If you need to hire a Tennessee lawyer, use this article to hire the best one for your needs.
None of us ever wants to be in the position of needing an attorney to protect our rights if we or a loved one have been injured in an accident. However, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t know the right questions to ask and the necessary information to look for if you should ever find yourself in the position.
Are consultations free? They should be!
Is the attorney experienced in injury law? Just like you wouldn’t go to a dentist for foot surgery, you don’t need a lawyer who specializes in one field and “also” practices injury law. Your attorney should be experienced in injury law and be able to produce case results that prove success and that are similar in nature to yours. Are they educated in your area of law? An attorney who practices injury law is different from one who is so good at practicing injury law that they are in demand as speakers and teachers in their industry.
Is the attorney approachable and personable? You’re about to entrust your future to this person, do they look you in the eye and listen to your story? Your lawyer should show empathy for you and your situation. You want them to understand how important your situation is to you and your family.
What is the fee structure? It is common in injury cases for the attorney to take your case on a contingency basis. That means they get paid out of whatever settlement or judgement they obtain for your case. The contract they have should be straightforward and spell out their fees and what other costs/fees could be incurred that will be deducted from your final judgement (ie, court costs, medical records, court reporters, expert witnesses etc.)
Have they been awarded honors from their industry? The legal field has many top honors for top tier attorneys and, if the attorney you’re considering has received one or several, you can rest assured that they are thought of as qualified, honorable and knowledgeable by their peers.
What does their online presence say about them? In these days, everything is on the computer. You should look over the prospective attorney’s site carefully. It should state the attorney’s areas of practice, their biography, their case results, and testimonials from happy former clients. You can also check to see if they are on Facebook and Twitter and what they post about. You can also check sites like AVVO, online databases for attorneys that have their biographies but also have their disciplinary records. Have they ever been sanctioned by the Bar? Don’t forget the Better Business Bureau, they’ve been a trusted source to check out businesses for years now.
You shouldn’t take any one of the above and make it your sole reason for hiring the best Tennessee injury attorney you can find. You should put them all together and wash the information against your gut feelings. If the attorney passes all of the above, and you just feel like you could trust this person, thenyou’re probably making the right decision.