How to Pick a Personal Injury Lawyer

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How to Pick a Personal Injury Lawyer
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• Here is how to pick a personal injury lawyer.
• Ive been in this industry 20 years, and I know
  the important questions to ask before you sign on
  the dotted line

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Would you rather hire a big firm or a local firm?

• Obviously I think the latter is better because a
  smaller firm will generally take more time to get
  to know you and your case. Of course there are
  great lawyers in the big firms too, it simply a
  matter of what makes you more comfortable.

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Will the lawyer meet with you for an initial
consultation, free of charge?

• One caveat here is to make sure that, if youre
  offered a free 30 minute consultation and the
  consultation goes for an hour, you wont be
  charged for that additional time. You
  must clarify this ahead of time or you risk being
  stuck with an unexpected bill.

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Will the lawyer advocate effectively for you?

• Your best bet is to ask the lawyer this point
  blank and see how they respond. Do they fast talk
  you or give you concrete examples of things
  theyll do to represent you? If they dont give
  you concrete examples upfront, ask for them.

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Will the lawyer navigate and simplify the legal
process for you?

• This should be obvious from the first
  conversation or meeting. If you leave the meeting
  feeling more confused and powerless than before,
  youre probably dealing with a lawyer who may
  have all the technical knowledge, but doesnt
  communicate it well.

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Does the lawyer resolve cases efficiently, fairly
and effectively?

• While they may steer your case through to a good
  conclusion, it will probably be more stressful
  for you than it needs to be because nothing will
  be clear.

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• Ask for examples. If you ask upfront, lawyers can
  often provide you with lists of case wins that
  are relevant to your situation. If you get the
  feeling that the lawyer doesnt have much
  experience dealing with your kind of case, trust
  your instincts and find a lawyer who makes you
  comfortable that he or she has done this
  (successfully) before.

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Does your lawyer have experience working on both
sides of personal injury law?

• This is so important. I spent many years
  defending insurance companies against personal
  injury lawsuits. It was an eye opener.

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• I learned how insurance companies think and what
  it takes to win against their teams of lawyers
  and consultants. In 2009, I decided to put this
  experience to good use supporting every day
  people in their fight to get the compensation
  they deserve. In my opinion, this experience
  makes all the difference to my clients.

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Does your lawyer clearly explain the fee/payment
structure?

• This question is worth an entire blog post on
  its own, but suffice to say that if the lawyer
  is evading the issue of payment, watch out.
  Luckily most lawyers are upfront about this, but
  it is important for you to ask the right
  questions.

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Have you talked to more than one lawyer? 

• Most personal injury lawyers get paid only when
  they win a case. Thats easy enough to
  understand. But make sure you also ask about
  things like how disbursements and admin expenses
  are handled.

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• Finally, trust your instincts and go for second
  opinions. An insurance claim can take anywhere
  from one to three years to resolve, and the last
  thing you want is to work with a lawyer who
  doesnt have your interests at heart.

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• Youve got one shot at this. Its best to work
  with someone you trust who will see your case
  through.
• http//derekwilsonlaw.ca/