IAFF Locals

If you need a personal injury lawyer, you’ll soon realize there are dozens in your area, once you start looking online. These tips can help you to find a lawyer who is most suitable for you and your case.

1) Get Referrals From Those You Trust

You probably know somebody at work, in your street or a family member who has worked with a personal injury lawyer before, as unfortunately, accidents are all too common. Getting a recommendation from someone you actually trust is a sensible approach to finding someone to work with; they have actually worked with that lawyer and can give you an idea of how they approach a case, what it’s like to work with them, and how comfortable they were with that lawyer. It’s always recommended to rely on someone else’s experience before you start searching somewhere else, and it’s a much better way to make a more informed decision.

2) Know What You’re Looking For

If you’re looking for a car accident lawyer in Vancouver, you probably want to work with someone who has at least some relevant experience in that specific area. In other words, know what it is you need help with and look for a lawyer who has that specific skill set, although you may also want to consider a convenient and close by location too. The size of the firm is a factor too; you may receive more individual and personalized attention form a small law firm, although you may find your lawyer is working on several different cases at the same time. Quality over quantity is often the preferred approach for many people looking for a personal injury lawyer; it all depends on your requirements and what you are comfortable with.

Most of us place a lot of value on good communication, and it’s one of the most important factors when choosing a lawyer. You should find out whether your case will be handled by a paralegal or assistant and whether you’ll mostly be dealing with them, or whether you will actually be dealing with your chosen lawyer. And of course, you would probably much rather call your lawyer and speak to them directly, rather than have to wait in their office to see them. It can save a lot of valuable time if you are able to send them important documents such as medical bills, or photographs of an accident scene, rather than have to take them somewhere in person. Don’t sign any agreement with a law firm until you’re 100 percent satisfied. It’s someone you feel comfortable working with.

3) Specific Experience

As pointed out previously, your chances of winning your case are higher if you work with a lawyer who has experience in that specific area of the law. A car accident lawyer is probably the best person to consult if you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident and are seeking damages. Some lawyers have an insight into rear-end collision accidents, while others are familiar with motorcycle accidents. It’s better for all concerned if your case doesn’t go to trial, and there is more chance of avoiding a potentially lengthy and costly trial if you work with a lawyer who has the relevant experience. That lawyer also has a better understanding of what might be a realistic and appropriate settlement amount, as well as what to expect from the overall proceedings, what obstacles there might be, and how to overcome these. You need the most experienced lawyer you can find; it’s one occasion where you shouldn’t work with the friend of a friend who happens to be a lawyer.

4) Reputation

There is also less chance of your case going to court and more chance of a favourable settlement if your lawyer has a strong reputation in legal circles. The other side may well be reluctant to fight a lawyer in court who has a reputation for being aggressive and winning more cases than they lose. If a lawyer has a reputation and the other side are well aware of that, they will be more likely to settle out of court, making the entire process go a lot more smoothly.

5) Talk to Several Different Lawyers

We don’t always like everyone we meet, and when it comes to personal injury lawyers, that’s no exception. Take advantage of the free initial consultation offered by most lawyers and meet with them face to face. It’s the perfect opportunity not only to ask any questions that you might have but just as important to get a feel for how they work and decide if you feel comfortable working with them. Of course, the cost is a major concern if you are consulting with a lawyer regarding a personal injury, and that initial meeting also allows you to discuss fees, and how long they anticipate the case to take. You may be working with your lawyer for quite some time, perhaps over a few months, so it’s important that you feel comfortable.

We all want the financial compensation that we feel we are entitled to if we have been injured, and working with the right personal injury lawyer can increase the chances of that. It’s well worth taking the time to make sure you choose the right lawyer; it isn’t a decision that should be based on the first name you see on your computer screen. To ensure a smoother process, work with a lawyer with a great reputation, and one that specializes in that specific area of law. You also want to work with a lawyer who treats your case with the importance it deserves and who communicates clearly with you through every step of the legal proceedings.

Hiring a vehicle accident attorney can be quite valuable to your injury claims. The following are some benefits among the many which you can get when you hire a car accident lawyer and how she or he can aid in your complaint.

1. Handle Your Insurance Company on Your Behalf

Insurance companies are in business to make money. Their insurance adjusting teams are highly trained to negotiate insurance settlements, and they will do all they can to lower what they pay, even to the point of denying you your valid claim.

If you lack the experience to negotiate with the insurance firms, it can be quite a stringent process to represent your best interests and ensure you get the value you are claiming in full. Furthermore, the adjusters in these insurance companies can intentionally cause you to inadvertently give a statement that can affect the ability to recover your deserved compensation.

If you have a lawyer representing your claims before the company, it will have a substantial impact on your claim. Your lawyer will:

• Negotiate with the adjuster of your insurance company
• Handle for you all the details of your claim
• Craft for you a verbal or written statement which is carefully prepared for your benefits
• Stand for your best interests and fight to win the compensation which you deserve
• Our lawyers horn many decades of exposure working with insurance firms and negotiating for fair settlements for our different clients. We are familiar with their tactics and understand what
• it will take to stop a low settlement offer, and instead help ensure you get the correct compensation you deserve.

2. Prove the Liability for Your Sustained Injuries

Most times, it is the part of proving that the negligence of another person caused your injuries, which is quite a big complication with car accidents. This is an essential part of all car accident claims, as people hurt by actions of another rightfully deserve being compensated.

However, you should know that all the parties involved will always try to shift the blame, which makes it hard to prove who is liable for your sustained injuries.

A personal injury lawyer who is accomplished will sift through all the pieces of evidence and determine precisely who is responsible for your injuries and then come up with a strong argument in your support.

Since he or she has handled many other complex auto accident and personal injury cases, our lawyers possess the skills and all the resources to acquire evidence that is needed for building a case in your representation. It can include the following:

• Consulting with medical specialists to establish the severity of your injuries
• Reconstructing the scene of the accident
• Obtaining the report on the accident
• Gathering your records from your doctors
• Interviewing witnesses
• We also have the experience to defend our clients against possible allegations of contributory negligence, which can bar an injured victim from getting compensation if she or he was in some way partially at fault for the particular accident. Our commitment is to defend your right to be compensated.

3. Declare the actual value of your injury

Receiving the true compensation value of your injury claims and damages suffered is the other complicated part of most car accident cases. Insurance companies have the skills to convince victims to accept a lowball settlement offer, and they will work hard to pay the least amount possible for your injury.

Attorneys who have dealt with countless car accident claims understand the true value for your claim and cannot accept a settlement offer that fails to cover the full extent of losses you have incurred. We will work diligently to ensure you receive full compensation for your losses, which include those lost in your past time and which you may suffer days to come. They include:

• Both future and previous medical bills
• Low wages and possible future lost income
• Suffering and pain

4. Negotiate For a Fair Settlement

The insurance adjusters will spend many of their days as they negotiate insurance settlements. They have top skills in negotiating, and they will fight vigorously in favor of their best interests. So are auto accident attorneys. We negotiate with other attorneys and insurance companies regularly. However, we significantly differ from the adjusters because our sole focus is a win for our clients.

Before entering any negotiation with an insurance adjuster, ensure you call and talk to a highly trusted accident attorney who is experienced in regular handling of their role. Our attorneys have a lot of experience negotiating for fairer settlements for our clients, which helps them get the deserved compensation. We never settle for a lesser offer.

5. File Personal Injury Lawsuits Where Necessary

The other significant benefit you acquire from hiring a car accident attorney is that we will advise you about all the legal options you have. If your insurance company is not willing to give you a reasonable amount of settlement, we are ready to file personal lawsuits to aid you in getting the right compensation.

This is a step that pushes insurance adjusters to give fair settlements, even before the case is taken to court. However, we are ready most of the time to proceed with a case to court if our clients want it that way.

6. Explain To You All the Regulations and Laws Applying To Your Injury Claim

Insurance policies are contracts which detail all the responsibilities of every party. However, understanding the details of all these legal documents can be quite a complication. Our attorneys have the necessary training in law, and they can read all through the policy you have with the company to ensure they are acting in good faith to uphold the requirements in the contract.

If that does not work, we will explain further all the legal options at your disposal that can aid you in holding the company accountable and ensuring they compensate you the right way.

Besides, there are undoubtedly many regulations and laws which are applicable to your accident that only a lawyer can identify and potentially use in your favour.

We will ensure to guide you all through the steps of your insurance claim and the legal processes, ensuring you understand the multiple rules and laws which are applicable to your case.

Welcome to the IAFF lawyers blog for local lawyers and personal injury law tips. When you’ve been injured in a car accident, and you’re working with your insurance agency, contact us and we’ll get to you right away.