Kirk Bernard

You’ve been injured in a car accident or as a result of someone else’s negligence. The next step is probably the most important and challenging one to take – finding the right lawyer to represent your case. You get on Google or the Yellow Pages and there are thousands of lawyers to choose from just in Seattle or Washington State. That’s a good thing and a bad thing. You know you can find one good lawyer who will be perfect for your case. But what you don’t know is whether the person you pick will be the right one. There is usually a lot at stake, especially if you have suffered a serious personal injury or are filing a wrongful death lawsuit. Here are some useful pointers to help you find the right attorney for your case:

1. Do Your Research: Look at lawyer rating Web sites such as Avvo.com that evaluate a lawyer based on experience, peer ratings and professional accomplishments. It’s never enough to see an attorney’s smiling face on television or tear off a magazine ad. Anyone can advertise. You need to go beyond appearances to find an attorney who can handle your case and give you the best possible result. Remember that your attorney will complete your case and move on to the next client, but you will have to live with the result of the case for the rest of your life. The stakes are much higher for you as the client.
2. Always Schedule a Personal Consultation: Meet your lawyer face-to-face. Take a look at his or her staff members, how they work and how they treat other clients in person or over the phone. Do they answer questions patiently? Do they treat you well when you walk in the door? A visit to the lawyer’s office and meeting your lawyer in person will give you a good idea of his expertise and knowledge and whether he or she has the resources to handle your case. Is the lawyer a good listener? Is he or she being sensitive to your situation?
3. Ask questions: Do not shy away from questions. You may want to ask specific questions to find out more about the law firm’s ability to deal with your case. Do they have the access to medical experts if you are filing a medical malpractice claim? Do they have access to accident reconstruction experts or auto product defect experts?
4. Experience and track record: An attorney may have handled thousands of cases, but if his success rate is not good, then he may not be the one for you. Before retaining an attorney to represent you, check out his or her experience as well as their track record. For example, if you have been injured by a negligent driver, find out how many cases the attorney has pursued against negligent driver and how many he or she has won. What are some of the law firm’s recent verdicts and settlements?

The Seattle personal injury attorneys at The Bernard Law Group have been successfully representing injury victims for more than two decades. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Seattle car accident, pedestrian accident, motorcycle accident or as the result of a product defect or someone else’s negligence, please call Kirk Bernard and his experienced legal team. We always offer a free consultation and case evaluation.