Tuesday, September 3, 2013

How To Select A Personal Injury Lawyer - Washington D.C.

By: Personal Injury Lawyer Wayne Cohen, Cohen & Cohen

If you are in need of a personal injury lawyer, then it is important for you place a lot of effort into making sure you hire the right lawyer.  Here are 5 tips that may be of help to you when looking for a personal injury lawyer.

First, make sure that the lawyer or law firm is licensed in the state where the case occurred. For example, if you are involved in a car accident lawyer in the District of Columbia, but you live in Michigan, it would be prudent to retain counsel in Washington, D.C. and not Michigan.  The D.C. personal injury lawyer may have a better chance of getting you a good result.

Second, ask questions to determine the lawyer's past performance.  Has the lawyer handled this type of injury case before?  What is the lawyer's track record?  What is the lawyer's philosophy on handling this type of case?

Third, what is the lawyer's education background.  For example, did the lawyer attend an accredited law school?  While at law school, was the lawyer a member of the law review? These questions can help give you some background on the lawyer.

Fourth, has the lawyer ever been interviewed by the media?  Quite often, skilled lawyers will be interviewed by various members of the press who may recognize the lawyer as an "expert" in a particular field.

Fifth, determine the lawyer's policies and procedures for staying in contact with you during the case.  Will the lawyer accept emails from you?  How often will you be discussing the case with the lawyer?

Ultimately, no one factor makes a good lawyer.  But together in aggregate, finding the answers to these questions can help you make a smart decision when hiring a personal injury lawyer or a lawyer in a another specialty.