Every year, there are approximately 24.8 million visits to the doctor for unintentional injuries.
If you’ve been injured as the result of someone else’s negligence, you may have a personal injury case on your hands. And for that, you need the best personal injury attorney you can find.
Believe it or not, the best lawyer for your case is not the first one who returns your call. There’s a lot more that goes into choosing an attorney who will give you your best chance at winning your case.
Unsure what to look for? Keep reading to find out how to find the best personal injury attorney in San Francisco.
Bare Minimum Requirements of a California Personal Injury Lawyer
At the very minimum, the lawyer you choose must have passed the bar exam and hold a license to practice law. This is a legal requirement for all lawyers in the US.
The personal injury lawyer you choose should also be in good standing with the California State Bar. But keep in mind that “good standing” doesn’t necessarily mean “good lawyer”.
How to Choose the Best Personal Injury Attorney in San Francisco
Not all lawyers are good lawyers. If you want the best, you’re going to have to take the following into consideration while you’re searching.
1. Experience
Look for a personal injury lawyer with experience. That means experience in the field and with your particular injury and circumstance.
Choose a firm that focuses on personal injury law, not just a general practice that occasionally takes on these types of cases. Ensure that they have plenty of years of experience in this field behind them, and that should include trial experience.
2. Reviews
It’s not enough to take the word of a personal injury lawyer in California. You want to hear from the people who have worked with them.
For that, you can check online review pages such as Yelp. You might also check their website and their Facebook page.
For an even more thorough review, ask the attorney for referrals. You can ask former clients whether their concerns were heard, how helpful they found the lawyer, if their needs were addressed, and what their trial experience was like.
3. Additional Services
The best California personal injury attorneys provide additional services to make everything easier for you. This might include giving you access to a network of medical professionals or assisting with property damage valuation.
While it’s usually larger firms that can offer this degree of assistance, it doesn’t hurt to ask what’s available to you. And it may sway your decision to go with a firm that makes this process easier in the long run, even if it costs a bit extra.
4. Meeting In-Person
Not all lawyers will have the time and availability for your case. Meeting with different attorneys gives you a wider range of people to choose from. And it’s good to have a few options in case someone becomes unavailable.
You’ll also want to know the person you’re working with personally. There’s something to be said for character and how you get along. You’ll be working closely with this person so you want to be sure you’re comfortable with them
More Legal Help and Advice
Finding the best personal injury attorney in San Francisco starts with finding a licensed attorney in good standing with the California State Bar. After that, you want someone with experience, great reviews, access to resources, and a character you can work with.
Did you find this helpful? For more legal help and advice, check out our Legal section regularly.
