10 Things to Look For When Selecting a Personal Injury Lawyer in Maryland

One of the most important things you need to do after suffering an injury is choose a lawyer to represent you.

But how do you find a lawyer who is qualified to handle your case? How do you find a lawyer who will inspire confidence about the potential outcome of settlement negotiations or a lawsuit?

These are important questions. The experienced Maryland personal injury lawyers at Peter T. Nicholl have compiled a list of 10 qualities to look for in an injury lawyer.

If you need legal assistance after an injury, our law firm has obtained billions for our clients over more than 30 years. Our legal services come with no upfront fees.

Have questions about the legal process? Call us: 410-401-9979.

1. Practicing Personal Injury Cases

You would not hire an employment lawyer to handle a divorce. If you were injured, you should look for personal injury lawyer who exclusively focuses on these types of cases.

Personal injury cases are unique. Lawyers who do not regularly take these cases are not going to know the many rules, procedures and legal theories involved. Experienced personal injury lawyers also know how to:

Lawyers who do not work in the personal injury practice area not going to be as well prepared for the various challenges and obstacles that can spring up. This puts you at a significant disadvantage against the insurance company.

2. Experience With Cases Like Yours

Not only do you want an attorney who specifically handles personal injury cases, but you should try to find one who has taken on cases like yours.

If you were injured by a doctor, you should seek an attorney who has handled medical malpractice cases before. If you were injured in a car crash, you should find an attorney who has handled a variety of car accident cases. It is even better if you can find an attorney who has handled a case involving a similar type of car crash.

However, even if an attorney does not have specific experience with the same type of crash, he or she may have a lot of experience working with car crash victims with severe injuries like yours. This is important because the attorney will have detailed knowledge of how to prove these claims and determine their value.

When you are researching lawyers, you can visit their websites and read attorney bio pages. These pages often say the types of cases a lawyer takes.

3. Positive Reviews From Clients

What are past clients saying about their experience working with an attorney or law firm?

Positive reviews show that attorneys are committed to their clients. Reviews also clue you in to how attorneys relate to their clients. For example, sometimes past clients say an attorney was always available to answer questions and handled everything professionally.

Reading negative reviews can also be helpful. Even accomplished attorneys get bad reviews from time to time. But if these reviews all have something in common, it may be a bad sign.

You can visit the client testimonials page of our website to find out what our clients said about their experience working with us.

4. Record of Success

There are no guarantees with the legal process, but you want an attorney who you can feel confident will get you the favorable result you are looking for.

You can check the attorney’s website for case results to determine if he or she has a history of success, especially with cases like yours. If you were injured in a car crash and you find a lawyer who has recovered compensation in numerous car crash cases, it speaks to the lawyer’s competence with these cases.

This is also something you can ask the attorney about in a free legal consultation.

5. Experience Taking Cases to Court and Winning

Most personal injury cases are settled, but that does not mean you want an attorney who always settles.

Insurance companies know about attorneys who never take cases to court. If they find out you are being represented by such an attorney, they may be unlikely to offer full compensation for your damages. If there is no chance of a lawsuit, insurance companies do not feel the need to increase their offer of compensation. However, insurers take things much more seriously if you hire a lawyer who wins in the courtroom.

6. Resources to Manage Your Case

Some cases call for more resources than others. For example, in a car crash case, your lawyer may need to bring in expert witnesses, like accident reconstruction experts. Medical malpractice cases could require multiple expert witnesses who can speak about different medical specialties.

You need to be sure your lawyer can pay for the cost of expert witnesses and other expenses involved in building your case. Injury lawyers are paid on contingency, which means they take care of legal costs up front. If your lawyer lacks appropriate financial resources, he or she may cut corners, and this could mean a less favorable result for your case.

Read our About Us page to learn more about our commitment to obtaining justice for our clients, including the resources we bring to bear.

7. Membership in Relevant Legal Organizations

Accomplished personal injury lawyers are often members of national or state organizations. Some of these organizations include the American Association for Justice or the Maryland Association for Justice. Many of the attorneys at Peter T. Nicholl Law Offices are members of both organizations.

These organizations are dedicated to helping lawyers better represent their clients. These organizations also sponsor legal publications that help educate lawyers on the practice of law. Membership in these organizations shows that a lawyer is committed to the profession and to those who have been injured.

Organizations like The National Board of Trial Advocacy have processes for certifying trial lawyers. Certification is only going to be an option for an attorney who has significant courtroom experience. That means a board-certified lawyer is going to be well-qualified to handle your case.

8. Peer Recognition

If a lawyer has been recognized by organizations like SuperLawyers, The Best Lawyers in America or Martindale-Hubbell, it is a strong indication of that lawyer’s expertise and accomplishments. These organizations recognize lawyers based on peer recognition and rankings.

Another indication of peer recognition is cases being referred to a lawyer. When one lawyer refers cases to another, it is because the first lawyer trusts that the second can provide the representation a client deserves. The lawyer who refers the case thinks that the second lawyer is well qualified and accomplished enough to take the case.

9. Teaching Other Lawyers

Some of the most accomplished and successful personal injury lawyers are asked to speak at legal education seminars to help educate other lawyers. Writing in legal publications is another way to teach other lawyers about legal issues and the practice of law.

If a lawyer teaches other lawyers, it indicates a high level of professional competence, along with significant experience in personal injury cases.

10. Professional, Detail-Oriented Practice

You can tell a lot about a lawyer and a law office by the way they operate. For example, does the office seem to be well-organized? Are staff members easy to get along with and knowledgeable? Do you feel rushed when you meet with a lawyer?

These are important questions because you want to be represented by a professional, detail-oriented lawyer. If a law office seems to be disorganized, it makes you wonder if they are disorganized with the cases they handle.

When you met with a lawyer, did he or she answer your questions to your satisfaction? Was the lawyer unable to answer your questions? Did it take a long time for him or her to get back to you?

How do You Research Lawyers You Are Considering?

You can do a lot of internet research about a law firm. For example, you can look at Google reviews of a law firm, you can also visit the firm’s website to learn more about their case results and the types of cases they handle. You can learn more about the backgrounds of the attorneys at the firm. However, you can also learn a lot by talking to a lawyer, both on the phone and in person.

Meeting a Lawyer in a Free Consultation

When you meet with a lawyer in a free consultation, you can discuss your injury and accident and get answers to your questions. Some of the questions victims often ask include:

If a lawyer cannot answer your questions, it may be a bad sign. If this happens you may want to meet with another lawyer.

The Law Offices of Peter T. Nicholl Helps Accident Victims. Call Today

If you were injured in an accident and are searching for legal representation, our firm offers a free consultation for accident victims.

That means there is no risk in contacting us to learn how we may be able to help you. We have been securing compensation for injured victims in Maryland for more than 3o years.

No upfront fees or obligations. We are ready to help. Call 410-401-9979.