Choosing a Personal Injury Attorney

How to Choose a Personal Injury Lawyer in San Antonio and all of Texas

The best way to choose any lawyer is to find out what his client's are saying about him. Click here: Testimonials to find out what ours are saying about us.

There are many other ways to find a personal injury, slip and fall or auto accident lawyer. As I have said, the best way is to have a friend or family member who has had a similar case and was happy with the lawyer who represented them. If you do not know anyone, there are lawyers advertising on TV, radio, billboards, internet, and yellow pages who compete against each other for personal injury cases. You should receive quality service right off the bat. If you do not, do not hire that lawyer. When you do call a lawyer, find out with whom you are speaking, briefly explain your legal problem, and ask:

• Does the lawyer have experience with personal injury?
• Does the lawyer charge for an initial interview? If so, what is the charge?
• Does the lawyer have a standard fee for this kind of problem? What does the fee cover?
• Does the lawyer provide a written agreement describing fees and services provided for the fees?

Keep a list of the information and think about the answers you receive from the lawyer or their office representatives. If you are satisfied with the answers, make an appointment with the lawyer.

How Do I Prepare And What Should I Take To The First Interview?

Plan to go to the first interview with an open mind. It is important to have with you: a written summary or detailed notes outlining your problem, and include:

• Names, addresses and phone numbers of all persons or companies involved; and
• All documents which are part of your case, these may include: Receipts, contracts, medical bills, repair estimates, checks, police reports, and/or medical reports. In short, every piece of paper you have about your case. Don't make up any new documents unless it is the name and addresses of any witnesses or doctors or hospitals you have been seen at, etc. Your lawyer will copy them and return the originals to you after the initial interview.

Prepare a list of questions for the lawyer, such as:

• Are you an expert in personal injury?
• Will a lawyer be handling my case?
• Will you regularly contact me about my case's status?
• Can I get a free copy of my entire file if I ask?
• Will I be able to make the final decision on my case?
• What is your estimate of time needed to complete my case?

REMEMBER: When you hire a lawyer, the lawyer will be working for you. He or she should be genuinely interested in your problem and in giving you the best possible advice. The lawyer may not be able to accomplish everything you wish because of the facts or the laws that apply in your case. Many times the best advice a lawyer can give will be to avoid court action. He or she may suggest other methods to resolve your matter, such as negotiation or mediation.

What Should I Expect Of My Lawyer And What Will He Or She Expect Of Me?

Here are a few tips about what to expect from your lawyer:

Your lawyer should

• Give you frank, honest advice;
• Tell you the strong and weak points of your case;
• Keep you informed and follow your instructions, within the bounds of the law;
• Protect and defend you (his or her principal duty!). He or she should not make any agreements or take on any obligation which might jeopardize your rights or interests;
• While representing you, not represent any other client whose interests conflict with yours;
• Provide you, if you ask, with copies of all letters and documents involved in your case;
• Provide an itemized bill of all work done for you and all expenses incurred on your behalf.

Here are a few tips about what your lawyer will expect of you:

• To be prompt for court dates and appointments;
• To let him or her know how to keep in touch with you. If you have a change of address or phone number or place of employment, let your lawyer know; and
• To be completely honest -- even if it is embarrassing to tell the truth about your problem. Remember, what you tell a lawyer in private will be kept confidential. Even confessions to past crimes or criminal activity are going to be treated as confidential by your lawyer. The only exception to this rule of strict confidentiality, are plans for future crimes and continuing criminal activity.

How Much Will The Lawyer Charge Me For His Or Her Services?

The lawyer's fee depends upon many variables, such as amount of time, the difficulty of the work, the skill required, the customary fee in your area for similar work, the experience, reputation and ability of the lawyer, and whether the fee is a set amount or contingent on the outcome of the case. Some fee arrangements are

Flat fee: the lawyer may quote you a set amount or standard fee that he or she has arrived at for your type of legal problem. In addition, lawyers usually expect you to pay court costs and to reimburse them for out-of-pocket expenses, such as travel or copying expenses. It is important that you find out what any fixed fee covers.

Hourly fee: A lawyer may prefer to bill you by the hour. Such fees may vary widely depending upon the complexity of the legal work, the skill of the lawyer and whether there are time deadlines. You may wish to try to negotiate with a lawyer on his or her hourly rates. If you agree to an hourly arrangement, you and the lawyer could include a provision in your contract requiring the lawyer not to exceed a specified amount of time or money without obtaining your permission. Insist that you be kept advised every month of the number of hours that the lawyer is spending on your problem. You also have the right to ask for a written explanation of what the lawyer did during the hours he or she worked on your case.

Retainer: Some lawyers also require an advance fee called a retainer. Ask the attorney what this covers. Occasionally, the retainer is a flat fee that will cover the lawyer's services regardless of the amount of time the lawyer spends working for you. So, it is important to ask whether there will be a refund if the attorney does not spend as much time on the problem as provided for by the retainer.

Contingency Fee: Almost all lawyers who represent victims of negligence use a contingency fee agreement. What that means is that you do not pay them unless they recover something for your. If the lawyer does recover for personal injuries, the charge is 33-40% of what is awarded to you. In addition, if the lawyer recovers, there may be some expenses the lawyer will recover from you. Those expenses range from mileage, copy costs, medical retrieval costs, court costs, mediation fees, and other cost items associated with the personal injury practice. The contingency fee agreement, which must be in writing, will list any expenses if any you are expected to pay back at the successful conclusion of your case.

Questions about fees that you may want to ask are:

• Can you give me an estimate of how much this legal matter will cost?
• Can we have a written fee agreement that sets forth not only my obligation to pay you, but also exactly what services you will provide?

How Should I Make My Decision To Hire A Lawyer?

Based on your first interview, you should consider the following factors before agreeing to hire a lawyer:

• Could you communicate effectively with the lawyer? Was the lawyer clear and easy to understand?
• Are fees reasonable in comparison with other lawyers' charges?
• Did the lawyer give clear explanations of how he or she will let you know about progress in your case?
• If you are not satisfied with this lawyer, do not hire him or her. Look elsewhere for legal help.

Before you finally sign a contract with a lawyer, READ THE CONTRACT. MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND IT. MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING YOU AND THE LAWYER HAVE AGREED TO IS IN WRITING.

You know what I recommend? If you are trying to choose an auto accident attorney, slip and fall lawyer, or disability attorney in San Antonio, call Ed Goldner at 866-654-7772 or 210-775-2836 or email Ed. Helping injured people is not just our business, it is our passion.