A personal injury attorney can be your most valuable ally if you are in an accident. However, there are usually many attorneys that claim to be able to get your case settled for the most money and it can be difficult for most individuals to figure out who is telling the truth. If you want to find the best attorney, you should consider the qualities below.
Specialization
Attorneys tend to specialize over time. Some are better at handling divorces, while others deal more with criminal matters. If you suffer an injury, you should seek out a personal injury specialist. Attorneys are required by the bar to be honest about their specializations, and those that advertise as injury lawyers tend to have more experience and expertise in handling these sorts of cases than other attorneys. If you are ever curious, you may wish to take a look at the attorney’s profile on his or her website. Most do tend to list specialties in a fairly straight-forward manner.
Experience
A good attorney should not only specialize in personal injury, but he or she should have real-world court experience to back up that expertise. Most attorneys are quick to boast about their years in the business, and you can always ask if you feel uncomfortable. It is not necessary for an attorney to handle decades worth of cases to be good at his or her job, but it is usually better to pick an individual that is familiar with how the courts really work.
Personality
A personal injury suit can drag on for quite some time. As such, it is wise to seek out an attorney with whom you can work easily. Different Toronto injury lawyers have different types of personality, so make sure to treat your initial interview with the attorney as a trial run of your relationship. If you find that he or she is too abrasive or seems unable to fit your needs as an attorney, you might want to choose a different lawyer. If you can work through the initial meetings, though, you may be able to deal with the attorney over the long term.
Service
It is also important to take a moment to consider the level of customer service that an attorney’s office can provide. Dealing with a major injury can be a trying time, but it is far worse if you cannot get in contact with your attorney when you need him or her. One of the best ways to judge an overall level of customer service is to make an appointment with an attorney and then call back later for information. If you have trouble contacting a legal secretary or the attorney seems to constantly be “too busy” for your calls, you may want to look elsewhere.
The qualities above are among the most important that any attorney can possess, and you should never settle for a lawyer that fails to satisfy any of those criteria. A good attorney can often make the difference between a win and a loss, and can be the only person that can help you to get your life back on track. Always be discerning when making your choice, and always remember that you are the one in charge of your case.
This post is provided by http://www.thomsonrogers.com/; one of Toronto’s premier law firms, providing lawyers dedicated to personal injury, environmental, medical malpractice and family law.