Picking the right Sacramento personal injury lawyer can mean all the difference for your case. However, it can be intimidating to do the footwork! There’s a lot of research to do on the internet and through phone calls. You may even have to speak with trusted associates about possible lawyers to hire. In the end, you’ll consult with attorneys in person, even before you hire them for the case!
Lawyers and law practices have areas of law they specialize in. Some lawyers have years, even decades of experience with cases that go to trial. Other lawyers focus on areas of law where trials are uncommon. Searching online for more information about an attorney can seem overwhelming, but there are ways to make the process seem easier. If you focus on some specifics, you can narrow down your choices to a select group of candidates who are best suited for your legal needs.
Do you need a Sacramento personal injury lawyer?
First, establish if you need a personal injury lawyer. If you’ve been injured due to the negligence of another, or are alleged to have injured someone, then you want an attorney who specializes in personal injury law.
You want an attorney with trial experience. You also want someone who can negotiate; there is always the chance that your case gets settled out of court. A good personal injury attorney will understand medical processes and diagnoses, and they’ll have a proven understanding of the laws regarding negligence and liability.
What to look for in your attorney
You can learn a lot about a lawyer from their website, but there’s more information to follow up on.
Not all personal injury cases are the same! Negligence on the highway is different from negligence in the office, even though both may result in an injury. A defective product causing your injury means that your case may not involve just one or two individuals, but rather a large corporation. You want a lawyer whose experience and focus will meet your case’s needs.
For example, Penney and Associates gained notoriety across the U.S. in the wake of a Legionnaires’ disease case here in California. If you’ve contracted this disease after a hospital or hotel visit, then it stands to reason that you’d want to speak with attorneys from this practice. Even if your illness isn’t Legionnaires’, you could infer that Penney and Associates understands medical malpractice, and how the neglect of building facilities could spread an unwanted disease.
Check the record!
You want a disciplined Sacramento personal injury lawyer. It’s simple enough to look up this information for a California lawyer by searching the state bar website. Should an attorney have a poor disciplinary record, you may want to move on with your search.
You can also seek information on trusted websites, such as Lawyers.com, or Avvo. Positive feedback from people confirmed to have hired or consulted with the attorney in question is a good sign, and a site like Avvo allows people to leave public reviews about attorneys. Avvo also tracks important information, including any instances of misconduct, awards won, and years licensed.
Thanks to search engines like Google, you can easily look up even more information on a given attorney or practice.
Attorneys with strong winning records are valuable to have at your side. If they win often, it means they are performing their due diligence for their clients. No personal injury attorney can remain undefeated forever, but if they’re on the losing end more often, then perhaps you should move on to the next candidate.
On referrals
If someone you trust has referred you to a lawyer, they may be worth consulting with. A combination of positive reviews on a site like Avvo, and referrals from friends or family may steer you into hiring that lawyer immediately. Remember to be certain the lawyer meets all your requirements first!
Meeting with a lawyer
Once you’ve determined who your top Sacramento personal injury lawyer candidates are, it’s time to meet with them. Be certain you have as much information about your case as possible. This is as much to help you as it is to help the attorney during the consultation and the case.
A consultation DOES NOT mean you must hire the lawyer, far from it! The best lawyers will hold a thorough consultation with you regardless of whether you hire them or not. They will not be trying to just sell their services to you, but rather they will give you the best advice and information possible about your case. They’ll explain important information, such as the statute of limitations regarding your personal injury claim. They will tell you why you have a good case, or what information you may need to strengthen it.
Remember that hiring a Sacramento personal injury lawyer is a big step; it will not be cheap! It’s important that you are comfortable with the attorney you hire, and it’s important that they meet your legal needs. For additional assistance, here’s our listing of highly regarded Personal Injury attorneys on SacramentoLawyer.com! We’re certain that you’ll be able to find the right lawyer for your case.
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