You only have one chance for a settlement after an accident; once you sign a settlement offer or a jury determines that the defendant is not liable for your damages, your case is over. How much money you get—or whether you get anything at all—often depends on the skill of your Greenville personal injury lawyer.
With so many talented lawyers in South Carolina, how do you choose a good personal injury lawyer? Look for someone with experience successfully litigating your type of claim, someone you trust, and someone with the resources necessary to see your case to the end, even if it gets complicated. Let’s explore how to do this.
Evaluate your lawyer’s professional qualifications
Is your lawyer a licensed attorney in good standing with the South Carolina Bar Association? You can check with the Bar to verify their education and licensure and see if any complaints or disciplinary actions have ever been filed against them.
Nearly all licensed attorneys will hold a Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school. You can find out your lawyer’s educational background either through the state bar or on their website. You can also learn a little more about potential lawyers on their “About Us” page on their firm site.
How much experience does your lawyer have with cases like yours?
Some personal injury attorneys are “jack of all trades” lawyers, handling every type of case from dangerous drug class actions to dog bites. Others focus their practice area on one or two personal injury classes, like medical malpractice or semi-truck accidents. If you have a complicated case or one that requires a significant investment of time and resources, then you’ll probably have a better outcome working with a lawyer with experience in that particular area.
You have an opportunity to evaluate your attorney’s experience in your initial consultation; most personal injury lawyers offer a free initial case review. Treat your consultation like a job interview: prepare and come with a list of questions like:
- How many cases like mine do you handle each year?
- Have you taken on multiple defendants in a case before?
- What potential challenges do you see with my case?
- What kind of resources do you have to fight my case?
- What percentage of your cases go to trial versus settling?
And how much experience do they have in preparing for trial?
Some cases may require expert witness testimony, lengthy depositions, or subpoenaing extensive safety and maintenance records, all of which take time, manpower, and money. A larger firm may have more of these resources to devote to your claim; a new lawyer or small firm may not have developed their professional connections, or may not have the funds to litigate a long, complicated case in court.
Do you like your potential lawyer? Do you trust them?
You’ll work closely with your attorney for months, discussing personal issues and disclosing sensitive medical information. If you have conflicting communication styles, don’t feel comfortable confiding in the lawyer, or simply don’t click during the initial consultation, move on to the next option.
Your lawyer needs full disclosure, even parts of the situation that make you look bad, to mount a strong defense of your interests. If you don’t feel comfortable telling your lawyer how you may have contributed to the accident, your case could be compromised.
Don’t work with just any attorney – work with Greenville’s trusted personal injury lawyers
At Smith Jordan Law, our experience spans a wide range of legal cases. We offer a free consultation so you can learn more about us and our firm and how we can help you recover the maximum compensation available in your claim. Call (864) 343-2222 today.
