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Have you suffered a personal injury caused by someone’s negligence, deliberate actions, or inactions and are looking to hire a lawyer? First, choosing to get a lawyer is the right decision because having a lawyer can significantly impact your case’s outcome. However, before you retain a lawyer to represent you, you need to do thorough homework and research.
Personal injury cases can stem from a wide range of incidents, including car accidents, slips and falls, and dog bites. In a car accident, for example, getting a good lawyer is particularly important if the accident was not your fault. Also, regardless of how minor the accident is or how fine you are, you should seek medical treatment immediately after.
Meanwhile, insurance companies can be difficult to deal with; in this case, your insurance claim is likely handled by the at-fault party’s insurance company. Unfortunately, insurance companies in Illinois tend to refute liability or refuse to pay claims, especially in cases involving minor accidents. Having a lawyer comes in handy here as they are better equipped and more experienced in dealing with insurance adjusters.
Furthermore, time is of the essence when it comes to retaining a personal injury lawyer in Illinois. Apart from ensuring you do not pass the statute of limitations, the lawyer needs to begin the investigation as soon as possible.
Now that you understand why hiring a lawyer is essential and the importance of getting one as soon as possible. You can go ahead and start free consultations with an Illinois-based personal injury attorney using this hiring checklist:
The first box you want to tick is that of experience; does the lawyer have experience handling similar cases? If, for example, your case has to do with medical malpractice, you will want a lawyer who is experienced in medical malpractice cases. Experience goes a long way here; the lawyer will be able to draw up the best strategy to win your case.
Next, the lawyer must have extensive legal and financial resources to handle and develop your case properly. That is because they will often need to get expert witnesses to provide your testimony regarding your accident. That means they must have valuable connections with the best expert witnesses in the state and country.
Get a lawyer who is genuinely interested in your case and will take steps in your best interests. Essentially, you want a law firm that offers personalized representation tailored to your unique needs. If they put you first, then they can help you obtain the maximum compensation amount possible.
“You can tell the experience of a personal injury lawyer by how many similar cases they have won,” says attorney Michael McCready. Apart from being experienced in handling cases similar to yours, do they have a record of success in and outside the courtroom? The lawyer you retain has to be able and willing to take your case to trial and have a record of winning cases.
The intricacies of legal issues are what make the field a delicate one and why many seem to experience challenges navigating it. If you were hurt in an accident in Illinois that was not your fault, consult a good lawyer immediately. They can help you determine if you have a strong case and how long the case will take to be resolved. Also, they can investigate to gather crucial evidence to build a strong case and achieve the best compensation amount.