An injury can be a life-changing event for an individual. It can affect a person’s ability to work, cost thousands of dollars in medical bills, and can diminish a person’s quality of life. If someone else’s negligence caused your injury, you only get one chance to get a fair settlement. It’s essential to choose an excellent personal injury attorney to ensure you get the best outcome. Here are four factors to consider when choosing a personal injury attorney.
Trial Experience
When selecting a personal injury attorney, it’s essential to choose someone with a lot of trial experience. It takes more than the knowledge learned at school to be a good lawyer. The experience of being in the courtroom, handling judges, and convincing juries has a value that can’t be measured. Many cases are settled before they make it to trial, but it’s essential to choose an attorney with courtroom experience, in case it goes that far. Steve Watrel, P.A. has been arguing in front of judges in North Florida for more than 25 years, which is far more experience than the average lawyer.
Record of Success in a Specific Area of Law
Personal injury law is more complicated than people realize, which is why it’s essential to choose a lawyer that has a record of success in a particular area of law. Choosing a lawyer that specializes in a specific type of personal injury ensures you get the best advice for the issues you face. For example, an attorney that works with car accidents knows the injuries to look for, the evidence that needs to be obtained, and the tricks insurance firms will pull to pay less compensation. The Law Firm of Steve Watrel, P.A. has experience successfully representing victims in a variety of personal injury situations, including vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, and more.
Reputation
Since you only get one shot to take a claim to court, it’s vital to choose an attorney you can trust. Be sure to consider the reputation of a personal injury attorney before making a selection. You can look at online reviews from previous clients to get a feel for the experience and professionalism of a lawyer. You can also check for awards and accolades the attorney may have received over the years. Remember, local judges know the reputation of attorneys, too. Choosing a lawyer that isn’t respected by their peers can hurt your chances of getting the best deal. Steve Watrel, P.A. has a positive reputation with clients, judges, and other attorneys. He has even helped lawmakers craft legislation to prevent nursing home abuse in Florida.
Initial Consultation
Because you need to work closely with your personal injury attorney, it’s important to choose someone who you trust and get along with personally. Before making a final selection, it’s a good idea to meet your potential lawyer. Many lawyers offer free initial consultations, which allow you to talk about your case, the attorney’s experience, and the methods they will use to achieve the best outcome. It’s also a chance to learn about the lawyer’s personality. If you leave the consultation thinking the lawyer sounds like a jerk, that probably isn’t the right attorney for you.
If you need assistance with a personal injury case in North Florida, the Law Firm of Steve Watrel, P.A. can help. Send us a message online to schedule a free consultation where we’ll discuss your case.
