Personal injury claims can be complex. Many factors affect how successful a claim will be and how much money can be recovered. An experienced lawyer who knows what he or she is doing is essential. However, there are other qualities to look for when hiring an attorney to handle a case. Here’s why experience is the one thing that really matters in a personal injury attorney.
Reputation
When looking for an attorney, a great reputation matters. A lawyer’s reputation can be checked by reading online reviews and testimonials. If people who have used the lawyer before are saying things like “they messed up my case” or “they took me for a ride”, then that isn’t the right lawyer. On the other hand, if there is nothing but positive reviews, then it may be a good attorney.
Location
Finding an attorney that is located close by is also important. That way, meetings with the attorney can happen in person and evidence can be gathered easily. If the attorney is several towns over, it might be difficult for them to help with a case.
Experience Matters When It Comes to Personal Injury Cases
As mentioned, experience is the one thing that really matters when it comes to finding a personal injury attorney. An experienced lawyer will have all of the qualities mentioned above and more.
Working with experienced personal injury attorneys can make all the difference to a case.
Selecting a personal injury lawyer is one of the most crucial decisions that a person can make following an accident.
If the case is won, it stands a chance. If it is lost, the award may be only pennies on the dollar. Here’s the reality that most people don’t know:
Lawyers come in all shapes and sizes. Some have litigated tens of thousands of cases. Others have never set foot in court. This is important to know. Don’t get fooled by slick websites, flashy commercials, or large billboards.
Because: Experience matters at every stage of a case. From the initial phone call to the settlement cheque.
Here’s what’s inside:
- Why Experience Beats Everything Else
- How An Experienced Attorney Improves Case Value
- Skills Only Time In The Trenches Can Teach
- Signs Of A Truly Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
Why Experience Beats Everything Else
A seasoned personal injury lawyer understands how insurance companies work. They know how claimants get lowballed and payment delayed. They’ve seen trials through from beginning to end, so they know what to expect.
That knowledge is priceless.
Personal injury law is complex. There are always dozens of variables at play. Medical records, police reports, witness testimony, insurance policies. One error can derail an entire case. That’s why many seek out seasoned personal injury lawyers when the stakes are high. Things get learned out in the trenches that can’t be picked up from a textbook.
Statistics prove it. Plaintiffs who retain attorneys receive, on average, 4.4X more compensation. However, not all attorneys are created equal. Experience makes all the difference.
Think about it like this:
An inexperienced lawyer doesn’t know what to do yet. An experienced lawyer already knows what works and what doesn’t. There will be fewer errors and more success.
How An Experienced Attorney Improves Case Value
Experience directly changes how much a client walks away with.
Insurance companies have files on which lawyers actually go to trial versus those that crumble under pressure. Reputation is important. If an insurance adjuster recognizes a name they know will go toe to toe, they generally start higher.
There are three big reasons experience boosts case value:
- Better negotiation skills: Experienced lawyers have negotiated with insurance adjusters countless times. They understand when to fight and when to settle.
- Fair case valuation: Putting a dollar figure on pain, medical expenses and lost wages is no easy task.
- Trial readiness: Insurers know which attorneys actually try cases. Attorneys that insurers know will go to trial for their clients are offered more money.
That last one is huge.
Most cases never go to court. Actually 95% of personal injury cases settle before trial. However, settlements increase when the opposing side knows a lawsuit will be filed if necessary. A new attorney hasn’t earned that reputation. An experienced attorney has.
Skills Only Time In The Trenches Can Teach
There are some lessons law school doesn’t teach. They are learned only through years of practicing real cases. A skilled personal injury attorney has a complete toolbox for each case.
Here’s what that toolbox usually includes:
- Deep knowledge of local courts and judges
- Strong relationships with expert witnesses
- A network of medical professionals for evaluations
- A gut instinct for insurance company tricks
- Battle-tested strategies for tough cases
For example, doctors. Often personal injury cases require a doctor to testify as to future medical care. An experienced lawyer already knows doctors he trusts. An inexperienced lawyer may have to find one at the eleventh hour.
That difference in preparation can swing a case by tens of thousands of dollars.
And there’s another benefit most people overlook…
Seasoned lawyers know when there are red flags. They tell clients from the beginning if the case has little chance due to lack of evidence. They won’t drag things out if they know it’s a losing battle. This type of integrity is hard to find. It’s priceless when it is.
Paperwork also matters. Personal injury cases require lots of paperwork. Deadlines can be missed and ruin a case before it begins. An experienced lawyer will have office procedures to ensure everything is filed.
Signs Of A Truly Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
Experience means different things to different lawyers. Some use the word liberally without substance to support it. Asking the correct questions will weed out the amateurs from the experts.
Look for these signs when choosing an experienced personal injury attorney:
- Years spent focused on personal injury – not general practice
- A history of trial verdicts, not just settlements
- Case results that match the type of injury in question
- Strong reviews from past clients
- A willingness to talk openly about strategy
Most people don’t realize how important that last point is. A good lawyer will be straightforward. There are no legalese dance moves or equivocal promises. If the responses are murky, beware.
Also, pay attention to specialisation.
Personal injury spans such a broad spectrum – car wrecks, medical malpractice, slip and falls, workplace accidents, etc. A lawyer who has litigated hundreds of car wrecks may not be the ideal choice to handle a complicated medical malpractice case. Consider the types of cases that the attorney has handled.
Ask direct questions like:
- How many cases like this have you handled?
- What kind of results have those cases produced?
- Will you take this case personally or will it be transferred to a junior?
- How often do you take cases to trial?
The answers will tell more about an attorney than any brochure ever could.
One more thing…
Learn how many years the lawyer has spent exclusively practicing personal injury law. A jack-of-all-trades lawyer will not know as much as one who has made their career injury cases.
Bringing It All Together
When choosing a personal injury lawyer, experience is not a luxury but the single most important element that will determine the outcome of a case. No degrees on the wall or fancy advertisements will win a case. Hard-fought years in the courtroom will.
Cases get resolved quicker. Settlements are larger. Errors decrease. Experience levels the playing field.
Here’s a quick recap of what matters most:
- Experience improves negotiation power
- Experience raises case value
- Experience unlocks a network of experts
- Experience helps spot problems early
- Experience gives credibility with insurance companies
National averages can be deceiving. It’s what a particular lawyer can get for a particular claim that counts. Thousands of claims from someone who knows what they are doing beats a newbie any day.
When faced with mounting medical bills and an unresponsive insurance company, experience is priceless.
