Choosing a Personal Injury Attorney

Answer:

There are TV commercials running 24/7 for lawyers. There are billboards all over the place, and they all say the same thing. “We’re aggressive.” “No consultation fees.” “We will get you the settlement you deserve.” Everybody says their aggressive. Everybody has free evaluations. The insurance company thinks you deserve nothing. They don’t want to pay you anything. The insurance company is going to do anything that they can to get your case as low as possible or that you deserve nothing. They are very suspicious of you.

When you’re evaluating an attorney, there are certain things that you have to do to make sure that you have the best attorney for your case, especially if you have a very serious or significant injury. You want a board certified personal injury specialist. That is somebody who has been certified by the State Bar of Nevada and the Nevada Justice Association. To get that board certification, you have to have years of experience. You have to have a certain number of trials. You have had to have passed a rigorous test and an investigation, and an evaluation by a board of people where you have to go and answer questions in front of them and be examined, to prove that you have the skill and experience to receive that board certification. I  am board certified.

In addition to that, you want to make sure that you have a great relationship with your attorney. Here is the best way to evaluate your attorney. When you call up the law firm, do you get to talk to the attorney? Does that attorney spend time with you? Do you just go to an intake person and then you’re handed off to a case-handler, and all they want to do is set up an appointment, get you in to sign up, and you never actually talk to a lawyer? You need to have a personal relationship with your attorney. You need an attorney who cares.

If you have an attorney who has so many files and is so busy that they can’t even talk to you, and they don’t know who you are, you’re in trouble. You need an attorney who cares, who knows you and is going to take the time to fully develop your case so that you receive full and fair compensation. You’re not going to get that from a lawyer who’s too busy to even talk to you and all you do is deal with an intake person.

Here is the thing: don’t go with the first lawyer that you call. Don’t automatically go with the TV lawyer. Call a bunch of lawyers. Find out who spends the time with you, who answers your questions, and who you think really cares about you and will be doing the best job on your case. That’s how you know you have the best attorney for you and your case. You have to be comfortable with your attorney. You have to have an attorney who cares.