Something unjust has happened in your life and it’s time to seek legal help. Thankfully, most of us only have to look for a personal injury lawyer once or twice in our lives, so we’re not that experienced. Here are some questions to ask yourself while searching.

Do you know at least one other person who has used this lawyer? In business, as in life, it’s all about referrals. Not being able to corroborate a referral shouldn’t be a deal-breaker, but if you can find at least one, happy customer, you will feel better about your decision.

Do they have social media profiles? If so, check them out. LinkedIn has a space for recommendations where you can review a past client’s experience. Take these with a grain of salt as you can choose which reviews to publish to your profile and which to delete. If an attorney has numerous referrals from people with extensive profiles, it’s a good sign. Also, go on their Facebook. See if any of the business connections on their page (under the “likes” tab) were former clients. A good lawyer is like a good mechanic, if you’ve found one, you will be happy to share the news.

Are they on file at the local Bar association? 99% of the time, the answer is yes. But if you stumbled upon that 1%, you had better watch out. We recommend you take this step simply because of how easy it is and how bad things can get if you’ve somehow found an unlicensed legal professional.

How large is the firm? As with any industry, the size of the organization will correlate to some particular strengths and weaknesses. You wouldn’t go to a giant law firm if you’re seeking $1,200 in damages for an uninsured medical visit after slipping on the floor of your local diner. If your claim is large, however, or involves a very-well organized opponent (another corporation, for example) you might be better off going with a well-known company.

What’s their track record like? The law is considered an open record, and most court cases can be dug up at your local law library. Take a few hours out of your day to visit the law library or county registrar and do some old-fashioned research. See if there are any cases involving the lawyer you’re considering and note their results.

What is their fee structure like? Personal injury lawyers need to accept pay-per-performance terms and if your attorney tries to slip in extra fees you should be suspicious. Also, the percentage of the settlement they take ought to be equitable. You are the victim here, after all.

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