
When you’re recuperating from a car accident or another personal injury, one of the first big decisions you’ll make is picking a lawyer to represent you. A lot of people make the error of looking only at price when they enter into a transaction, and they do this when hiring an attorney. But in personal injury law, experience generally trumps price.
Working with a firm that has been voted Best Law Firm by the American Institute of Trial Lawyers gives you the confidence that your case is being handled by professionals recognized for their skill and dedication.Â
Experience also means a lawyer will be able to assess the strength and weakness of your case at an early stage, preventing you from making mistakes that could cost you money. An experienced attorney has knowledge, negotiating expertise, and courtroom demeanor that can impact how well your case is settled.
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Experience Makes a New Case Strategy Better
With an experienced attorney, he has dealt with many cases like yours and knows what it takes to move forward with a legal strategy in place. They understand what evidence to gather, what experts to call in, and how to predict the challenges that may come from insurance companies or another attorney.Â
A less experienced lawyer may not have the knowledge to handle complex issues or understand a legal nuance that would have had an impact on your case.Â
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Knowledge of Insurance Company Tactics
Insurers are notorious for employing hardball strategies to reduce payouts. They might obstruct the claims process, argue about liability, or try to push you into a low settlement offer. These strategies have been employed time and again by experienced attorneys who know how to counter them.Â
They know how insurance adjusters think, and they know what kind of evidence is necessary to present your case in a manner that encourages them to take you seriously. An attorney without that experience may say yes to a settlement offer that looks good on the surface but that doesn’t fully compensate you for your future medical bills and lost earnings.Â
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Confidence in Court Representation
Most personal injury claims get settled outside of court, but some ultimately end up in a trial. That is when having a lawyer who has experience in the courtroom pays off. To be good at trying cases, you need to be smart about the law, of course, but more than that, you must have self-assurance and a facility for presenting and persuading a judge or jury.Â
Such a setting is no sweat for experienced attorneys; they’ve been there, done that. They know how to cross-examine witnesses, present evidence in a way that’s convincing, and argue compellingly for your side. A lawyer who has never tried a case will be afraid of trial and want to settle quickly, whether the settlement offer is fair or not.
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Long-Term Value Outweighs Short-Term Savings
It is reasonable to be concerned about the costs of legal representation, especially when staring down a mountain of medical bills and financial worry in the aftermath of an accident. However, a myopic focus on what the lawyer charges can be short-sighted. More experienced lawyers might ask for more expensive rates, but in the end, they also get you higher awards.Â
Their expertise (and sleuthing) can be the difference between receiving next to nothing and a compensation package that actually meets their needs. Ultimately, you may save money by hiring a lawyer who is more experienced to make certain that you receive the full worth of your claim.
Key Takeaways
Your decision about an attorney should not be based on which one is the cheapest. So, be careful hiring a lawyer based entirely on price. Remember these key points:
- Wisdom, confidence, and strategic foresight that only experience can bring to your case.
- A seasoned attorney will either be prepared for hiccups or be able to counter insurance company tricks.
- Having a seasoned personal injury lawyer by your side can increase the likelihood that you will receive the maximum compensation possible.
- The decisions to invest in experience today can have a major effect on your financial comfort and security tomorrow.