury cases settle out of court, with lawyers negotiating a settlement on your behalf. Yet, if it is impossible to agree on a fair settlement out of court, you need a personal injury lawyer with a proven track record of courtroom success. So ask how the attorney has fared in court and learn what judgments have been obtained on behalf of clients.
Fair fee arrangements
Before hiring a personal injury attorney, make sure you are content with the fee arrangements. Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means you do not pay any legal fees upfront and will pay no fees if the law firm does not collect money for you.
Contingency fees vary but are typically 25-40 percent. Also, check whether there will be additional court fees, expenses, or other charges to pay once the case has concluded.
Step 4: Trust Your Judgment
Now that you have whittled down your shortlist of law firms to a few contenders, it’s time to meet them in person.
Many law firms offer a free initial consultation. This is an opportunity to discuss your case with a personal injury lawyer and get his or her opinion on how likely it is to succeed. It is also a chance to see how comfortable you feel with the attorney.
If the lawyer does not put you at ease during the free consultation, he or she may be unable to bring the empathy you need to the table. Remember, to fight for a fast yet fair settlement, finding an empathic personal injury attorney who truly understands the full impact of your accident is essential. Retaining a lawyer you get along with can make a significant difference in how comfortable you feel throughout the legal proceedings.
Step 5: Make Your Choice
Now, you should have all the information you need to choose the right lawyer who will understand your legal and emotional needs and fight for fast results. So what can you expect once you sign on with an attorney?
Prove liability
First, an injury lawyer can gather evidence to build a strong case for cause against the liable party. This is to establish that your personal injuries resulted from another person’s negligent actions.
Assess the financial impact of your accident
Next, the legal team will gather evidence of the impact your accident has had on your life, which could include:
- Medical records and bills
- Employment records and lost wages
- Property damage records
Calculate the psychological impact of your injuries
Along with these economic losses, your personal injury lawyer will also calculate your non-economic losses, such as:
- Pain and suffering, including psychological conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment in life
- Loss of consortium
A compassionate legal team will take the time to gather evidence of these losses, which can be difficult to quantify in dollars.
In personal injury cases involving severe injuries and serious psychological trauma, your attorney may work with a medical expert witness who can testify to the impact of your accident on your mental health. This could strengthen your case and help you pursue a fair settlement that reflects the suffering you have endured.
Choose Compassion and Fast Results With Gould Injury Law
When you are hurting physically and emotionally, the best personal injury lawyer will treat you with the kindness and compassion you need while fighting tooth and nail for a settlement that reflects what you have been through. You need a legal team that not only works hard but works fast, too.
At Gould Injury Law, we work hard to obtain fair and fast results for our clients. Our testimonials show that we prioritize building a successful attorney-client relationship, which paves the way for us to pursue great results as fast as possible. When you hire us to represent you, we will give you and your case the care and attention needed every step of the way.
Are you ready to find out what “The Fast Firm” of Connecticut can do for you? Call 888-WIN-FAST or fill out our contact form to book a free consultation today.
