If you have been in an accident with another person there is probably a lot going through your mind. However, one of the first things that people do after they have been in an accident is think about hiring an attorney. Attorneys are trained and licensed to practice law, however, that does not mean that they are all the same. Before you hire an attorney you should consider which one is right for your particular situation. This blog post will explore some of the questions you should consider before hiring a Fayetteville AR personal injury lawyer.
Personal Injury Lawyer Attributes
Do they have a specialty – Not every lawyer practices in the same area of the law, so it is important to start your search with a lawyer who practices or has experience in personal injury. Some lawyers focus on criminal defense and litigation, others prefer business, and others practice in family law. There are hundreds of nuanced practice areas of the law, and while any licensed attorney is entitled to take on a personal injury case, many will not take on a case where they are unfamiliar with the law. Even if an attorney does practice in personal injury, they may specialize in a certain type of personal injury. For example, some attorneys who practice personal injury choose to focus their practice on construction, or solely on medical malpractice. Before selecting a personal injury attorney you should see if they have a particular type of personal injury that they are known for or prefer.
Location – Often lawyers are licensed to practice law in more than one state, and while their license may allow them to practice in a state, they may be unfamiliar with your particular location. Where the lawyer is located is also an important point to consider, this is particularly important in larger states such as California, Texas, and even Arkansas. Some attorneys choose to focus their practice in a certain geographic location. Part of the reasoning behind this is that every court has their own set of rules, and while they are largely the same, some attorneys do not want to regularly change how they file cases to conform with local court rules. In addition, attorneys like to be a part of their communities, therefore, may choose to work in an area where they can connect with their clients and communities. Before you hire a personal injury attorney, you should consider their geographic location in relation to yours. While an attorney may be willing to travel anywhere in the state, you must also consider how much personal interaction you want to have with your attorney, and how their geographic location can ultimately affect you.
Accessibility – Having ready access to your attorney can be very important in a personal injury case. You should consider how accessible an attorney is before you hire them to take on your case. You should ask if you can talk to your attorney when you want to, do they have staff who may be able to answer questions? Do they have email and do they respond to emails timely?
Your desire to be included – Each client and each attorney are different when it comes to accessibility. Some clients want to be very hands-off and want their attorney to handle everything for them. These clients often do not want to think about their accident and injuries, or the complicated legal processes that are unfolding, so they want their attorney to handle everything for them and simply tell them when and where to show up. However, other clients want to be involved in every step of the process. These clients feel a sense of satisfaction by helping their attorney gather documents, identify injuries, and reviewing correspondence with the opposing side. Before you select a personal injury attorney, you need to consider how much you would like to be involved in the process.
Cost – Cost is important to everybody, and it is important to know how much your personal injury attorney is going to cost from the beginning. Some personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means that they will not get paid unless they are able to recover money for you. An attorney who works on a contingency fee basis who “wins” a case, will then be paid out of the amount. Other attorneys will charge you by the hour and will provide you an itemized list of their tasks and the prices. In addition, you should consider how much an attorney is offering compared to other attorneys in the area. Similar to other professions, the longer an attorney has been in practice, the higher they are likely to charge. However, you should consider the attorney’s cost and their experience as compared to other attorneys in the same area with a comparable amount of experience.
Compatibility – Personal injury cases are often traumatic. Before you hire an attorney you need to feel comfortable with them. An attorney is someone who you put an immense amount of trust in, so meeting with your attorney to see if they are compatible with you is very important.
There are many other factors to consider when hiring an attorney, and deciding who is the best person to represent you is important. It is important to take your time to find an attorney, however, do not wait too long or you may not be allowed to bring your case to court because of something that is known as the statute of limitation, which can bar a personal injury case that was filed too long after the accident occurred.
Injured in an Accident? Contact a Fayetteville, Arkansas Attorney
If you find yourself in an automobile collision and need legal assistance, never hesitate to call the Ken Kieklak. At the Law Practice of Ken Kieklak, we are dedicated to client service and aggressive representation. It’s our firm’s personal approach to the law and relationship with our clients that sets us apart. For your free and confidential legal consultation call us at (479) 316-0438 or contact us online.