Category: Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer

In the aftermath of an accident, you may face the costs of your medical care and the additional financial challenges associated with being unable to work. However, if another person’s carelessness led to your injury, you must recognize that you have rights. Asserting them with the assistance of experienced personal injury attorneys can help you obtain full compensation.

Personal injury lawyers represent clients hurt under various circumstances brought about by another’s negligence or wrongdoing. If you have been injured and another party is to blame, speaking with an attorney about your rights and the next steps can be advantageous.

6 Types of Cases a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help With

Only some firms or attorneys will handle the same personal injury cases. You must carefully review a firm’s website or ask questions to ensure that an attorney you are considering hiring can represent you adequately. 

Nevertheless, most personal injury firms can help you if you have been hurt by any of the following:

1. Motor Vehicle Accidents

Collisions between cars, trucks, pedestrians, and bicyclists happen frequently and often result in some injury to one or both parties involved. These injuries can range from aches and pains to broken bones, spinal cord damage, and traumatic brain injuries. When these crashes result from one person’s carelessness, that person may bear financial responsibility.

A personal injury attorney can gather police reports and other existing records describing how the accident unfolded. They can also speak with witnesses who saw the accident and consult with experts if the cause of the crash is unknown. Finally, they can assist injury victims in navigating the insurance claims process and obtaining a fair settlement for their losses.

2. Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall claims are a form of premises liability that seeks to hold property owners liable for injuries that guests suffer on their properties. In addition to slipping and falling, individuals may have legal rights if they trip down poorly lit stairs, are electrocuted, or are attacked by someone else while visiting a property.

Property owners’ legal obligations are complex, and an attorney’s first task is determining the exact obligations the owner owed you. Your lawyer will then look for videos, witness statements, and other evidence that can be used to show how the property owner violated these obligations. 

3. Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice lawsuits are complicated matters involving massive amounts of medical records, opinions regarding the standards of care, and other relevant evidence. As such, not every law firm or personal injury attorney will handle medical malpractice cases. However, those who do can be of great value to you if you have been hurt because of negligent care. 

An attorney helps injured clients sift through the available information to determine whether their provider acted carelessly and is liable for damages. Besides doctors, medical malpractice cases can be filed against negligent surgeons, dentists, pharmacists, and hospitals, among others.

4. Dog Bites

You might not immediately consider the need for an attorney’s assistance after being bitten by a dog. However, in many states, dog owners are strictly liable for the harm their canines cause through such attacks. Individuals who suffer nerve damage or other severe injuries through a dog bite can seek the compensation they need for their expenses.

However, not every dog bite victim may be entitled to compensation. Those who have antagonized a dog or were trespassing at the time of the attack might be unable to recover damages. A skilled lawyer can help victims understand their rights and how to receive compensation.

5. Defective Products

You might instinctively trust that pharmaceuticals, cooking appliances, and other consumer products are safe for use. However, manufacturers who cut corners to increase their profit margins can allow dangerous products to enter the market. These can fail unexpectedly, resulting in severe injuries or even death.

A product liability attorney can analyze the design and marketing of a product that injured you, holding a manufacturer liable for damages caused by their dangerous products. Manufacturers may also face legal repercussions for failing to take adequate remedial measures (such as recalling or warning about the flawed product) once a defect is discovered.

6. Workplace Injuries

If you suffer an on-the-job injury, worker’s compensation benefits can help cover your medical expenses and some of your lost wages. However, in the event that someone besides your employer caused your injuries, you may be able to pursue additional compensation.

The interplay between a workplace accident and third-party negligence can be complicated, though. Thankfully, an experienced lawyer will not only advise you about your rights after you are injured at work but also help you manage your benefits and recovery so that you receive the full compensation you deserve.

Should You Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer?

If you have suffered an injury and incurred a financial loss as a result, you should consider having your case evaluated by a personal injury lawyer. Even if you think you did something wrong, you might be surprised to discover the legal rights you have. 

However, because personal injury lawsuits must be filed within the appropriate statute of limitations, it is best to consult an attorney sooner rather than later. Waiting too long to seek legal counsel can make it more difficult to receive the compensation you would otherwise deserve due to the loss of evidence and the unavailability of witnesses. 

Reaching Out For Legal Assistance Is the First Step To Recovery

You might not understand your legal rights following an accident. However, personal injury attorneys can assist individuals hurt by another’s carelessness under numerous and varied circumstances. And because many of them offer free consultations, you can often take the first step toward recovery and learn about your rights without any risk. 

You could face expensive treatment and therapy when you get injured in an accident. At the same time, your injuries might disable you from working. This puts you in a difficult position. You need medical treatment so you can work, and you need to work so you can pay for medical treatment.

If your injuries resulted from someone else’s negligence, you have another option. You can hire a personal injury attorney and pursue a personal injury claim in Las Vegas and throughout Nevada. Your compensation will cover your medical expenses, lost wages, and diminished earning capacity. This will help you meet your daily needs while focusing on your health.

Here are some suggestions about finding the best personal injury attorney for your case in Nevada.

Gather Names of Personal Injury Lawyers Near You

Gather names of lawyers who practice injury law. You have many sources for names, including:

Lawyer Recommendations from Friends and Family

Talk to friends, family members, neighbors, and co-workers about the lawyers they used for their cases. Former clients often provide the most accurate reviews of lawyers because they have direct experience seeing their lawyers in action.

If you do not know anyone who had an injury case, talk to people about lawyers they know. Legal professionals often know who has a good reputation even if they practice in a different field. If possible, gather names of Nevada personal injury lawyers from judges, paralegals, or other attorneys.

Also, look for non-recommendations. If someone has heard negative things about a lawyer or had a bad experience with them, exercise caution if hiring that lawyer.

Legal Directories

Many legal directories, like Avvo and Martindale-Hubbell, give lawyer ratings based on algorithms or peer reviews. Lawyers are rated on Avvo from 1 to 10. A score of six or more is considered a good rating. You should look for an attorney who has an Avvo rating of 9 or higher, such as attorney Justin Watkins, who practices personal injury law in Las Vegas, Nevada.

As a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer, Justin takes pride in earning high ratings from legal directories because they reflect his knowledge, experience, and ethics in the Nevada personal injury law field.

These legal directories also provide client review ratings. Since prior clients can speak directly to a lawyer’s client-handling skills, you might also find these ratings helpful.

Lawyer Referral Services

The State Bar of Nevada operates a lawyer referral service. When you contact this service by phone or online, the service will help you identify the type of lawyer you need. The service then provides the name of a lawyer you can contact for a 30-minute consultation for $45.

The benefit of the lawyer referral service is that participating lawyers are members of the Nevada Bar and have malpractice insurance. The downside is that the referral service does not screen lawyers based on quality. You could receive the name of a good lawyer or an average lawyer from the referral service.

Online Lawyer Searches

Online searches can often identify the law firms with the largest and most successful practices in your area. But sometimes clients want more than the firm that advertises the most. The firms that have the most prominent websites do not always provide the most personalized service.

And online reviews are not always accurate. There is no way to verify that a Google or Yelp review was left by a client. Sometimes losing parties or other non-clients leave negative reviews to try to tank a lawyer’s online rating.

Meet With Your Prospects – Most Nevada Personal Injury Lawyers Offer a Free Consultation

After gathering the names of prospective lawyers in Nevada, schedule free consultations with as many of them as possible. The more lawyers you speak to, the better the chances are that you will find a lawyer compatible with you and your case.

During your free consultation, discuss your case and the lawyer’s process for representing you. 

Ask questions like:

• How much do you charge?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of my case?
• What range of outcomes should I expect?
• Does my case have any impending deadlines?
• Who will handle my case?
• How will I get updates about my claim?
• How long will my case take?

Ideally, you will ask enough questions that you will have no surprises after you hire the attorney. You will have a much better relationship with your lawyer if you minimize the risk of misunderstandings.

The Process of Selecting a Nevada Personal Injury Attorney To Represent You

To pick a lawyer, you must understand what your lawyer will do in your case. When you know the skills your lawyer needs, you will have an easier time picking one.

Some skills your lawyer needs include:

Organizational Skills

Your lawyer will investigate your case and gather evidence. This evidence will help you prove the liability of the at-fault party and the losses you suffered. The law firm and lawyer you hire will need to keep your evidence organized so they can use it in your case.

Your lawyer will also need to keep track of the deadlines in your case. Missing a deadline can have catastrophic consequences, so your personal injury attorney must ensure that your filings and hearing dates get handled on time.

Knowledge of Personal Injury Law

You need a lawyer with knowledge of the law. The lawyer must take the facts of your case and apply the law to determine the likely outcome and value.

Experience Handling Your Type of Claim

The lawyer must have the experience to anticipate what will happen in your case and deal with it. While the same legal principles apply to most personal injury cases, you want a lawyer with experience dealing with your case’s specific issues.

For example, if you were injured due to medical malpractice, you should probably not hire a lawyer who focuses only on car accidents.

Excellent Communication Skills

Lawyers must have skills in two forms of communication. When talking to you, the lawyer must objectively assess your case and provide unbiased legal advice. When negotiating with insurance adjusters or arguing before a judge or jury, the lawyer must advocate for your position.

When you have your free consultation, note the lawyer’s ability to explain the law and how it fits your case. If a lawyer can explain things clearly to you, they will probably do a good job explaining things to a claims adjuster, judge, or jury.

Hire the Best Nevada Personal Injury Lawyer for Your Case

When you settle on a lawyer, ask for a copy of the lawyer’s fee agreement. Under Nevada’s Rules of Professional Conduct, the agreement must explain how the lawyer will calculate their fee and what you will owe at the end of the case. Review the agreement carefully and discuss any questions with the attorney.

Once you sign the fee agreement, the lawyer will start working on your case. If you choose the right lawyer, you should have a productive relationship as you pursue fair personal injury compensation.

After an accident, you may need an attorney to help you get the money you deserve.

In this post, we share our ideas on how to find the best personal injury attorney. See below to get started.

1. Searching Online

When choosing a personal injury lawyer, start by searching via a search engine like Google.

You can search by using terms like “good personal injury lawyers near me” or “personal injury attorney” followed by your City and State. So if you live in Los Angeles, CA, you would simply type, “personal injury attorney Los Angeles CA” into the search bar.

This type of search will usually give you a list of attorneys in your area and a list of legal (and non-legal) directories. See more about those below.

2. Legal Directories

Legal directories are like mini-search engines of their own, but focus only on attorneys. We’ll go over the most popular ones and one non-legal directory, Yelp.

Avvo

Avvo is one of the more popular attorney directories. Avvo offers a lot of great info including ratings, law school attended, and contact info. More importantly, Avvo tells you if the attorney has ever been disciplined by the California State Bar. Visit Avvo by clicking here.

FindLaw

FindLaw is another popular legal directory that may show up in the search results. FindLaw includes attorney contact info and a bio. FindLaw lacks the robust review system you’ll find in Avvo, but given FindLaw’s search engine placement, we included it in our list. Visit them by clicking here.

Lawyers.com

Lawyers.com is owned by Martindale-Hubble. They’ve been around for years providing info on attorneys. Lawyers.com provides contact info, client reviews, and peer reviews. You can see more by clicking here.

Yelp

Although not a legal directory, Yelp has established itself as a go-to location for those seeking an attorney. Yelp includes contact info, bio, and reviews. Visit Yelp them here.

3. Online Reviews

Many of the online directories listed above include personal injury lawyers reviews. When looking at reviews, make sure you don’t just look at the amount of reviews or overall ratings.

Instead, take the time to read the reviews – especially the longer ones. A long review might give you more insight into an attorney.

Another way to find attorney reviews is by using Google Maps. Once you’re there, type “personal injury attorney” and you’ll see results below with reviews.

4. California State Bar Page

No attorney search is complete without visiting their profile on the California State Bar website. On this site, you’ll see their official contact info, educational background, and further detail on their disciplinary history, if any.

You can look up any California lawyer by clicking here.

5. Asking the Right Questions During the Initial Consultation

Most, if not all, personal injury attorneys offer a free consultation. This is a great time to ask a lot of questions regarding their practice and your case.

According to Nick Movagar, a personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles, to ensure you use your time efficiently during the initial consultation and get the answers you need before hiring an attorney, you should make a list of the main legal questions you have.

Attorney Movagar explains, “we typically ask questions to determine if you have a personal injury case, but it’s also important to assess if the attorney will be a good fit for you and your case.

Here is a list of questions you should ask a personal injury attorney:

• How many years have you been practicing?
• Have you handled my type of case before?
• Where did you attend law school?
• Do you exclusively practice personal injury law?
• How long have you exclusively practiced personal injury law?
• Have you taken any cases to trial?
• Have you been disciplined by the California State Bar?
• Ask for a list of their previous victories – both verdicts and settlements
• How much do you think my case is worth?

6. Be Prepared During Your Initial Consult

Prior to meeting with an attorney, take some time to learn a little about personal injury law in your state. For example, most personal injury attorneys will not take a car accident case which solely resulted in property damage.

Additionally, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with tort law and legal terms like negligence.

7. Understand the Fee Structure

Don’t sign a retainer agreement without making sure you understand the fee structure. We’ve all heard personal injury attorneys say, “I get nothing unless you win.” This means they work on a contingency basis. While that may be true, make sure you understand what they get in the event that you do win.

In California, an accident attorney will typically take somewhere between 25% – 40%. However, many attorneys will also require that you pay for any fees incurred throughout the process. Your attorney will charge these fees on top of the percentage. What you’ll want to know is exactly what these fees include. For example, it might include the cost for experts, private investigators, and depositions.

Make sure you don’t get blindsided, as these fees can significantly cut into your award settlement.

8. Personality

The last thing to consider is how well you got along during the initial consultation. Did you find it easy to speak with the attorney? If not, you might want to consider continuing your search until you find someone who is a good personality fit for you.

Did We Miss Anything?

We hope that this guide will help you find a reputable personal injury lawyer in your area. Did we miss something? If so, please comment below.

Reasons Why You Should Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer:

We put together this infographic dealing with the benefits of hiring a personal injury lawyer after an accident. These reasons include:

1. Medical Issues: A good attorney will work with a team of experts that can properly evaluate your injuries.
2. Financial Issues: An attorney will help you with the financial issues that inevitably arise after an accident.
3. Higher Settlements: An experienced attorney can often help you negotiate higher settlements with the negligent party’s insurance company.