If you or a loved one have recently suffered through the trauma of an accident and need immediate legal help, you probably already know that a good lawyer can make all the difference. Your way to recovery can either be a bit smoother, allowing you to focus on recovering, or you could be saddled with medical bills and frustrating phone calls that only add to your trouble and hinder your recovery. A lawyer would help alleviate much of the pain and will handle the more complicated aspects of the accident’s aftermath so that you don’t have to.
However, you’re probably wondering how you can ensure that the lawyer you reach out to is a good one, invested in your interests, and eager to not only help but also secure a sense of justice for your case. That might seem like a tall order, but luckily, there are a variety of ways to vet your legal team before you bring them on board.
The internet, of course, can be a super helpful tool in this crusade, so read the following tips carefully and you’ll be on your way to finding excellent legal counsel in no time.
Legal Team in Your State
You should note that the laws in each state are rather different and so, depending upon the nature of your accident, you will want to get a legal team familiar with the ins and outs of said state. For example, if you are a resident of Florida and got into an accident in another state, make sure that the lawyer – if you already have one – is licensed to practice this particular kind of law in the state in which you were hurt.
On the other hand, if you got into the accident in your home state of Florida, then stick to finding a lawyer who already practices in your state and can be easily vetted. As you search online, make sure that you specify the kind of accident you got into, whether it was a truck accident, rideshare issue, personal injury, and so on. As the experts over at this URL indicate, you should look into the expertise and background of the legal team you are considering, while also gauging their success rate.
If they proudly announce on their site that they have been able to secure assistance for the vast majority of their cases and back up this claim with verifiable stats, then you know that you are looking at an experienced legal expert in your state that can back you up in this time of need.
Sidestep Paid Ads
One important thing to remember when searching online for a lawyer is to not merely type “car accident lawyer in Florida” in the search engine. You may be aware of the power of Google advertising, and you will be swamped with paid advertisements from many lawyers who may not necessarily have the best skill set or even reputation. Searching online can really be a mixed bag – you might get some very experienced lawyers, but you will also find a bunch of paid ads that may not be of use to you at all. The best way to find an experienced lawyer in your state is to search your state’s bar association or other professional organizations that have excellent experience in the field you need. Also check if they are board-certified, with the full backing of other professionals practicing law. Otherwise, you might be falling into the trap of getting someone who can afford a snazzy ad but doesn’t actually have the necessary qualifications to fight for you.
The Power of Online Reviews
It’s hard to remember how we went to restaurants without first scouring Yelp before venturing outside. Actually, most of us spend a bunch of time checking online reviews for pretty much anything and everything before taking the plunge, since they are the contemporary equivalent of word-of-mouth on speed. Therefore, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t research online reviews about the legal office you’re thinking of calling beforehand. Check and see what the reviewer says about the lawyers’ ability to negotiate, the ease of communication, and the overall success ratio. These are all helpful barometers in assessing their skill set and whether or not they can help you win your case.
Get a Consultation
Most law offices will allow you to get a free trial run with the lawyer before you decide to sign up, especially the reputable ones. If you have narrowed down your choices, but feel you still need a bit of extra confirmation that you are getting a competent lawyer to fight for you, then call and set up a free consultation. That way, you can properly assess how helpful that person is, whether they are knowledgeable about your particular situation, and you can ask for advice which allows you to gauge how comfortable you feel around this person. Most accident lawyers are acutely aware of the fact that you are entrusting them with an important part of your emotional and physical well being, and would gladly set up an appointment to further put you at ease. So pick up the phone and don’t be shy.
A Clean Track Record
One last thing you need to do in order to properly vet your lawyer is to look into their disciplinary record. You don’t want someone who was previously accused of bending the rules or of outright corruption. The Department of Lawyer Regulation established what is called the Attorney Consumer Assistance Program, which helps to administer a statewide disciplinary system through which you can easily search for the lawyers in question and make your own kind of background check. After all, you’ll be vetted as a client by the potential lawyer, you might as well do the same before hiring one.
While scouring the internet nowadays for help may seem rather daunting given the amount of paid advertisements you will come across, and just the sheer number of falsehoods openly published on websites, there are a few ways to circumvent all the “noise” and get proper assistance. To preserve your peace of mind, follow the tips laid out here, and don’t forget the importance of calling professional organizations in your own state for more advice.
