Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney

A personal injury attorney is a lawyer who is certified by their state’s Board of Legal Specialization in the area of personal injury. In order to obtain such certification, the attorney must comply with the state’s regulations. These vary from state to state but typically include an application process, a demonstration of competence within the area of specialty, and a concentration on this form of law, which includes a certain total percentage of the firm’s resources used for this type of litigation. Also, there is usually some form of required continuing education as well as an exam that must be passed before a personal injury attorney certification is issued. An attorney is required to tell you if they are not certified, if asked, so make sure and inquire about this and see what the requirements for specialization are in your particular state.

A personal injury attorney can further specialize in some broader categories such as accidents, abuse, property liability and product liability among others. To further a personal injury attorney’s specialties, there may be particular types of cases that the firm concentrates on. There are numerous types that fall under the specialty of a personal injury attorney; however, some include dog bites, car accidents, trucking accidents, workers compensation cases, injuries on property, assault, unsafe products, medical injuries and wrongful evictions. While it is rare to find a personal injury attorney who specializes in only one, they are typically more versed in a few particular areas where they have a vast amount of experience.

If you have a particular case and are looking to hire a personal injury attorney, it is best to find one who already has experience in your particular issue. With the prevalence of lawyers who become a personal injury attorney, this should not be difficult to do. Look in the telephone book, check out this firm Lawyer’s Guide and ask for references when searching for a personal injury attorney. Get references from former clients with similar or exact type of claim as you have.

Also, make sure to research their track record of wins and losses which should include the number of settlements that were awarded. It is often more lucrative for all parties to agree on a settlement instead of getting put through a lengthy and costly trial. Make sure you understand the fees involved and the particulars of the process before you hire a personal injury attorney. The personal injury attorney should fully explain everything to you and be willing to listen and include you in the case.