Choosing the Right Personal Injury Lawyer: 10 Tips to Help Jumpstart Your Search

Personal injury lawyer meeting with an injured client wearing an arm sling during a legal consultation in a New Jersey law office

When you’ve been injured, whether it was the result of a slip and fall at the Jackson Premium Outlets or a car accident on your commute home from work, you want to pursue a personal injury claim for the losses you’ve suffered. However, with thousands of attorneys to choose from across the state of New Jersey, how do you get started? In particular, how do you choose the right one?

This is a common question residents in Ocean City and throughout the state ask when they find themselves dealing with an unexpected injury. In this blog, we’re providing 10 helpful tips for choosing the right personal injury lawyer to represent you so you can secure the justice you need and the recovery you deserve.

What is a Personal Injury Lawyer And What Do They Do?

Before diving into what to look for when choosing the right personal injury lawyer to represent you in your case, let’s first explain what a personal injury lawyer actually does. A personal injury attorney is a lawyer that helps recover compensation for someone who’s been injured as a result of another party’s negligence. For example, representing the survivor of a car accident who was hit by a distracted driver on their way to work.

Many types of accidents fall under the practice of personal injury, including motor vehicle accidents, slips and falls, medical malpractice, product liability, workplace accidents, and more. If any of these categories apply to you and your situation, please reach out to Drazin and Warshaw to schedule a free consultation: 732-333-8141.

What to Look for When Choosing a Personal Injury Lawyer

Who you choose to represent you matters, especially when you’re dealing with costly medical bills and insurance companies that want to minimize your payout. As such, knowing what to look for can help ensure you make the right choice. Let’s break down the key factors you should consider when choosing a personal injury lawyer in New Jersey:

1. Relevant Experience

It’s not enough to simply hire a lawyer; you need to hire one that has experience handling cases similar to yours. Simply put, if you were injured in a car accident, you wouldn’t hire an attorney that’s only handled DUI cases because they don’t possess the familiarity you need. A lawyer with direct experience means they how to anticipate common challenges that arise in these types of cases. Plus, they have ways to deal with the other party and their insurance company when they want to deny or reduce your claim.

2. Community Roots

Another factor you want to look out for is the firm’s dedication to their community. National firms are often pulled into a thousand different directions, but a local firm knows the challenges of the community, are knowledgeable of local laws (such as New Jersey’s modified comparative negligence rule) and timelines, and familiar with local courthouses, insurance practices, and opposing counsel. All of these give you an edge when moving forward with your personal injury claim.

3. Great Communication Skills

You shouldn’t have to chase down your lawyer when you have questions. The right lawyer will return your calls promptly and let you know what to expect at every point throughout the legal process. Likewise, if your lawyer doesn’t feel like you have a case based on the evidence presented, they will tell you instead of stringing you along.

4. Treats You Like a Person During the Initial Consultation, Not Another Case File

Many personal injury firms in New Jersey, like Drazin and Warshaw, offer free consultations. Treat this first meeting as an interview. From the moment you sit down, you should feel like your voice is being heard and your concerns are being addressed. The right law firm will take the time to get to know you and learn more about what happened instead of treating you like just another case file.

5. Positive Reviews From Former Clients

Reviews from previous clients offer an insider’s perspective into how the law firm really operates. From talking about timely callbacks to fees and final outcome of the case, positive reviews can easily help inform your decision.

6. Access to Powerful Legal Resources

Personal injury cases are built from a lot of evidence, but to get that evidence, your legal team will consult with numerous experts including accident reconstructionists, economists, and medical professionals.

When choosing a lawyer to represent you, look for one that has access to the powerful legal resources you need to build a strong personal injury claim from the start.

7. Transparent About Fee Structure

Money is a huge deciding factor on who to hire, so in addition to offering free initial consultations, many personal injury firms, like ours, work on a contingency fee structure. This means that you don’t pay any upfront fees. A trustworthy lawyer will explain how the fee structure works, explain the difference between lawyer fees and case costs, and how much percentage they will usually take if they win your case.

8. A Clear Strategy of Your Case

Every case is different, so no lawyer can guarantee a particular outcome no matter what the circumstances. However, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be able to anticipate what your case will involve.

Your lawyer should be able to tell you what happens at every stage of the claims process so there are no surprises. This includes a potential timeline, how they will collect evidence, and how they will overcome common challenges.

9. Willingness to Take Your Case to Trial

Likewise, your attorney must have a willingness to take your case to trial. While it’s true that most personal injury cases settle before they ever reach the courtroom, that’s not always the case. And when that happens, you need a trial-ready attorney who’s up to the challenge.

10. Go With Your Gut

Last but not least, go with your gut. If you walk out of that first consultation with a feeling that the lawyer’s not the right one for you, then trust that feeling. While you may be new to dealing with lawsuits and legal jargon, you’re not new to recognizing who is truly out to help you.

Trust your gut. If it doesn’t feel right, then go with someone else.

At the end of the day, the most important part of meeting with a lawyer is to see, not only if they’re a good fit for your case, but a good fit for your needs, as well. At Drazin and Warshaw, we pride ourselves on treating every case as if it was our own.

Contact Drazin and Warshaw for a Free Personal Injury Consultation Today

If you were injured and are seeking compensation, you don’t have to move through this process alone. Let Drazin and Warshaw help. We represent clients throughout New Jersey, including Hazlet, Westfield, and East Brunswick. Call us today at 732-333-8141 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.

Disclaimer: This blog is intended for informational purposes only and does not establish an attorney-client relationship. It should not be considered as legal advice. For personalized legal assistance, please consult our team directly.