Finding the right personal injury attorney can make the difference between a failed and successful personal injury lawsuit. It’s important to make sure you hire the right one, but how?
Here are three quick tips to help you find the best attorney for your needs.
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Ask around for a referral
If you have family members or friends that have had dealings with personal injury attorneys in the past, ask them for a referral. Even if they had a bad experience, it can give you some names to avoid as you search for a good match. You can also check online reviews for recommendations from other clients.
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Do your research
State law websites can provide helpful information on various personal injury attorneys in your area. These sites can let you know if he or she is authorized to practice law, if any disciplinary action has been taken, or if they are in good standing. You can also learn where the attorney studied law and more information about his or her legal experience.
You'll find plenty of websites that allow attorneys to list information on their law firms. Examples include FindLaw, Avvo and Halt. We have our own directory at Enjuris. While these can be a great way to start shortlisting lawyers near you, make sure you also do some checking to confirm their good standing via the state bar association.
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Check for the appropriate specializations
Make sure that the lawyer you’re considering specializes in the kind of case you plan on filing. For example, if you were injured by a defective product, make sure that your attorney understands defective product cases and has a good track record in representing victims.
For more helpful hints on finding the best personal attorney to take on your case, check out our article on the subject.
Insights from Enjuris Partners:
“After you’ve done some research and have a few lawyers you’d like to contact, try a phone call. You’ll see if their office is a good fit for you.”
George Lorenzo
Tampa car accident attorney
“Transparency is crucial in any significant financial transaction, and that includes your lawyer. Always get any fee agreement in writing.”
Neal Davis
Houston criminal defense attorney
“I would recommend you take some time to read through an attorney’s website to get a sense of who they are and then reach out.”
Mack Babcock
Denver work injury attorney
Jade Brunet says
Asking family members or friends for referrals sounds like a good thing to do when it comes to finding a personal injury lawyer. I like what was said about how this can give you names to call and names to avoid. Finding an attorney who can effectively communicate would be best to ensure that your questions get answered.
Lisa Banks says
Hi Jade, so true – as long as that yields some names. Another tip is that you can ask attorneys who even practice other areas of law. Try your divorce attorney, for example! They will often know someone who can help after your accident, even though it’s not their specialty. I’ve found that lawyers love to refer business to their best colleagues. Good luck!
Olivia Nelson says
I agree that you need to check a state law website for some research into an accident lawyer. It would seem that finding out about their certifications as well as experience would be really helpful before you hire an attorney. My sister needs an accident attorney to represent her so she’ll have to find someone who is highly qualified.
Lisa Banks says
Hi Olivia, I’m sorry to hear your sister is having trouble. I will recommend our directory and materials as a place to start. We have some forms she can use to help guide her search here: https://www.enjuris.com/pdf/
Leviticus Bennett says
I like your tip to see what past clients have said in reviews. I think it’s a good idea to pay attention to both positive and negative reviews as well. That way you can avoid any bias and choose the best personal injury lawyer.
Lisa Banks says
Yes, weeding out any bias is important. Thanks for your comment, Leviticus!
Annika Larson says
Recently, my husband was in an accident and we are looking for a lawyer to help with his case. We want to ensure that the person we hire is reputable and experienced with similar cases. As you said, it’s good to also check that the attorney has the right specializations in the type of case you are filing.
Lisa Banks says
Annika, I am so sorry to hear about your husband’s accident! I know how hard that must be. Please let me know if we can be of assistance in helping you as you search for the right attorney.
Nic Carters says
I had to recently look for personal injury lawyers in Surrey when my sister was the victim of a hit & run accident. I found NirwanLawCorp.com/icbc-accident-investigations-personal-injury-lawyer & they won our case for us. I chose them because their success track record is great & would highly recommend them to anyone looking for any type of road accident lawyers.
Lisa Banks says
Hi Nic,
Good to hear, thanks for the tip! Please encourage them to join our directory so other members can easily access their information, too!
Quick legal says
When you are hiring a personal injury lawyer, its important to check with the local bar association. Does the attorney have any disciplinary actions against him/her that you find concerning? If so, perhaps discussing your concerns is a necessary next step.
Lisa Banks says
Thanks for the tip. Agreed. Here is a little more info on that, too, for readers: https://www.enjuris.com/blog/questions/attorney-discipline/
Callum Palmer says
I really like the inforgraphic you’ve included going over what to do during the initial interview with the personal injury attorney. In particular, I think the point about making sure they’re comfortable going to trial is incredibly important. After all, you can never tell when you might have to take your personal injury case before a judge, so it helps to have those skills on hand.
Lisa Banks says
Hi Callum,
Thank you for pointing that out! Yes, making sure a lawyer is comfortable with going to trial seems especially important because the threat of a trial is also a factor that gives power to settlement negotiations, too.
By the way, I’m glad you like our form. You can also feel free to use it on your site – just include a link back to the original. All our PDF downloads can be found here: https://www.enjuris.com/pdf/
Margie says
I am very impressed with the free forms. It just makes it so much easier for potential clients to organize their thoughts. In law, there are many areas of expertise. I think that it is important to hire an attorney that specializes in the field of law that you need his assistance. For example, I would not hire a real estate attorney to represent me in a personal injury case. I think it is important to ask a lot of questions before selecting an attorney to represent you. Also, when hiring an attorney, I want to make sure that he is representing me and not one of his subordinates. Thank you for the helpful information.
Lisa Banks says
Hi Margie, I’m glad you like the forms! Please feel free to share.
Harper Campbell says
My husband was recently injured in an accident but we need help in knowing what to look for when it comes to choosing the lawyer to help us with the trial case for it. I am glad that you mentioned that one thing we need to do is research to find the right one in our area. It will be nice to find one that is close by and we will be able to look at their good standings.
Bobby Saint says
I agree that you should ask around for a referral before hiring a lawyer. Your friends and family may have worked with a reputable injury lawyer before which they were truly satisfied with. If you were able to get positive feedback from them, then you may have just gotten the right lawyer for yourself. If I were to hire one, I would make sure to ask for a recommendation first. Thanks.
Lisa Banks says
Bobby, thanks for your input here – great point on asking for a recommendation.
Max says
I really appreciate you sharing the graphic you did about finding a car accident attorney. My sister-in-law was involved in a car accident last week, and I think that being able to get her set up with an attorney would be helpful to get her compensation. I’m going to have to make sure she asks about previous settlements that the attorney has gotten before, and make sure that they have a track record of success when it comes to car accident cases! Thank you!
Lisa Banks says
Hi Max, So sorry about your sister-in-law. I will suggest you start with our directory of personal injury lawyers or check in with this resource we put together for people who have been in a car accident: https://www.enjuris.com/car-accident-attorneys.php
Ashley Turns says
Thanks for letting me know that you can actually go onto state law websites to make sure that the attorney you are considering hiring is certified and is in good standing. My sister was just in a car accident and I want to help her make sure that she gets all of the insurance money she deserves by helping her find a fantastic lawyer to represent her. So I will definitely start looking for car accident lawyers on a state law website so that I can be sure that they have a lot of good experience and are definitely certified to be an attorney.
Lisa Banks says
Hi Ashley, glad to help! Let us know how it goes.
Marina Wellis says
Someone accidentally ran over me last week because of due negligence. And although I was not gravely injured, I still missed a week of work because of it. I want to file a case and find a good attorney to help me. It was great that I came across your article and realized that finding a reliable lawyer can be done by asking friends and colleagues. I’ll definitely try that. Thanks a lot!
Lisa Banks says
Marina, I’m so sorry to hear about your accident! I’m glad we could help point you in the right direction. You mentioned you were out of work for some time – I’ll also provide a link to our information on lost wages: How to Include Lost Wages When Damages are Calculated
Aronberg Law says
Thanks for sharing these tips! I am sure they will really helpful!
Lisa Banks says
Thanks for stopping by our blog!
Cameron Bennett says
I like that you mention talking to friends and family for personal recommendations. By asking people you know and trust, you can really cut down on your search time. It’s important to find a lawyer that you trust, so it’s worth taking the time to meet with a few and see which one would best fit your needs.
Lisa Banks says
Hi Cameron, yes, the element of trust is so important!
Persephone de Vito says
I was injured last week when a motorbike came rushing towards my direction. If I did not jump out his way, I dread to think what could have happened to me. That’s the reason why I want to file a case. You said here that in doing so, I have to find an attorney who was experienced and specializes in the case that I plan on filing because they would know the ins and outs of the process. Thanks for informing me. I appreciate it.
Lisa Banks says
Thanks for sharing, Persephone. Best of luck!
Raeger Wynchester says
It was nice how you said that if a family member or a friend has experienced working with a personal injury attorney, then it’s best to ask them for referrals or recommendations. I think that it’s nice to learn about that because I’m planning to hire an attorney to help me with the case that I plan on filing. Last week, a car struck mine from behind, and I ended up with a broken arm and wrist. I deserve to be compensated for what happened. Thanks for sharing.
Lisa Banks says
Raeger, so sorry to hear about your accident! I recommend you start your search for an attorney with our comprehensive guide to hiring a car accident lawyer. Let us know how it goes!
Reppucci & Roeder says
Check with a professional organization in your area- Attorneys often join professional organizations and groups within their field. These are the best places to find qualified attorneys.
Lisa Banks says
Hi there, thanks for the suggestion! That’s a great idea.
Latoya Anderson says
I never realized that I can visit state law websites to find helpful information about the personal injury attorneys that I am considering to hire to find out if they are authorized to practice law. A close friend of mine is looking for a personal injury attorney that she can hire to help her with her case. To make sure that she will get the best possible services for a favorable outcome, it will make sense for her to research about the eligibility of the lawyer that she’s hiring. I will make sure to share your blog with her.
Pamela Brown says
The best part of your article for me is when you talked about the importance of finding a lawyer that specializes in the type of case that you’re dealing with. A close friend of mine had an auto accident that caused her to be hospitalized. This is the reason why she wanted to hire a personal injury lawyer that can help her to file a complaint against the party that caused the accident. Since she wanted a favorable result, it will make sense for her to find a personal injury lawyer that’s expert in auto accident cases. Thanks for sharing all your tips!
Georgia B says
I love your tip to ask around for a referral. If you get a referral from a family member or friend, you’ll be a lot more likely to get an honest recommendation of an attorney that could really help you with your case. I know I would be a lot more likely to trust a recommendation from a friend than a review on the internet, although both are very helpful!
Amanda Drew says
You make a good point that you should ask your family or friends for recommendations to find a good personal injury attorney. It’d also be a good idea to look at online reviews and maybe even ask another lawyer you know for recommendations as well. Your article seems like it would really help anyone find the right personal injury lawyer for them fairly quickly.
Lillian Schaeffer says
Thanks for bringing to my attention the value of referrals when searching for an accident attorney. My brother was just in a car accident, and we want to take legal action to get him financially compensated. We’ll definitely ask around and see if any of our friends and family members have an accident attorney they would recommend.
Ava Murphy says
I like that you suggested checking different independent directories so you can have an access to what the past clients of the personal injury lawyer that you’re interested in have to say about them. This is a great tip for my aunt who’s looking to hire a personal injury lawyer that can help her. She mentioned to me that she will only be comfortable to work with a personal injury lawyer that has a good track record of satisfied clients in the past because it’s her assurance that she’s going to get the best service.
Heidi Bookenstock says
My brother was recently injured in a car accident where he was hit by a drunk driver. He’s thinking of pressing charges and is looking for a personal injury attorney. This article has many useful tips like like asking other people who you know have experience with a personal injury attorney.
Ellen Hughes says
I like that you pointed out the importance of hiring a personal injury lawyer that specializes in the kind of case where you’ll be needing their help for to make sure that they can understand your case well. I will make sure to remember this because my husband had an auto accident, and I’m looking to make sure that he’ll be compensated well. My husband also wanted to get a favorable outcome for his case, so I’ll be sure to find a personal injury lawyer that knows the ins and outs of auto accident cases.
Legal Advice in UK says
Thank you for sharing this insightful post with us. It was very knowledgeable and helpful. Please keep sharing!
Jeff Wilcox says
I like the tip that you gave to choose an attorney who is referred to you. My wife and I have been talking about finding an attorney to help us with our daughter at work. If we do, I will be sure to look for referrals.
Knowyourright says
I recently injured in accident. I am looking for a highly professional attorney lawyer. Hold the great knowledge on a personal injury case. Give me detail information on personal injury lawyer.
Ian Pisarcik says
You can search for attorneys in your area using our free online directory. When you click on an attorney, you’ll see a detailed profile of that attorney.
Victoria Addington says
I am hoping to interview personal injury lawyers and select one of them to represent my half-brother Jim on the court. Since he told me everything that happened about the company who refuses to pay for the expenses even if the injury had occurred at their property, I’d like to have it discussed on court. I’ll follow your tip on finding a lawyer that specializes specifically on the case Jim has.
lucy vergein says
The blog provided us lots of information about personal injury attorneys. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I will surely come and visit this blog more often. Thanks for sharing!
Ian Pisarcik says
Thanks for the comment, Lucy!
Emily Bennette says
Finding a good lawyer seems like it would be a really tricky thing to do. My little brother was in a T-bone collision last week. Thankfully he was alright but his car wasn’t. He wants to go to court over the crash since it wasn’t his fault. It is good to know that he will want to do some research and find a lawyer who is good at getting things like witness statements.
Ian Pisarcik says
Thanks for the comment!
Trust Lawyer says
Thanks a lot to you for sharing finding a qualified attorney here, these kind of ideas are were much needed. I really appreciate that you have provided the data too, Looking for more!!
Ian Pisarcik says
Thanks for the comment!
Levi Armstrong says
I find it helpful to know that I should check online reviews of the personal injury lawyer’s past clients to ensure I make the right choice. My brother was involved in a car accident the other day, and he needs to find a lawyer to help him with auto liability. I’ll share this advice with him later to ensure he checks the lawyer’s reputation before signing them on. Thanks!
Ian Pisarcik says
I’m glad you found the article helpful!
Levi Armstrong says
It’s interesting to know that if you have family members or friends that have had dealings with personal injury attorneys in the past, ask them for a referral. My brother will hire a lawyer after a truck hits him on the road despite the warning that he is there. I’ll share this with him since he almost died during the incident. Thanks!
Melissa Gold says
Thanks, Levi! Glad it was helpful to you. Stay safe out there!
Eve Mitchell says
My husband and I are looking for a personal injury lawyer for our son. He was badly injured in a car crash a few days ago. We appreciated your tip about looking for specialization.
Ian Pisarcik says
I’m so sorry to hear about your son. You can find an experienced personal injury attorney in Iowa using our free online directory. In the meantime, here are some tips on hiring the right attorney for your case.
Henry Killingsworth says
I like how you mentioned that it is important to do research when you are looking for a qualified attorney. My sister needs to find a personal injury attorney. It seems like it would be a good idea for her to use the internet while she is doing her research.
Melissa Gold says
Hi, Henry. Definitely! Research and referrals are very important. Using the internet is one piece, but if she can get a recommendation from a person she knows and trusts, that’s even better. Best of luck to her.