If you have been hurt in an accident, you may be contemplating filing a personal injury lawsuit. Before you hire a lawyer to represent you, you should know a number of things.
First, the likelihood of a substantial recover is much higher when you are represented by an attorney. The insurance companies don’t want you to have a lawyer for that reason. They know that if you are represented by counsel, they will have to pay you a lot more in a settlement or in an award. According to one study, settlements for injury victims were 40% higher when represented by a lawyer as compared to when they represented themselves.
Second, a lawyer should offer a free initial consultation. During this appointment, you will be able to learn more about the strength of your case, as well as your legal rights and options. If an attorney wants to charge you for this consultation, be wary.
Third, contingency fee arrangements align your interests with those of a California personal injury attorney. With this type of fee agreement, your lawyer only gets paid if you do. This means that your lawyer’s goal is the same as yours: to achieve the highest possible settlement or award for you.
Understanding this concepts can help you make a better decision when it comes to hiring your personal injury lawyer.
