Any lawyer can advertise that they are the best personal injury lawyer for your case. There is nothing that prevents them from doing so. There is also no unbiased website or service that rates lawyers, gives them a grade or helps you to determine who the best lawyer is for your case. This is why it is so important that you take your time and research lawyers if you are in the market to find a good personal injury lawyer. The problem with researching a lawyer is that most people who are looking for a personal injury lawyer have never worked with one before. As such, they may have no idea what they need to be looking for and what factors separate one lawyer from another, or distinguish a good lawyer from a not so great one. Here are some of the key factors that may make a lawyer a great personal injury lawyer for your case.

The Level of Respect From People They Have Worked With in the Past
Prior to hiring a personal injury lawyer, you will want to take the time to complete an Internet review for the lawyer or law firm you are considering hiring. Let's face it; people primarily turn to the Internet and write a bad review when they have something to complain about or are unhappy about. As such, it is not unusual to see a lawyer who may have a bad review here and there online. When you are trying to find a good personal injury lawyer, you want to read the reviews online and proceed with caution if you notice people are leaving reviews for the same issue. If multiple people are saying the lawyer does not communicate, that's a good indication communication may be a challenge with the law firm. Likewise, if multiple people are complaining they lost their case, you may want to move on to a different law firm.

How Much Communication They or Their Staff Will Have With You
Another element that differentiates a good personal injury lawyer from a not so great one is the level of communication that the lawyer, or their staff, has with you. One of the questions that you should ask a law firm prior to hiring them is how much communication they will have with you and/or how quickly they return emails or phone calls. Some firms do monthly status checks with clients or respond to calls in 48 hours, while other firms will only reach out to you as needed. Think about what you prefer and find a law firm who offers the level of communication you desire.

Their Experience With the Type of Personal Injury Case You Have
Personal injury is a broad term that includes many different types of cases, including car accidents, truck accident, pedestrian accidents, slip and falls, dog bites, traumatic brain injury, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse cases and product liability cases. Some lawyers specialize in one particular type of personal injury case, such as car accident or medical malpractice cases, while other lawyers handle any type of personal injury case that walks through their doors. Always ask how much experience a personal injury attorney has with the type of personal injury case you have. You want to find a lawyer who has experience with the particular type of case you have. A lawyer may be great with car accident cases, but they may not have any experience with slip and fall cases. You want to know what experience they have, including what training and education they have, with specific types of personal injury cases.

Their Track Record With Personal Injury Cases in Your Area
Speaking of experience, one of the best ways to determine experience is to ask a personal injury lawyer what their track record is with a specific type of personal injury case in your area or jurisdiction. For example, you can ask a personal injury lawyer what their track record is with dog bite cases in your area. You want to pay close attention to how many of these types of cases they have had in total, how many of those cases they have settled, how many of those cases they have taken to trial, and how many of the cases they have won or lost at trial. An attorney's track record with particular cases can reveal how likely they are to settle the case or take it trial and how successful they are with cases similar to yours in the area where your case is taking place.

How Much the Lawyer Charges
Finally, you need to consider what a lawyer charges when determining what makes a personal injury lawyer good. Personal injury lawyer fees can vary based on the lawyer. It does not help you much to work with a great attorney if they are going to take a large portion of your settlement. As such, you should ask various lawyers what they charge for personal injury cases to get a feel for what a normal personal injury contingency fee is in your area. Then, find a lawyer that offers services in exchange for a fee that you feel is reasonable.

A great personal injury lawyer will offer a free consultation, which will allow you to sit down with the lawyer and get to know them and learn about their education and experience level. Prior to a free consultation, you should prepare a list of questions to ask the lawyer. The list should include both general questions, such as what their experience is with personal injury cases and what their rates are, and questions specific to your case, such as what challenges they expect with your case and what they estimate your case may be worth. Being able to talk with the attorney and ask them questions, as well as the research you do online about the lawyer, will help you to find a good personal injury lawyer who can help you to maximize the amount of money you may be entitled to for your personal injury case.