Choosing the lawyer you'll work with after a serious injury is one of the most consequential decisions you'll make in the process. It's worth doing it carefully.
Start with focus. Personal injury is a real specialty, and the firm you hire should be doing primarily injury work — not dabbling in it between estate plans and traffic tickets.
Look for actual involvement. At many high-volume firms, the lawyer on the billboard never works on your case. Ask who will be handling your file day to day, and confirm that you will be able to reach a lawyer — not just an assistant — when you have a real question.
Ask about courtroom experience. Most cases settle. The ones that settle for the right number usually settle because the insurer believes the firm will actually try the case if they have to.
Trust the consultation. A good injury lawyer should be candid about the strengths and weaknesses of your case, give you realistic expectations, and explain the contingency fee in plain terms.
And finally: trust your read of the person across the desk. You're going to be working with them for a long time on something that matters.
