If you’ve been in an accident that has caused significant injuries, you can be sure that it’s going to cost you a decent amount of medical expenses. Be it a car crash, slip and fall, medical negligence, or faulty products, as a victim, you are entitled to compensation! And the amount you can recover from your compensation claim would depend on the extent of your pain, suffering, and trauma. If you’re unsure how to file a claim in Idaho, working with a personal injury lawyer would be your best bet.
Having an Idaho experienced injury lawyer working for you diligently will increase your chances of getting the settlement amount you rightfully deserve. But how do you go about hiring a personal injury attorney if you’ve never done this before? Well, keep on reading to learn all about it.
Tips for selecting the best Idaho personal injury lawyer
Anyone can do a Google search for “best personal injury lawyer in Idaho” and choose among the ones who are ranking on top. However, that doesn’t always mean they’ll find the right person for the job. Worst case scenario, they could end up hiring someone who has a massive budget to advertise themselves but is incompetent in handling matters of court. To prevent that from happening to you, look at these factors before you hire:
- Experience
There’s no replacement for experience, especially regarding handling of legal matters. When you’re looking to hire a personal injury attorney, you want someone who has a track record of winning cases for their clients. An attorney with years of experience will know how to file for a settlement claim, negotiate with the claim adjusters, and, if all else fails, initiate a lawsuit. Looking at the number of years a lawyer has been practicing is an excellent way to decide if they’re right for you.
- Specialization
It’s always better to hire a lawyer who specializes in a specific field of law than a generalist that says they know everything. When looking for a personal injury attorney or firm in Idaho, pick someone with experience handling personal injury cases like yours. That’ll ensure you get the best possible service because they’re already confident from prior experience. Getting a lawyer who knows the in and outs of personal injury laws could make all the difference.
- Location
This might seem obvious, but some people make the mistake of hiring an attorney who lives far away. If you’re in Idaho, please try to hire an attorney who lives nearby by meeting them in person. That way, you’ll get someone familiar with the town’s judiciary system and has connections that can help with some issues related to your case. Having a local lawyer at your side will make communication so much easier!
- Lawyer fees
This is a big factor when it comes to hiring an attorney, no matter the case. However, the good news is that most personal injury lawyers do agree to work on a contingency basis. That means you pay nothing upfront, and the lawyer only charges you once they’ve been able to get you a reasonable amount in settlement. Expect your attorney to charge you something between 30-40% on your final settlement figure.
- Ease of communication
Your personal injury lawyer is supposed to be like a friend who guides you through a rough patch in life. So, when interviewing lawyers or dealing with law firms, ensure that they’re easy to talk to and are good listeners. You should be able to trust them with confidential information because they’re going to be the one who negotiates with the insurance company or takes the case to trial.
“Does my case fall under personal injury or workers’ compensation claim?”
If you’ve been in an accident for the first time, then you may wonder if you should file a personal injury claim or a workers’ compensation claim. There’s a distinct difference between the two, as they’re defined as follows:
Personal injury claim: This assumes that the cause of injuries is due to someone’s negligence. That means one party must take the blame for the accident, whether they caused it directly or indirectly. Personal injury compensation takes your pain and suffering into account, along with loss of earning potential and punitive damages.
Workers’ compensation claim: This assumes that the accident happened on the job and no one person is responsible for causing it. Some workplaces have workers’ compensation policies that prevent the victim from taking legal action against the employer. But as a good rule of thumb, one must never assume it before talking to an attorney first. This claim compensates the victim for lost wages and not for additional pain and suffering.
If you’re unsure which claim is right for you, it could be that both are right! That’s why it’s crucial to consult an experienced attorney, as they’ll be able to advise you on how to get the deserved compensation for your injuries.
“Can a personal injury lawyer refuse to take my case?”
Short answer: yes, then can, and they often do for the following reasons:
- Although painful, your injury isn’t severe enough to warrant compensation. Most personal injury attorneys will not take on a case that has no potential to get a good amount in settlement.
- If it doesn’t make much business sense, an attorney will not take on your case, even if you’re seriously injured. Most lawyers run their firms like a business where they have salaried staff to do miscellaneous tasks. If the lawyer feels the cost of pursuing your case would be more than potential earnings, they’ll say no.
- An attorney will not take your case if proving fault is going to be next to impossible. The biggest factor that decides if you’re going to win a case or not is proving fault. And if the lawyer is not convinced that the other party’s negligence is what caused the accident, then they will refuse to take on your case.
