Every person who has been involved in a car, bike, truck or any vehicle accident knows answering this question “how do I choose my attorney” is not easy. If you visit Google and type: “personal injury attorney Bellevue,” you will see the list of available attorneys is extremely long. So what should you look for? How do you evaluate an attorney to find the one that’s right for you?
Before answering these questions, let me ask you another one: After your vehicle accident, how did you choose your doctor? Likely, your answer is something like: “I chose my doctor because I knew he would be the best one to fix me.” This is exactly what you should look for when you have to choose your attorney. You need the BEST ONE, the one who will fight hard for you and be able to bring you the best result.
Now the question becomes: How do I find the best personal injury attorney?
1- Experience – Years Practicing Law
Nobody wants to be a “guinea pig” or “test subject” in any situation, so why would you agree to be one for your attorney?
Look at how long ago your attorney passed the bar exam and how many years of practice they have.
Here at Premier Law Group, we focus on helping people who have been injured due to the negligence of others and have a great deal of experience in all types of personal injury cases.
2- Client Reviews
If you directly ask your attorney if they are the best one in town, of course they will answer a confident “Yes.” But, how can you be sure this is true?
The best way to proceed is to look at what their clients have said about them. Just as you wouldn’t eat in a restaurant which has sub-par reviews, you should choose your attorney that the same criteria.
The Premier Law Group team works hard to help our clients, and it is reason we are rated 5 stars on Google reviews since 2010.
3- Awards Distinction
Has your attorney been recognized by legal organizations for outstanding achievement? If your attorney has recently won or frequently wins awards, it’s a good sign that their work is recognized by their peers.
Premier Law Group has been recognized as both “Client Care Law Firm of the Year” and “Personal Injury Law Firm of the Year” for 2016. Check out the different awards of our attorneys – Jason Epstein, Patrick Kang, Jonathan Lee, and Holli Giffin.
4- Specializes in Personal Injuries
In the medical field, we call this person a specialist. Just as you would want a back specialist for a back problem, you should look for an attorney who specializes in personal injury cases.
Look on the attorney’s website and see if they are a specialist. Have they written books? Have they been quoted on TV?
At the end of the day, you may not need an attorney, but that doesn’t mean we can’t help you. Check our books for more information about how to Settle Your Own Personal Injury Case.
5-Involved in Their Community
If you are not sure your attorney fights hard for others, you can look at how their firm is involved in the community or supports worthy causes.
Check how Premier Law Group gives back to our community.
6- Free Consultation
After you get injured, you want to make sure you will be able to pay all of your medical bills and any other related expenses. Before signing a representation agreement, check how your attorney works and if you have to pay a consultation fee before you have your case result.
At Premier Law Group, we offer a free 30-minute consultation and, if you partner with us, you won’t have to pay a penny unless we win.
7- Flexibility to Meet Your Needs
The time, the hassle and the stress of driving to meet your attorney, especially after an injury, can be taxing. When you are deciding on an attorney, find out if they have multiple offices, because having your attorney’s office close to your home or work will make things far easier.
At Premier Law Group, we offer four different office locations in Bellevue, Seattle, Federal Way and Renton. And if you can’t come to us, we will come to you! Click here to see all of our locations.
8– Meet in Person
As in any relationship, it is essential that you and your attorney are compatible. That is why it is important to meet with your attorney in person.
Be careful, many firms have new clients meet with “intake personnel” who are not attorneys. This practice does not help you as a client. Meeting with your attorney in person allows you to develop a relationship with the person who will be advocating on your behalf right from the start. So, think about the values that are important to you before you choose an attorney and come to the initial meeting with those values in mind.
Here at Premier Law Group, you will meet with one of the attorneys who will actually be handling your case. Call our office or fill out our contact form.
Lastly, trust your gut. If you meet with an attorney and are not comfortable, keep looking. Not every attorney is right for every client, so keep looking until you find someone who you feel comfortable with and who you feel confident will fight for you.