Personal Injury
Choosing the best personal injury lawyer for you is a lot like finding the right pair of shoes: they must be a good fit for the intended purpose.
When you have an injury due to an accident, you probably feel overwhelmed by medical bills, inability to work, and missing out on social activities.
Consulting a personal injury attorney in North Carolina can be crucial to the success of your case.
What Is a Personal Injury Attorney?
A personal injury lawyer provides legal representation to someone injured in an accident, often caused by someone else’s negligence.
Personal injury is a legal term that encompasses many different situations, including:
- Car accidents,
- Slip and falls,
- Product liability accidents,
- Dog bites, and
- Medical malpractice.
A personal injury lawyer will help you recover financial compensation for your injuries and typically handle your case from inception to a settlement or award.
A typical personal injury case will involve gathering evidence, investigating the claim and accident, filing a complaint, discovering depositions, negotiating a potential settlement, and litigating the case at trial.
How to Choose the Best Personal Injury Lawyer
Personal injury lawyers are plentiful in North Carolina, so finding the right one for your case can be challenging without some guidance. Here are some helpful tips on how to choose the best personal injury lawyer in Charlotte, NC.
Ask Those Closest to You
Like many other professional services, asking your closest family and friends is often vital when choosing a personal injury attorney.
One or more of your friends or relatives likely have gone through a personal injury case of their own and can provide you with a recommendation for the attorney they hired.
They would probably recommend that attorney to you if they had a pleasant experience and a favorable outcome.
Google Prospective Attorneys
In most areas of life, we often turn to Google to check reviews, ratings, and statistics. You should do the same with potential attorneys.
Researching law firms and individual lawyers can provide insight into who they are and what clients think of them.
A simple online search can provide information on their practice, professional achievements, client reviews, and successful cases. You can also gain knowledge from the state or local bar association sites.
Of course, we do not recommend you rely solely on online research to hire an attorney, but it can be a valuable tool in narrowing down your list of potential candidates.
Interview Prospective Lawyers and Firms
Most personal injury law firms and attorneys offer free initial consultations or case reviews. Once you narrow your list of potential candidates, you should schedule an appointment to meet with them.
While one of the main reasons for a first consultation is for the attorney to learn about your situation, another purpose is for the client to learn about the attorney and decide if this might be a good fit. After an initial consultation, you will probably know whether you want to hire this attorney. At Mehta & McConnell, we always offer free initial consultations. Contact us anytime to set one up.
Ask About Availability and Workload
Piggybacking off the previous tip, during an initial consultation, it is a good idea to ask the attorney about their availability and caseload. You want to ensure they have the time to dedicate to your case.
If they rush you through the meeting or are constantly interrupted by phone calls and other concerns, then it might be a sign they are overcommitting themselves to cases and clients.
Tips on What to Avoid When Searching for a Personal Injury Attorney
While it is helpful to lean on specific tips for choosing a personal injury lawyer, knowing what to look out for and avoid is equally important.
One of the biggest things you should be cautious of is lawyers that directly try to solicit your business. In personal injury, these attorneys are often called “ambulance chasers” because they target accident victims to get their business.
It is also essential to steer clear of non-attorney services. It is unfortunate that unlicensed individuals and agencies offer assistance without the proper credentials.
Remember, a professional attorney with a well-established reputation will not make unrealistic promises to gain your business.
Best Personal Injury Lawyer, Charlotte, NC
At Mehta & McConnell, we are former defense attorneys, so we know what it takes to have a successful case.
We know how to negotiate with insurance adjusters, investigate claims, and prepare cases for hostile litigation.
If you have been injured in an accident in or around Charlotte, contact us to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation consultation today.
Jason McConnell
Jason McConnell is the managing attorney of Mehta & McConnell Injury Lawyers, a Charlotte, North Carolina Workers’ Compensation law firm. In his free time he enjoys playing golf, cooking, traveling and following the UNC Tar Heels and Carolina Panthers.
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