Attorneys have different areas of specialization. If you are looking for a spinal cord injury lawyer, make sure your attorney has experience with claims similar to yours. You also want to make sure your spinal cord injury lawyer has a successful track record of getting fair settlements or damage awards for clients.
There are a few key steps you can take to find the right attorney with the type of experience you need.
Ask for Referrals
If friends or loved ones have ever used a personal injury lawyer, you can ask them for information about the firm they worked with. If you have a relationship with attorneys who specialize in other areas of the law, they may also know good spinal cord injury lawyers they can refer you to.
If you don’t have anyone to personally refer you to an attorney, you can also check with your local bar association or with professional attorney networks in your area to see which legal professionals they recommend who specialize in spinal cord injuries.
Understand the Fee Structure Up Front
In most cases, a spinal cord injury lawyer charges you on a contingent fee basis. This means you pay a fee only if your attorney helps you recover compensation for your SCI.
Attorneys structure contingency fees in different ways. Typically, you are charged anywhere from 33% to 40% of your damage award, with the exact amount based on how long your claim takes to resolve and how complicated the case. Be sure to find out exactly what percentage you will pay based on whether your claim settles before trial or goes to court.
You should also find out how legal costs will be handled. In some cases, you are required to pay expenses regardless of whether you win or lose, while that’s not the case with all injury firms.
Make Sure the Attorney Is Experienced In Handling Spinal Cord Injury Cases
Spinal cord injuries happen for different reasons, and you want a lawyer who focuses on the specific kind of accident you’ve endured.
For example, if you suffered a spinal cord injury due to a slip and fall, you want to hire a premises liability lawyer. But if your injuries occurred in a car accident, you need an auto accident attorney to help with your spinal accident lawsuit.
Ask About the Attorney’s Track Record
You want to work with an attorney who has successfully recovered substantial amounts of compensation for past clients.
You also want to make sure your lawyer has experience both with negotiating settlements and with personal injury litigation in case your case can’t be settled outside of court and a spinal cord injury lawsuit is necessary to get you the compensation you deserve.