What Are The Signs Of A Good West Virginia Personal Injury Attorney?

You might know that you want an attorney to help you file your claim after an injury, but how do you find a good one? A good attorney can make a big difference in the amount you recover from the insurance company. Indeed, your choice of attorney might determine whether you recover anything at all.

That said, there are four things you should consider as you look for an attorney. These are the attorney’s experience, track record and resources, plus your relationship with the attorney.

Experience

Personal injury is a very broad field. There are many types of injuries and many causes, and there are different legal nuances within the field. Accordingly, an attorney who might be good with one type of personal injury claim, such as medical malpractice, might not be as strong with a different type, like truck crashes.

You want your attorney to have significant experience with the specific type of claim you have. If your claim involves a commercial motor vehicle, you want someone who knows those types of claims and all the ins and outs of truck crashes. An experienced attorney is more likely to anticipate and be prepared for the truck company’s defenses.

Track Record

An experienced attorney will have an established track record of results. You can look into that record and see if it is promising or not. After all, an experienced attorney will likely have a reputation among the lawyers on the other side. If that reputation is for being soft, the insurance company’s attorneys might feel they can take advantage of you. However, that is not likely to be the case if your attorney has a record of being tough in courtrooms and negotiations.

To check on an attorney’s record, you might look at the results listed on the firm’s website. You can ask the lawyer about the results. You can look for online reviews. You can ask for recommendations from friends, neighbors and co-workers. Some of them might have had experiences with the attorney. A good search will raise some red flags or provide you with greater confidence.

Resources

It is important that the attorney who represents you has the resources necessary to do whatever the case requires. If you have a significant case, such as one that involves a significant injury or death, you will likely need an attorney able to muster the manpower a bigger case can take. You will also want your attorney to have the financial resources available to bring in expert witnesses who can strengthen and support your arguments.

These resources are especially important when you consider that you may be going up against a major corporation, its team of lawyers and the whole roster of expert witnesses they call to testify. You do not want to go into that situation completely outmatched. You want to hire somebody who can keep the playing field even. You want someone who is going to be able to support your case with the same types of resources.

A Relationship Built On Trust

You need to pick an attorney with whom you feel comfortable - someone you can trust. Over the course of your case, you are likely to have questions. Things will change. You may learn things that you don’t understand. You may need to check on the progress of obtaining your medical records or certain court filings. A good attorney will make himself or herself available to answer your questions.

Perhaps a paralegal can say whether or not your team submitted a document on time, but when it comes time to discuss settlement offers, you want to talk directly to your attorney. A good lawyer will be accessible. That’s not always the case with some attorneys. You might feel comfortable with an attorney’s level of experience, but if you cannot get ahold of the attorney until you’re sitting down in closing negotiations with the insurance company, can you trust that the attorney truly understands your concerns?

Bringing It All Together

Most injury cases settle outside of the courtroom. However, the decision whether to go to trial or negotiate a settlement is yours. Your attorney will advise you, but the choice is yours.

Whether you go to trial or negotiate, you want an attorney who has the experience and resources to build a strong and compelling case. You want a track record of past successes. And you want an attorney you can trust to give you good advice. The time to start talking about all the numbers and factors that might go into a reasonable settlement is not at the negotiating table. It’s earlier than that. You and your attorney should be working toward that understanding, building your rapport and discussing your options well before then.