Some personal injury lawyers regularly advertise on television or place large billboards in high traffic areas of the city. While attorneys who market their legal services in these ways aren’t necessarily bad lawyers, the reach and size of a law firm’s advertising campaign should not matter when it comes to selecting the right representation for your accident case. Although a lawyer might be good at marketing, even the snappiest jingle can’t demonstrate their ability to obtain the maximum amount of recovery for you or your loved ones.
What to Look for When Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer
You wouldn’t rely on a billboard ad to choose a heart surgeon, so why would you when it comes to something as serious as your injury claim? You only get one shot at obtaining maximum compensation in your accident case, so it’s essential to choose an attorney wisely.
Rather than be persuaded by the amount of money an attorney puts into their advertising budget, there are a few important things to look for when you’re hiring a personal injury lawyer.
The Lawyer’s Experience
There’s no substitute for experience. Lawyers who have dedicated years of practice to prosecuting personal injury cases, developing their strategies, and honing their negotiation skills are often in the best position to maximize recovery.
Before retaining a lawyer for your personal injury case, you should ask:
- How long have you been practicing personal injury law?
- What percentage of your practice is dedicated to personal injury law?
- How many cases like mine have you handled?
It’s also important to be aware that age doesn’t always mean an attorney has more experience — a young lawyer who has tried many personal injury cases in court might be more seasoned than a litigator who has practiced for many years but has never taken an accident case to trial.
The Lawyer’s Reputation
Integrity, honesty, and transparency are some of the most important qualities to look for in a lawyer. A good personal injury lawyer will be straightforward and inform you about the pros and cons in your case from the outset — they shouldn’t guarantee unrealistic results just to get you to sign on the dotted line.
If a lawyer makes a promise about the outcome of your case that sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
You can do your research on an attorney’s reputation before you retain them by:
- Finding out whether they have any disciplinary records
- Checking the internet for newspaper articles
- Getting a referral from a trusted source
Internet reviews about attorneys are often not reliable — but if there are multiple allegations concerning lack of integrity, it might be best to steer clear.
In addition to being honest about your case’s chances of success, a personal injury lawyer should be upfront about the work that’s being done on it throughout the litigation process. Unfortunately, too many accident victims retain an attorney only to be left bitterly disappointed when they find that their case has been neglected or resolved for far less than what it was worth.
The Lawyer’s Track Record of Results
A lawyer’s track record can say a lot about their ability to prosecute personal injury cases. It’s a good idea to look into an attorney’s past results before you hire them. You can do this by reviewing the lawyer’s website for previous results and looking at the lists of top verdicts and settlements in the state.
Prior results don’t guarantee similar outcomes in the future. However, if a lawyer has maximized recovery time and again, it’s not by accident. It’s because the lawyer has the skill, experience, and dedication necessary to obtain those results.
When a firm consistently secures high verdicts and settlements — as our firm has — it bodes well for the ultimate result in your case, as well.
Contact an Experienced New York Personal Injury Attorney
If you’ve suffered injuries due to the negligence of another, you should contact a personal injury attorney immediately who can secure the maximum compensation you deserve. When choosing an attorney, remember that it’s not the size of a billboard ad that matters — but the size of the results your lawyer can obtain.
Due to our integrity, skill, and extensive experience, we regularly secure millions in compensation for our clients and are one of the few firms in New York that consistently appears on the top verdict and settlement lists.
The Edelsteins, Faegenburg & Brown LLP have extensive experience fighting for the rights of accident victims to ensure they get the maximum compensation they deserve. Located in Manhattan, we have been handling personal injury cases throughout New York City since 1937. Call to schedule a free consultation at (212) 425-1999 today.