Choosing the Right Lawyer Makes a Difference
When you are suffering from a serious injury, you probably can't spend hours or days researching lawyers. It can seem especially overwhelming for people in New York City, as there is no shortage of personal injury attorneys in the area.
Fortunately, there are a few guideposts that can help you locate the right NYC injury law firm — one with skilled attorneys who can provide you with the kind of detailed service you are searching for. Important characteristics of reputable law firms are outlined below.
Experience
If you had a choice between a mechanic who has repaired 1,000 cars of your specific model and one who has repaired only 1,000 cars total — perhaps none of them being your model — who would you choose?
In this aspect, the practice of law is not much different from the work of a mechanic. Like anything in life, it takes remarkable effort and experience to become one of the best in your line of work. Below are just a few reasons why an experienced attorney holds an advantage in representing clients.
While an inexperienced attorney may have some impressive raw skills, he or she cannot learn how to be a skilled legal advocate by reading a textbook or a bar journal. Even the strongest personal injury claim can quickly be lost when a "rookie mistake" is made. Experienced attorneys have an established familiarity with claims and are less likely to make errors.
Well-established lawyers have the advantage of several decades of practice experience. This often correlates to valuable insight on how to maximize the strengths of a client's claim while minimizing potential weaknesses. Experience also translates into better courtroom skills.
The legal profession is a shark tank; if a lawyer shows any sign of weakness, the opposition will ruthlessly attack. Experience typically instills confidence in an attorney. A confident attorney shows strength in the merits of the lawsuit.
An Established Track Record
All New York attorneys have diplomas, licenses and other pieces of expensive paper — that's how they earn the privilege to represent clients. But a list of successful verdicts and settlements is one way to differentiate NYC injury law firms from one another.
A skilled attorney will gladly share his or her successes with potential clients. An impressive track record will provide you with confidence that a lawyer knows how to skillfully serve you.
Initial Consultations
Most skilled attorneys schedule cost-free meetings with potential clients. This initial consultation allows the lawyer to learn the important facts of an injury claim, but — more importantly — it allows the client to speak with the attorney and decide whether he or she is a good fit for the injury claim.
When an accomplished lawyer is confident that he or she can demonstrate value during the initial consultation, he or she typically provides this meeting cost-free. Do not be shy about inquiring into the cost of an initial consultation; if an attorney charges fees for this service, it could be because he or she knows you will choose another lawyer.
Billing and Fee Structure
New York City personal injury attorneys generally do not bill clients unless they win their case. In this contingent-fee arrangement, the lawyer will earn a certain percentage of your claim's value — should you win — as payment. Different firms often bill at different rates; do not be shy about asking the manner and rate in which a law firm bills.
Like any service, you often get what you pay for. Be wary of extremely low rates, as the attorney is likely trying to compensate for a lack of success or experience. An established Brooklyn injury law firm knows the rates of many local competitors and can explain why it charges more, less or the same as the competition.
Putting It All Together
A reputable law firm will provide you with the above information if you ask for it. A lawyer confident in his or her abilities will gladly give you reasonable information about the firm. There is no magic formula for finding the best attorney for your case, but the attributes discussed above should be examined carefully.
If you are interested in the services that Simon Eisenberg & Baum provides, contact us online or by phone at 888-246-6083 or 917-338-5533, and we will do our best to accommodate your request. You can also visit our page explaining how we can help.
