A busy city like San Diego is famous for the zoo, extremely famous art galleries, beaches and so on. Though all these attractions make this city stand out, a recent statistics state that San Diego experiences more road accidents and seems to be increasing annually. A personal injury lawyer can assist you in getting the best settlement value after an accident. But you need to research and find the right legal mind. Thousands of dollars are at stake; check your attorney’s certification from the State Bar of California. Here are six pointers:
1. Provide Proof
Understanding what to expect from the expert is the first step. Additionally, many personal injury lawyers in San Diego have an online presence and testimonials on their websites. You can look through them to get a feel of their service. Further, you can request to talk to a past client and gain more insight into your case. Do not shy from asking questions that clear your doubts. Common queries include if the firm has handled a significant settlement or gone to court.
2. Explain the Process
Your lawyers can give estimates of what to expect from the case. They can factor in all scenarios and see the potential outcomes. However, these are not firm answers, and you can expect things to change during the process. For instance, the time may stretch, or the settlement value may not match the estimates. Have an open mind and use their answers as a guide.
3. Ask Questions
The attorney must get the right story to file a claim. Expect questions, sometimes on difficult things to recall regarding your account. These questions help the lawyer fill in the gaps and remove contradictions from the different stories of the parties involved. They can also get weakness in your case and address it before negotiating with the insurance company. After the questioning, the lawyer can tell if you have a strong chance or not.
4. Discuss Terms of Agreement
The agreement should outline the lawyer’s terms and fees in plain language. Additionally, the attorney should explain all the details to your satisfaction. If the agreement is unclear, ask questions or review the document with another lawyer. Do not sign the contingency fee agreement when in doubt.
5. Reasonable Communications
The State Bar of California regulates personal injury lawyers in San Diego and ensures that your attorney serves you ethically. Most client complaints against lawyers involve uncivil behavior in communication. Your attorney may not pick all the calls as they go to courts, sleep, and get busy. But they should return calls and reply to emails in a reasonable time, say within a day.
6. Waiting Period
You and the attorney work to have the case settled quickly, but some factors may delay the process. For instance, you may take weeks or months in the hospital to ascertain the current and future medical expenses. There are also legal procedures, research, and negotiations before a settlement. Give the process a reasonable time to get the best representation.
Filing a claim requires the right professional. Generally, you can expect questions and answers from an attorney, a prediction for your case, and proper communication. Also, verify that they can handle your case and discuss the terms of agreement before signing any document. Remember to allow the legal team enough time to represent you.
Ellen Hollington is a freelance writer who offers to ghostwrite, copywriting, and blogging services. She works closely with B2C and B2B businesses providing digital marketing content that gains social media attention and increases their search engine visibility.