Being injured in an accident can be scary and it’s often difficult to know what to do afterward, especially if you’re still recovering from your injuries. However, if the accident was caused because of another person’s negligence, you deserve to be taken care of and compensated for your injuries.
Accidents are not only terrifying and at times painful and life-threatening, but they can also be expensive and put a financial burden on you and your family. That’s why knowing how to find the right personal injury lawyer in Alberta to take your case is critical.
With the right lawyer in Edmonton on your team, you can file a personal injury claim and recover compensation for things such as lost wages, pain and suffering, and medical bills.
But not all personal injury lawyers are created equal and finding the right lawyer to represent you can be tricky. Let’s explore how to narrow down a list of lawyers and ultimately choose the right personal injury lawyer for your case.
Assemble a List of Experienced lawyers
To begin assembling a list of experienced personal injury lawyers who can potentially take your case, first start with what you know. If there are any lawyers you know and trust, ask them for personal injury lawyer recommendations in Alberta.
Also, speak with friends and coworkers who have been represented by lawyers in personal injury claims. If someone you trust is willing to vouch for a personal injury lawyer in Edmonton, the lawyer could be worth checking out and adding to your list.
Remember, in the beginning, the idea is to create a strong list of competent personal injury lawyers in your area. Don’t rush to a decision based on the first recommendation. There’s more work to be done.
Analyzing a Personal Injury Lawyer’s Website
The next step is to search for personal injury lawyers in Alberta and look at their websites. These days, anyone can pay for a fancy website to advertise their law firm, so don’t be fooled by aesthetics.
It’s what’s on that website that is important. Pay attention to the lawyer’s or law firm’s credentials and how they can help you with your case. Some questions you can start with when you’re reviewing a personal injury lawyer’s websites include:
- How much experience do they have in personal injury law?
- What percentage of the lawyer’s practice is in personal injury law?
- Does the firm usually represent claimants or plaintiffs (insurance companies, businesses)?
- Does the lawyer have any experience dealing with the insurance companies in your case?
- Are they located in your area?
- Would they be interested in your case?
The last question is important. Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, so they only get paid if you win your case. That means they select cases they believe they can win and that make economic sense for them.
Look at the Personal Injury Cases They’ve Won
One way you determine if a lawyer or law firm would take your case is to look at examples of cases they’ve won and see if any of the cases are similar to yours.Cases should be available on the lawyer’s website.
You will want to find a personal injury lawyer who has experience representing claimants (plaintiffs) and avoid lawyers who work primarily for insurance companies.
Also, if you have questions that can’t be answered from the website, open a line of communication with the firm and see how responsive they are. This can help eliminate lawyers with poor communication skills right off the bat.
Then, when you have compiled a final list of personal injury lawyers in Edmonton, contact them to set up a meeting in person.
Meet a Personal Injury Lawyer in Edmonton
Nothing can replace meeting with a personal injury lawyer in Alberta face to face, or at least over a live video call. Most personal injury lawyers offer free consultations, so don’t hesitate to meet with multiple personal injury lawyers before you make your final decision.
When you meet with a lawyer, bring copies of all the documents that are related to your accident. This could include medical bills, police reports, income loss information, and any communications from insurance companies. Try to bring anything about the accident that could be helpful for a lawyer to evaluate your claim.
A few of the questions you should ask in-person include:
- What percentage of the firm’s cases are personal injury cases?
- Who will handle your case and how much of their time will they dedicate to it?
- What percentage of cases does the firm settle out of court?
You will also want to discuss the lawyer’s fee structure. As mentioned, most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. But make sure that is the case, and discuss how exactly costs will be billed and if the percentage of the contingency fee will increase if the case goes to trial.
Once you’ve talked over the facts of your case with the lawyer, the lawyer may give you their opinion about what they think the case is worth and how difficult it will be to get the insurance company to pay. This is a good time to discuss different strategies regarding how you’d like to approach your personal injury case.
Contact the Experienced Edmonton Personal Injury Lawyers
When you or a loved one is injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, it can be a life-altering moment. At Chadi & Company, our award-winning personal injury team understands how difficult suffering injuries can be, and we work tirelessly to get you the compensation you and your family deserve.
Over the years, we’ve handled all sorts of personal injury cases in Alberta and often recover damages for our clients for pain and suffering, lost income, future costs of care, loss of capacity, loss of housekeeping abilities, medical treatment, and property damage.
At Chadi & Company, we work on a contingency fee basis with no up-front fees, and if we take your case, you will never pay out-of-pocket for any expenses. To set up a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Edmonton, give us a call today at (780) 429-2300 or contact us here online.
