How to Find a Personal Injury Lawyer in California?

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If someone recently injured you or a loved one in any way, you likely have grounds for a personal injury claim against them under California state law. While your case may seem straightforward, and you may believe you are capable of handling your claim for damages on your own, the reality is that any personal injury claim has the potential to escalate into a very complex legal battle and raise difficult questions you may not know how to address on your own.

How to find a personal injury lawyer in California

An experienced personal injury lawyer is an essential asset no matter what your claim entails. The right attorney can manage your legal affairs while you focus on your recovery. However, finding the right attorney while trying to manage the aftermath of your accident, your recovery from your injuries, and repairing your vehicle can seem like an additional challenge on top of an already difficult situation. You probably have lots of questions about your personal injury claim and may not know where to start when it comes to securing the answers you need.

Essential Traits to Look for in a Personal Injury Lawyer

Finding the right attorney requires research and patience. A good place to start is with recommendations from friends and family. If you know someone who recently completed a personal injury case in northern California, ask them about the experience they had with their attorney. Try to develop a list of a few prospective attorneys in your area that come highly recommended by people you trust. Once you have compiled a list of potential legal teams, start doing some preliminary research on each of them. You should take time to investigate online reviews from past clients, testimonials on the attorneys’ websites, and third-party review sites. These reviews can help you gain a better understanding of what it would be like to work with an attorney. After you have a list of a few candidates with solid reviews supporting them, consider scheduling consultations with each of them to evaluate their suitability for your case one-on-one. Most personal injury lawyers in California offer free or low-cost consultations to prospective clients. These consultations are essentially interviews. The attorney can determine whether the prospective client has a case while the client determines whether the attorney is the right fit to represent them. Some of the things you should investigate during a consultation include:
  • Experience. How much history does the attorney have in handling cases similar to yours? It’s essential to not only choose an attorney who has adequate experience practicing law, but also a solid track record of successful claims that are similar to your case.
  • Availability. How demanding is the attorney’s caseload? Good personal injury attorneys ensure they maintain balanced caseloads to provide each client with the full scope of their resources and attention.
  • Responsiveness. How can you get in touch with the attorney during your case? A good personal injury lawyer should offer several methods of contact and let you know how often you can expect updates on your case proceedings.
  • Legal methods. What type of legal style does the attorney have? Will the attorney seek a swift settlement on your behalf or are they more suited to protracted litigation? Find an attorney whose legal style aligns with your needs and preferences.
Before a consultation, take time to develop a list of questions specific to your case to ask the prospective lawyer.

FAQ

It’s natural to have many questions when it comes to finding the right personal injury attorney to represent you. The Kreeger Law Firm fields questions from prospective clients daily, and the following are some of the most common questions we hear when it comes to securing personal injury representation.

Q: How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Cost in California?
A:
The majority of personal injury attorneys in California know that the average person does not have the financial liquidity to afford hourly legal fees out of pocket, especially when they are already struggling with the economic aftermath of their personal injuries. Most personal injury attorneys offer contingency fee billing to their clients. This billing system ensures the client pays nothing upfront for their legal representation, and they only owe legal fees if the attorney wins their case. The attorney will take a percentage of the client’s case award as their fee, ensuring the client’s recovery while providing them the legal representation they need to recover it.

Q: Is It Worth Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney?
A:
If you are concerned about the potential cost of your legal fees, it’s essential to understand that you stand to lose much more if you do not hire an attorney. While it is technically possible to file and win a personal injury claim on your own, the process will be incredibly difficult while you are recovering from your personal injury. Additionally, you are likely to overlook available channels of compensation and settle for less than an attorney could have secured on your behalf. Ultimately, hiring an attorney increases your chance of success with your claim and will also be likely to secure more compensation than you could have on your own.

Q: What Percentage Do Most Personal Injury Lawyers Take?
A:
Every attorney uses a different contingency fee policy. Some attorneys offer a low contingency fee percentage but charge flat rates for specific services. Before signing a contract agreeing to a lawyer’s representation, make sure you fully understand their billing policy so there are no surprises when it comes to the total cost of your legal fees.

Hopefully, you better understand what to expect when it comes to hiring legal representation for a personal injury claim in California. The Kreeger Law Firm understands that you probably have many concerns about legal fees and what to expect from your personal injury lawyer. We are confident in our ability to represent a wide range of personal injury claims in California, and we are ready to apply our firm’s years of experience to your claim. If you are ready to discuss your case with an experienced and compassionate personal injury attorney, contact the Kreeger Law Firm to schedule a consultation with our team.