Injury as a result of negligence or carelessness from another party will likely have you looking for a personal injury attorney. Personal injury attorneys will help ensure that you get what you deserve in terms of compensation and justice.

However, you have to be careful when selecting the attorney that will handle your case. There are things that you need to know before making a choice that many personal injury attorneys in Muskegon, Michigan, won’t tell you about.

Here are 10 Things Personal Injury Attorneys Won’t Tell You:

1. Reviews from Previous Clients

Be wary of a firm that doesn’t show you testimonials from their previous cases, or doesn’t seem to have any online reviews on websites like Google or Yelp. Testimonies from clients are worn as badges of honor by good law firms, as well as the results of their cases. If a firm doesn’t show them, that could be a red flag.

2. How Much Experience They Really Have

The experience of your attorney and the firm you hire can have a big impact on the result of your case, as well as the amount of your settlement. You want someone with years of experience handling personal injury cases. Law has many complicated aspects, and you need to be sure you are working with an expert for your particular injury including: Car Accidents, Dog Bites, Wrongful Death, Medical Malpractice, Workplace Accidents, Slip & Fall.

3. If They Cover the Costs of the Lawsuit

After an injury or accident, you probably won’t be in the best financial position to cover all the legal fees involved in litigation. With Shafer Swartz PLC, you only pay if we win. If you’re considering another injury firm in Muskegon, make sure to ask them whether they work on a contingency fee basis or not. If they do, this means that they won’t charge you an hourly rate and will cover the expenses needed to advance your case. They will only take a percentage of the winnings to cover their fees.

4. Whether They Have the Resources to Cover All Expenses

While you want a firm that offers to cover the necessary legal fees, you also want to be sure that they can actually handle them. Smaller firms might not have the necessary financial resources. Larger firms can be cash strapped from the significant overhead of maintaining a large team and office space. In either case, it could hurt the potential of your compensation if they don’t have the budget to advance your case.

5. That They Won’t Outsource Your Case

There are many firms (especially the larger firms in Detroit and Grand Rapids) that appear to take your case but then refer or outsource it to a local attorney. Be sure your case is being worked on by the firm you initially spoke with and hired.

6. Whether They Receive Referrals and How They Compare to Other Firms

You can ask the firm whether they receive referrals from other attorneys, and how often. This indicates that other firms trust them to successfully handle personal injury cases. You also shouldn’t limit yourself to inquiring with one injury law firm. Check with several firms before making a decision.

7. Evidence Is Critical

Don’t trust an attorney that does a lot of grandstanding about their skill and passion. Good attorneys know that the strength of the case rests in the evidence, which is why a good firm will gather as much of it as possible. Speeches are for movies. In court, it’s the evidence that triumphs.

8. They Don’t Have a Dedicated Team

Personal injury cases require a lot of research and dedication to make sure all the important details have been fleshed out before appearing in court. Some firms stretch themselves too thin trying to have one person handle everything.

9. They Don’t Have Experience in Court

You’d be surprised to learn that many attorneys don’t actually litigate cases in court. Some have never taken a case to verdict before. They simply settle with the insurance company for whatever they are willing to pay. You need to know if this firm has tried cases in court before, as this will affect the potential of your compensation.

10. They Don’t Offer Free Consultation

It’s standard practice for law firms to offer a free review or consultation for your case. If you are getting charged from the beginning just to go over the details of your case, you aren’t working with a firm that has your best interests in mind.

Work with a Firm That Cares

Personal injury cases are delicate matters that require a lot of work, dedication, and knowledge. If you have been injured, you deserve justice and proper compensation. Work with a firm that has a proven track record of successful cases. Contact us by calling (231) 722-2444 or by using our contact form to get a free consultation for your case.