Six Tips for Hiring a Sacramento Lawyer

You have been in an accident and have injuries that require weeks of recovery. You wonder about filing a lawsuit, but with approximately 6,000 attorneys in the city of Sacramento, California how do you choose? What steps do you take to find a Sacramento lawyer capable of handling your personal injury case?

Hiring the right injury lawyer in Sacramento is important for obtaining the maximum compensation in your case. You need an attorney who has experience, knowledge, and a record of success in personal injury and accident law.

Keep reading for tips on how to make sure you get the best Sacramento car accident lawyer.

1.  Understand the Difference Between Attorneys

Not all legal professionals are alike. Your best friend is pushing his brother-in-law who is an attorney, but does he handle the right type of cases? Don’t let peer pressure steer you wrong.

There are 26 types of lawyers. Some areas of law overlap and an attorney may handle more than one area. Checking their website is a great way to find out what cases they handle.

To give you an idea of how grouping specialties happen, you may find a bankruptcy lawyer who also handles tax law cases. A family lawyer will likely handle matters dealing with divorce, child custody, and juvenile criminal law.

There are many areas of personal injury law. A personal injury lawyer in Sacramento may also handle medical malpractice, social security disability, motorcycle accidents, car accidents, and wrongful death.

2.  Ask Friends and Family

The best form of advertising is word of mouth. If you have friends or family who experienced a personal injury, ask them about their attorney. Inquire about likes and dislikes when dealing with that professional.

Take the referral a bit farther by looking up the attorney online. Many attorneys show customer reviews or case results on their websites. You may also find information about them on Google, Facebook, Yelp, or the California Bar Association website.

3. Prepare for Your Consultation Appointment

Taking the time to prepare for your consultation appointment with a personal injury lawyer in Sacramento will provide you with the best information for making your decision.

The first step is to gather all accident reports, medical records, and medical bills pertaining to your case and take them to the appointment. To use your appointment time most effectively, organize them beforehand so the attorney can easily assess what you have. 

The attorney will review the documents and ask you several questions about the incident, your injuries, and more. Once they finish gathering information they will ask if you have any questions. Take a written list so you don’t forget anything:

1. What kind of experience do you have with similar cases?
2. What do you estimate I will be able to recover in a settlement or trial?
3. Do you think my case will settle out of court?
4. Are you the attorney who will be handling my case?
5. What is the best way to reach you, email, text message, telephone?
6. Is there a paralegal or other person in the office who will be my main point of contact?
7. What additional information do you need from me?
8. Is there anything I need to do to strengthen my position?
9. What are your attorney fees?
10. Are there any additional costs I will need to pay?
11. How long do you think it will take to resolve my case?

There may be some questions the attorney is not able to answer due to specific circumstances of your case. They should be able to answer the majority of your questions.

4. Understand the Fee Agreement

To begin working on your case the attorney will require you to sign a contract. Your signature guarantees that they are the attorney you want handling your case.

Make sure you understand the fee agreement before signing. Most personal injury lawyers handle lawyer fees on a contingency basis. This means you do not pay attorney fees unless they win your case.

Once you win either through an out-of-court settlement or trial, your attorney will receive the settlement payment. They will subtract their attorney fee and pay any expenses. You receive the remaining settlement funds.

In California, the standard contingency fee is between 30% to 40% of the recovery. Your contract will specify the percentage of your settlement going to attorney fees.

Other disbursements include medical liens, fees for expert witnesses, and medical records. They may also deduct court filing fees and office expenses for postage, process servers, the printing of photos, and more.

The attorney will provide you with a written accounting at the time of disbursement. You may contact the attorney if you believe there is an error or do not understand a deduction.

5. Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide

You may consult with the most well-known attorney in the country, but if your personalities and goals don’t click, they are not the lawyer for you. When working on a personal injury case you and your attorney will be in frequent contact for weeks or months, sometimes years.

You don’t have to be best friends, but you do need to like and respect each other. If they disregard your thoughts, are not interested in listening, or not answering your questions during the consultation, it isn’t going to get better. Take your business elsewhere.

6. Keep Your Sacramento Auto Accident Lawyer Informed

The compensation you receive in a personal injury case relies heavily on the negligence of the other party, the extent of your injuries, and your ability to fully recover. You need to stay in touch with your attorney or their paralegal to let them know your progress and long-term medical prognosis.

This is one of the reasons personal injury cases often take so long to resolve. Depending on the severity of your injuries, it may be several months before your medical provider can make a prediction on how fully you will recover. Permanent life-altering injuries result in a higher level of compensation.

Hire a Sacramento Lawyer Today

When you or a loved one suffers a severe injury in an accident, you need a Sacramento lawyer that specializes in personal injuries.  Contact Sweet Lawyers at 1-800-674-7854 to schedule a 100% free consultation.

We serve clients who are the victims of auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, wrongful death, social security disability, and personal injury. We are available to answer your questions 24/7 and do not charge a fee unless we win your case.

Contact us today to learn how we can help you receive the compensation you deserve.