How to Choose the Best Personal Injury Attorney Near Me

Finding the best attorney possible will be one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make, whether you were hurt in a truck accident, a motorcycle collision, or in any other fashion due to someone else’s negligence. It’s going to take some effort, and it will also take some time – but in the long run, that effort will be well worth it.

At The Jones Law Group, our personal injury attorneys obviously feel you should choose our firm. We have a long track record of success helping the victims of others’ negligence, and we’re ready to help you obtain the compensation you’re entitled to for the injury you’ve suffered. You can schedule a free case review by using our online contact form, or by giving us a call at (727) 571-1333.

Of course, we understand that you will likely still want to look around to find the attorney you feel will be the best fit for your specific case. Here’s some advice that will make your decision process a lot easier.

Choosing the Best Attorney For Your Case Requires Research

Again, finding an attorney to represent you will be one of the most important things you’ll ever do. As a result, you’ll need to do your due diligence. Don’t just go with a lawyer because you liked their TV ad, or because their firm popped up first on a Google search. Take your time and do your homework.

Start with a few different lawyers, and then narrow down your choice from there. A good attorney will give you sound advice, helping you avoid some of the pitfalls that could sink your case. But how do you go about finding that attorney? Start with the Florida State Bar Association, which will have a list of attorneys close to you who have experience in cases like yours.

There are plenty of other online resources you can research as well. These will provide information on the attorneys you’re considering, and many of them will also have online reviews posted by former clients.

Beware of Settlement Mills

If you hire an attorney who works for a so-called “settlement mill,” that could very well prove to be a major mistake. Settlement mills are law firms that take on a huge volume of cases, hoping to settle them quickly without having to go to court. While you probably don’t want your case to see the inside of a courtroom, you don’t want to sacrifice your chances of obtaining as much compensation as possible.

Unfortunately, if you hire a settlement mill, that’s exactly what could happen. These firms will often have funny, even flashy, TV ads, or will make it sound that it will be easy for you to win. The reality is that, in many instances, these settlements really don’t accomplish anything but making those firms a lot of money. Clients often find that the money they ultimately receive won’t be enough to cover their accident-related expenses.

Ask Friends, Family, and Coworkers for Recommendations

There are actually some similarities between hiring a lawyer and hiring someone to provide another kind of important service. If someone you trust recommends that service provider, that will give you a pretty good feeling you’ll get the results you want.

Talk to any co-workers, family members and friends who have recently needed a personal injury attorney. Find out if they were happy with that attorney’s communication, experience, and, ultimately, the results they delivered. That could go a long way toward helping you narrow your list.

Five Questions You Should Ask Before Hiring Your Attorney

Once you’ve done that, and you only have two or three attorneys you’re considering, don’t be shy about asking questions. Here are five of them to keep in mind.

1. What’s Your Experience with Cases Like Mine?

You don’t want an attorney who specializes in family law to take on your car accident case. You want someone who knows there are substantial differences between car accident and truck accident personal injury cases. There are also major differences between slip and fall claims and dog bite cases.

Find out how long the attorneys left on your list have handled cases like yours, and ask for professional references as well. If any attorneys either can’t – or won’t, for whatever reason – provide those references, take them out of consideration immediately.

2. What is Your Success Rate?

Results are critically important, of course. You want an attorney who has won cases like yours. Any attorneys worth your trust will quickly be able to tell you the verdict and settlement amounts they’ve obtained for their clients.

3. How Do You See My Case Progressing?

No attorney will have a crystal ball, of course. They won’t be able to tell you how long your case will take, nor will they be able to tell you how much you’ll win. In fact, if any attorneys do make those kinds of promises, avoid them. All personal injury cases have their own unique challenges.

However, reputable attorneys will be able to give you a general idea of what those challenges will be, and how they plan to surmount them.

4. Who Will Be Handling My Case?

Clients who choose settlement mills have no idea who they’ll ultimately be working with. Reputable attorneys, on the other hand, will handle cases personally as often as possible. If they do have to pass a case to another lawyer, they won’t do so unless they fully inform the client. They also won’t do so unless they are fully convinced it will be in the client’s best interests.

5. Are You Willing to Take my Case to Trial?

Again, settlement mill attorneys want to stay out of court at all costs. They’ll often reach quick settlements, much to the detriment of their clients. If you want the best chance of getting the most money possible for your injury, you’ll want an attorney who is not only willing to go the distance, but also has a track record of success doing just that.

Choose Jones Law Group for Attorneys You Can Trust

At The Jones Law Group, we can guarantee that if you choose us, you’ll be represented by passionate, skilled attorneys who will do everything they can to help you win your case. Schedule a free consultation by calling (727) 571-1333 or contacting us online.