No one anticipates a sudden serious injury will take their life off-course, but the physical pain and trauma are often accompanied by financial hardship due to mounting medical bills at the same time you may be unable to return to work due to temporary or permanent disability.
When the injury was entirely preventable if only someone else had taken reasonable care, it’s even more distressing. Fortunately, the Texas Civil Court allows personal injury victims to recover their losses—or damages—through a compensation claim, typically against the at-fault party’s insurance, like auto insurance after a car accident or property liability insurance after a slip-and-fall accident.
The first step in the personal injury claim process in Texas is finding the best personal injury attorney for your unique injury claim.
Does The Attorney Charge Upfront Fees?
Most reputable personal injury lawyers do not charge upfront fees to injury victims. Instead, a good personal injury lawyer offers free initial consultations during which they evaluate the merits of your case. If you choose to hire the attorney to represent you, they typically charge on a contingency-based payment method—your payment is contingent upon the attorney settling or winning your case. Then they take their fee from your compensation—typically around 30%, but some may charge more or less.
Contingency-based payments incentivize the attorney to obtain the highest possible compensation through a settlement or court award if the case goes to court. Often, an injury victim receives more than what they would have obtained without an attorney even after the attorney charges their fee.
Does the Texas Personal Injury Attorney Have a History of Handling Cases Similar to Yours?
Choosing an attorney with a history of success in representing clients in similar cases is critical. If you were injured by a dog bite, you probably shouldn’t choose an attorney whose case history is filled primarily with car accident claims and commercial truck accidents.
Choosing an attorney with a strong background in your type of injury claim is the key to a well-executed strategy for your case.
Check the Attorney’s Credentials, Results, and Reviews
Always review the attorney’s credentials, accolades, and awards, and read reviews from real clients. Most personal injury lawyers post their recent case results on their blog posts so you can review real results they’ve achieved for clients in cases similar to yours. A history of notable settlements and court awards is advantageous because it gives them a powerful voice when negotiating with the insurance company, showing them that they achieve results.
Ask If The Attorney You See for Your Initial Consultation Is the One Who Will Handle Your Case
Often, a lead attorney will see you for your initial case evaluation but then turn your case over to a partner or associate. This is an acceptable practice, but a good attorney is forthright about their plan to pass your case on to someone else in the firm. Ask to speak to the attorney assigned to your case to ensure a good rapport and then check out that attorney’s reviews, history of results, and credentials.
Trust Your Judgement
Ask yourself how you feel about the attorney after your initial meeting. Were they open and engaging? Was there good communication between you? It’s always beneficial to hire a personal injury attorney with whom you communicate well and who shows compassion toward you and an understanding of the impacts of the injury on your life so they can make the most compelling claim possible for maximum compensation. Contact Linebaugh, Dority & Allen, LLP today for a free case evaluation.