If you’ve never been a part of a civil court case before, you might be wondering, what is a personal injury lawyer or what does a personal injury lawyer do? A personal injury lawyer in San Diego stands up for clients suffering from physical and sometimes mental or emotional injuries. We research your accident and help you obtain fair monetary compensation to offset medical bills and time spent off work. We also perform other tasks such as representing our clients during negotiations and appearing in court.
How To Find a Personal Injury Lawyer
Personal injury attorneys are most often obtained through:
- Bar associations – You can lookup attorney profiles through bar associations to find one that best fits your needs. However, contacting a lawyer through these groups can be slow going. It may be better to look up a profile, then obtain direct contact through a website or by phone.
- Online searches/Phone book – While these searches will give you plenty of options, keep in mind that they don’t always give you enough information on an attorney’s background. Be sure to do your research.
- Word of mouth – One of the best ways to find a competent lawyer is to ask friends and family for recommendations. They may be able to point you toward reliable legal services.
How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?
Personal injury attorneys are most likely to charge clients on a contingency fee basis. This means you won’t pay for legal services unless the lawyer wins the case and you are legally compensated for your injuries. When filing a claim, you are free to speak to your attorney about the best method of compensation. The most common types of compensation are flat fees, hourly rates, and contingency fee arrangements.
- Contingency Fee Arrangements – This agreement only allows a lawyer to collect his or her fee if they win or settle your case. Typically, your attorney will collect around 1/3 of your total award. This is the most common fee agreement for personal injury claims.
- Hourly Rates – With an hourly fee arrangement, you are required to pay your attorney for the hours they spend working on your case. Your attorney should keep detailed records of hours worked, and they legally cannot bill you for any time spent on a different case.
- Flat Fees – In a flat fee arrangement, your lawyer is paid a predetermined sum when your case is complete. Unlike a contingency fee, you will be required to pay your attorney regardless of the outcome of your case. However, flat fee compensation is rare in personal injury cases.
What Questions Should I Ask a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Before working with an attorney, you’ll need some basic information about them. By interviewing them over the phone or through email, you should obtain detailed information about your potential lawyer’s experience and how it pertains to your case. When hiring a lawyer, get the following information:
- Any conflict of interest
- How much compensation the lawyer has won in similar cases
- How many cases the attorney is currently working on
- What they see as the projected outcome of your case
- The amount of fees collected in related cases
- Success rate in related cases
- How much experience they have in personal injury
- How much experience they have handling similar cases
- The attorney’s role at their law firm
Should I Hire a Personal Injury Attorney?
It’s often necessary to hire a personal injury lawyer because most people don’t have a fluent knowledge of personal injury laws. An attorney can help you file a lawsuit, represent you in court, and assist you with the technical aspects of your claim.
If you’re looking for a top-notch personal injury legal team to help you obtain compensation for your injuries and pain and suffering, call Jorgensen Law at 1-888-855-2948 or contact us online for a free case evaluation.