If you've been hurt in a vehicle accident that wasn't your fault, you may be entitled to compensation for damage to your vehicle as well as pain and suffering. Here are a few things to consider when choosing a personal injury lawyer to represent you in your case:
Negotiations
A lawyer may be able to negotiate compensation with the other party's insurance adjuster before having to go to court, which will likely save you some money on legal fees and help settle your case quickly. During your initial consultations, ask each personal injury lawyer you speak with whether or not they are willing to take steps, like negotiate with the insurance companies, to win your case before resorting to filing a court motion. Ask each service provider to offer some suggestions about how they'll proceed with your case so you can easily compare your options among the attorneys you speak to.
Discounts
Some of the lawyers you consult with may be willing to offer you discounts on their services if you're willing to do some of the legwork for them. For example, if you'll go back to the scene of the accident to take photos of street signs and other landmarks, you'll save your lawyer some time and likely some money yourself.
Using diligence to photograph your visible bodily injuries once a week as they heal will produce significant evidence your lawyer can use to prove your case and optimize the compensation amount that you're awarded, so they may be willing to give you a small discount for your efforts. So it is sure to be worth your time to ask each lawyer if they provide discounts for client help. If so, get a list of the details to take home and compare.
Consultations
During your initial consultations, make a point to ask each lawyer you meet with if there will be a fee for additional consultations when you feel the need to have one. While some attorneys include unlimited free consultations with their personal injury services, others may put a cap on the number of consultations you're entitled to. Other lawyers may insist on charging a fee for any consultations you want to have while they're representing you. Additionally, many lawyers offer different types of consultations, so make sure that each one you consult with doesn't give you a ballpark figure for fees and instead gives you specific numbers for each type of consult they offer.
Paperwork Management
There is bound to be a lot of paperwork to keep track of as your personal injury case unfolds. It can get overwhelming to keep track of what needs to be submitted to the insurance companies or court, what has been submitted, what might need revisions before being submitted again, and whether or not all of the information filled out on the paperwork is correct. Because of this, it's a good idea to make sure that the personal injury lawyer you decide to work with is willing to handle all forms of paperwork that are related to your case for you. Anytime you get something in the mail; you should be able to send it directly to your lawyer for processing without having even to look at it. Your lawyer should also provide you with copies of paperwork and documentation on a regular basis that tells you what has been done so far so you can stay in the loop.
Support Services
Many lawyers maintain professional working relationships with other types of specialized service providers, which can save you some money on their services. For instance, your lawyer may be able to hook you up with a quality physical therapist or a reliable auto body technician and score you a discount for being a recommended client. Some attorneys you consult with may even offer discounted medical supplies that can help you recover from your injuries for a fraction of the usual cost. Ask each potential lawyer to provide you with a list of products, services, and support options that they have access to and what types of perks you can expect when tapping into those resources.
After consulting with potential personal injury lawyers from law offices like Knafo Law Offices, sit down with your collected information and compare it all side-by-side to determine which legal representative is likely to provide you with the most bang for your buck.
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