5 Things You Must Know Before Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney

Serious injuries change lives. They require expensive treatment, limit one’s abilities, and affect personal and professional relationships. Their impact may be felt for decades. Many have lifelong consequences that are financial, physical, and psychological in nature. For a person who has been seriously injured, there is nothing more important than getting treatment and support. Filing a personal injury lawsuit gives that person the opportunity to hold at-fault parties accountable while recovering compensation for medical care, lost earnings, emotional trauma, and much more.

But how can you hire an attorney if you are already struggling to make ends meet? What will you have to pay for upfront to make sure you have the best representation possible? This article will tell you what you need to know before hiring a personal injury attorney.

1. You Don’t Need Money to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer

Some people think that you have to be rich to hire a lawyer. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The reality is that you do not need money to hire a personal injury lawyer. You do not need to pay a massive retainer and forward the costs of investigators, experts, and the countless others it takes to handle a case like this. At Arnold & Itkin, our firm is paid on a contingency basis. We also forward all costs of litigation. If we take your case, you do not need to pay anything for us to get started. We will only collect our legal fees when we secure a settlement or award on your behalf.

2. You Should Have a Contract with Your Attorney

Any reputable attorney should have a standard contract for you to sign. Generally speaking, this contract should state that they are handling the case, what the fee arrangements are for a settlement or recovery, what will happen if either party wants to end the agreement, and more. Be wary of a personal injury lawyer who does not have a contract or says that a verbal agreement is enough. It isn’t. You need a legally binding contract that leaves nothing open to interpretation, or you could be taken advantage of.

3. You Should Not Pay Upfront Investigation/Litigation Costs

You should also be wary of any attorney or firm that says you need to pay upfront for investigators, expert witnesses, or others who are working on your case. You are not in a position to pay such expenses. At Arnold & Itkin, we carry the financial risks of litigation for our clients. If investigators, accident reconstruction specialists, and expert witnesses are needed to make our clients’ cases stronger, we will forward these costs. We will only recoup them if we win.

4. Reputation & Experience Matter

Your personal injury attorney’s background, reputation, and experience will directly impact your case. Your final settlement or award, if any, will depend on your attorney’s ability to show what losses you’ve experienced and how the defendant (at-fault party) is responsible. This can be extremely difficult in certain cases, especially when you must go up against a large insurance company, multinational corporation, or business with vast resources to counter your claim.

When you’re looking for a personal injury attorney:

• Ask friends or family members for referrals.
• Do your homework and research any attorney you’re considering.
• Read testimonials or talk to past clients to hear about their experience with the firm.
• Search for the attorney on your local bar association’s website to make sure they have no disciplinary actions against them.
• Talk to the attorney and make your own choice about whether you feel they have what it takes to help you.

All of this will help you make the right decision for your case.

5. Your Personal Injury Attorney Gets Paid When You Do

If you’re worried about the costs of hiring a personal injury attorney, remember that they only get paid if you do. Attorney fees come out of any settlement or award you receive at the conclusion of your case, and this will be a predetermined percentage that you and your attorney have already agreed upon. So, instead of worrying about how you’ll pay your attorney, focus on healing and rebuilding. Your attorney will be working to get the best possible result in your case.

The Arnold & Itkin Difference

Arnold & Itkin is known nationwide as a leader in personal injury litigation. We have represented people from all over the country who have had their lives upended by terrible accidents, tragedies, and catastrophes. Our attorneys have broken record after record with our settlements and verdicts, securing the types of results that ensure our clients and their families are taken care of for life.

When a young mother was catastrophically injured in an ambulance accident, we secured a record $117 million for her and her daughters. When a construction superintendent lost his leg in a crane accident, we won $44 million for his recovery. When a woman lost her husband in an industrial accident, we held the at-fault party company accountable and won a $222 million verdict on her behalf. There are hundreds of others. In all, we’ve secured over $20 billion for our clients.

At Arnold & Itkin, we’re different. Yes, our results speak for themselves. Yes, we are aggressive litigators who will do everything possible to help our clients. But we are also people just like you. We treat our clients like family because we truly care about them, and we believe in improving their lives by fighting for the best results. No matter what.