The bustling field of personal injury law is complex and involves many specialized practices and skill sets. If you hire an attorney who handles but does not specialize in personal injury, but, for instance, one who normally handles divorce proceedings or tax issues, insurance companies will know how to recognize this and, knowing that this lawyer is not going to go to trial, they will lowball their offer accordingly. You are seriously risking the quality of your legal representation if you opt for an attorney who does not specialize in personal injury law.
A car accident almost always leaves its victims with a multitude of questions that need to be answered promptly and precisely. Which driver was at fault? Who will be paying for the damages that were done to my car? What about my medical bills? Are they going to be out of pocket? Do I qualify for compensation for my pain and suffering? Will the insurance company reimburse me for lost wages since I was too injured to be able to go to work for two months? An experienced personal injury attorney can be remarkably effective in negotiating the usually chaotic and complex world of insurance settlements and claims.
Due to the fact that most personal injury attorneys operate on a contingent-fee basis, meaning they only get paid if the outcome of your case is successful, there is virtually no incentive whatsoever to attempt handling this type of claims all on your own, especially in the event that substantial injuries are involved in the matter.
A History of Taking Cases to Trial if it Becomes Necessary
Sadly, most attorneys who advertise that they manage personal injury cases have never even seen the inside of a courtroom. These types of attorneys have a very different tactic. They agree to take your case and then try to urge you to settle for a fraction of what your case is actually worth. On the flip side of that same token, insurance companies are actually quite aggressive. If they are aware of the fact that your attorney will not go to trial, or that he or she is not confident about his or her abilities in the courtroom, then they will absolutely take advantage of this situation and make incredibly low settlement offers or make almost no effort to settle your case at all. The insurance adjuster is going to be relying on the fact that the attorney you have hired is incompetent when it comes to this type of case and will most likely unwittingly assist them by pressuring you to accept whatever ridiculous offer once he sees that the insurance company is not going to voluntarily cough up any more money. If the attorney you are thinking about hiring isn’t 100% willing to bring the case before a jury, the insurance company will find out about and, as you might expect, use it against you.
A Track Record of Winning Cases and High Payouts
If you have a case that involves multiple drives and/or serious injuries it is important to be aware of the fact that your auto accident attorney should be able to bring home a winning verdict and a large settlement. Find out from your attorney how many winning judgments or high dollar settlements he has won. Is the attorney you are considering hiring a member of the Million Dollar Advocates group? The Million Dollar Advocates is a distinguished group of attorneys who have settled or tried cases worth at least a million dollars or more. Of course, not every case is even worth a million dollars, but on the off chance that you do have that sort of a case, it will be in your best interest to make sure that you also have the attorney who is best able to represent you.
An Active Member of State and National Trial Attorney Organizations
Just like anyone else who is dedicated to their chosen field of employment, serious personal injury attorneys learn from, and even collaborate with, other personal injury attorneys who are recognized as being outstanding in their line of work. In our contemporary climate, where it is not only common but expected that insurance adjusters will use underhanded techniques and tricks in order to save their company money at the cost of the injured, it is crucial to be up to date on any new laws, and subsequent loopholes, that have been passed, and to keep abreast of what techniques the other side is currently favoring.
Has Enough Resources to Take Your Case Seriously
When you are deciding on which attorney to hire for your case, take a look around when you go to visit their offices. Do they look like they are successful? Do their offices look like the attorney is doing well? Does the attorney you have in mind have a line of credit or other assets that may be essential to properly developing your case? Severe personal injury cases are not cheap to prepare for. Properly preparing for a case can often require several experts. Usually, several doctors have to have their depositions taken and, sometimes, must later appear in court. Depending on the nature and severity of the accident, other experts, such as accident reconstructionists, economists, vocational rehabilitation specialists, biomechanics, and life care planners, need to be hired. It is not uncommon for the expenses of a single case to exceed $100,000 from proper planning and preparation alone. Make absolutely certain that your potential attorney has enough capital to be able to thoroughly pursue every avenue that might make a difference in the outcome of your personal injury case.
If you or someone that you love has been injured in a traffic accident and is currently seeking out legal representation, then looking for someone with these qualifications can help you to ensure that you get the attorney that will be ideal for your current situation. The personal injury attorneys here at Siegfried & Jensen have over thirty years worth of experience in helping victims recover from life-changing auto accidents and making sure that they collect the maximum amount of financial compensation for their losses. Our clients are our family and we always do our best to get what is best for you. If you would be interested in a free consultation with one of our personal injury attorneys regarding your case, then please reach out to us by calling (801) 845-9000 today.
Content checked by personal injury attorney Todd Bradford. I worked for a small law firm in Utah County, where I handled various types of cases. My main focus was personal injury and I decided that is what I enjoyed doing the most. I rejoined Siegfried and Jensen in 2012 where my focus is solely on helping personal injury clients. I take pride in helping personal injury clients and enjoy serving them. If you need an attorney for auto accidents or injuries of any kind in Salt Lake City, UT, Ogden, UT, Spokane, WA, or Boise, ID, contact us.
