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If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Idaho, a personal injury attorney or law firm can help you get compensation from the negligent party. A car accident can be a life-altering event, causing years of suffering and trauma. And if that wasn’t enough, you can add the pain of paying regular medical bills that put a serious dent in your pocket. However, a lawyer can help make things easier by filing a settlement claim for the present and future cost of injuries and damages.
Now, you might be thinking, “how do I find the best personal injury lawyer in Idaho?.” Well, it’s not as easy as some people claim. There are likely dozens of lawyers and law firms near you, but finding the right one for your case may take some time. In this guide, we’ll discuss some simple strategies to hire the best lawyer for your case.
Tips for finding the best personal injury lawyer in Idaho
1. Ensure that the lawyer is active in your state
If you’re in Idaho, make sure the lawyer you hire to fight the injury case is located there and is legally allowed to practice in the state. While this may sound like obvious advice to many, you’d be surprised how many people don’t check this and end up wasting time. Time that is now more precious than ever because personal injury cases are time sensitive.
2. Confirm if they handle personal injury cases
Personal injury can be of many types, and you can find an attorney who specializes in your kind of injury with some effort. If you were injured in a car collision, you need to find an attorney who specializes in car collision cases, not cases that involve slip and fall, medical negligence, etc. This will ensure that you get someone who’s experienced and has a track record of winning settlements for their clients Georgia personal injury laws.
3. Schedule a free consultation
Most lawyers in this line of work offer one free consultation. Take advantage of this and start interviewing a list of reputable injury lawyers near you. You can do this by calling the lawyer or the firm directly or by filling out a contact form on their website. During the consultation, give out as many details regarding the accident as possible alongside facts about your insurance company.
Once you’ve consulted multiple attorneys, you’ll get a good idea about which one of them would be the best fit. Usually, it’s someone who’s a good communicator, empathetic, and helps you set realistic expectations. A good lawyer will be direct and tell you if your case is not worth pursuing as your injuries are not that severe.
4. Ask if they’re willing to take a case to trial
The point of pursuing a personal injury case is to receive damages for your injury and suffering, which often requires a case to go to trial. Even though most insurance companies settle to avoid going to court, some might want to go all the way to see how far you can go. In such a case, it’s crucial that you have a lawyer who’s experienced in taking cases through to verdict. Otherwise, you’re just inviting trouble.
Things to be aware of
While we can talk all day about what makes a good lawyer…good, and how to find one, it’s also necessary to discuss whom to avoid.
1. Lawyers who send solicitation letters
This is a weird recent phenomenon where lawyers are hiring runners to obtain the latest traffic accident reports kept by local and state police officers. Once they get hold of the reports, the lawyers or a member of their law firm will find the name and address of the injured parties. Then, they will mail a letter stating the lawyer/law firm is ready to represent the victim in a personal injury case.
Please ignore such “solicitation” letters because most of these firms operate on high volume, where they make the most amount of money with a quick turnaround. You can be sure your case will not get the attention it deserves, leading to lower settlement amounts or, even worse, a loss.
2. Lawyers who sell their “no recovery, no fee” policy
In the world of personal injury cases, almost all attorneys agree to work on a contingency basis (usually 33% of the settlement amount). Meaning if they’re not able to get you a settlement claim, they won’t charge a dime. However, some lawyers make this common practice sound like they’re the only ones doing it and as if it’s the biggest advantage a client can get by hiring them.
Be careful around such lawyers because a quick background check might reveal that the “no recovery, no fee” policy is the only thing they have going for them. In reality, they have no experience handling personal injury cases, let alone a track record of winning settlements.
“What’s the need of hiring an attorney when I have insurance?”
That’s because insurance companies don’t always play by the rules. You’d be surprised to learn how much insurance companies save by denying personal injury claims or giving out lowball amounts to desperate parties. Insurance companies are run to make money; they’re not “charities” handing out free dollars to every accident victim that comes to them. That’s why you need a personal injury attorney to take over communication and negotiate on your behalf.
Insurance companies know about lawyers who have a track record of taking cases to trial and winning. So, when they hear about the lawyer representing your case, be certain they’ll take a moment to think if a drawn-out legal battle would be worth it. You should never file for compensation alone if you’ve sustained severe injuries because insurance companies can easily prove you wrong in court with the kind of legal representation and amount of resources they have.
If your or the negligent party’s insurance company calls you and asks for information or wants to offer a quick settlement, say no. Refer them to your personal injury lawyer in Idaho instead.