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How do I choose a personal injury lawyer?

Many people are faced with this issue every day. Let me tell you, choosing a personal injury attorney for your Pennsylvania or New Jersey case is not easy. Most people have no idea where to start. We are sure you see the tasteless personal injury lawyer commercials on TV, their billboards on I-95 or I-76, or on the bridges. Open the Yellow Pages. Every lawyer says the same thing: "Experienced", "No Recovery-No Fee", "Aggressive". Most injury law firm websites are not any more informative than an advertisement. This article should give you some insight into evaluating personal injury lawyers or even lawyers in general.

Personal Recommendations.

Most people would agree that word of mouth is a good indicator. If a family member, friend, or co-worker recommends a lawyer, this may be your best start. Hopefully you can trust that person's opinion about the lawyer. The problem with personal recommendations is that the attorney may have had a special relationship with that person or that person may have had a more interesting case than this attorney finds your case to be.

Client Reviews.

If you do not have a personal recommendation, check to see if the lawyer's clients have written reviews or testimonials about the lawyer and his or her work and service. People would not voluntarily publish their names next to a review if the law firm gave them bad service. To find client reviews, check the law firm's website, their Google Places listing, or their www.avvo.com listing.

Peer Reviews.

Is this lawyer recognized by his or her peers? Look for recommendations by other lawyers in the industry about the lawyer you are researching. Does this lawyer have a good reputation with other lawyers in the community? Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers are publications that list lawyers who are recognized by their peers. Also, www.avvo.com is a lawyer rating service where lawyers can endorse other lawyers and their work product.

Focusing on Your Type of Case.

We learned early in our careers that many attorneys think they can practice personal injury law. Stick to the lawyers that focus much of their practice on Pennsylvania and/or New Jersey personal injury law. The law that governs personal injury cases in PA and NJ is ever changing. A focused personal injury lawyer will keep up with the latest legal developments and know how to present them in court.

Published Writings.

Is the lawyer a legal authority on personal injury law? Has the attorney written legal guides or books on PA or NJ personal injury law. At the very least, does the lawyer have his or her own legal blog? A lawyer who writes about the law certainly keeps up with the ever changing parts of the law. A recent legal development may make or break your case. Don't compromise!

Case Acceptance Guidelines.

This is an important attribute. Law firms today often take almost every personal injury case that comes in the door. With our nation's economic condition, lawyers, like everyone else, are scared that they will run out of business. Even law firms with great reputations and a constant flow of new clients often take on more work than they can adequately handle. You should find a lawyer with case acceptance guidelines. We often get calls from injured people who already have lawyers. These people complain that their lawyer is doing nothing on their cases. This may or may not be true, but it sure sounds like a communication problem. You want a lawyer that is interested in YOUR case and checks in with you frequently. And of course, you want a lawyer who promptly calls you back.

If you are injured in a PA or NJ accident, check out what Saile & Saile LLP's legal team has to offer.

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