subject: Choosing A Personal Injury Attorney [print this page] If you've been in a major accident and require time off work or extensive therapy to recover, the last thing you're interested in doing is pursuing the legal case associated with your accident. However, you need to be protected from the other parties involved and you need to pursue a settlement that suits your situation. This is why you need to hire a local Seattle personal injury attorney.
Choosing a personal injury attorney can be difficult. You've probably never been in an accident that requires an attorney before and you don't know what to look for in an attorney. This is common. There are a few basic starting points that can help make the process easier for you.
The reputation of the lawyer you're considering is an important thing to know and understand before you hire him. Lawyers that are dishonest or are difficult for other attorneys to work with are not likely to get you the best possible settlement. Lawyers that are not responsive to your questions and needs are also hard to work with. There are online sites that review lawyers, and you should check those sites before you hire anyone.
The fees charged by lawyers can seem high for those that are unfamiliar with the profession. It's worth noting that lawyers are professionals with a similar educational background as doctors and their services are expensive. Personal injury lawyers frequently work on commission, meaning that their fee comes out of your settlement, without the need for an up front payment. Different lawyers charge different amounts from your settlement.
Lawyers who charge higher fees are generally lawyers that are experienced and have strong reputations. This can mean that they are able to negotiate a higher settlement than a less experienced lawyer could, which minimizes the cost difference to you.
However, you don't need to be locked into an expensive and experienced attorney. There are some excellent lawyers in the world that for various reasons are less experienced and expensive. For example, when lawyers are first opening their practice, they frequently charge less than more experienced attorneys because they are looking to build a practice and a reputation.
At a minimum, make sure that you're hiring a lawyer that specializes in personal injury cases. Some people are familiar with lawyers from other specialties that they like, and want to use them for all their legal needs. However, lawyers who are not specialized in personal injury are less effective in personal injury cases because they lack the specialized information regarding personal injury cases that you need.
When you're in Seattle, you need a personal injury attorney that is also from Seattle, who is familiar with local laws and other local personal injury attorneys, who fits your budget and is attentive to your needs. Taking a little time to research personal injury attorneys can save you a lot of time and earn you a better settlement.
