How to Find Personal Injury Lawyers Near Me (September 2024)

The public often maligns personal injury lawyers as “ambulance chasers.” In truth, they are an integral part of the civil justice system. Claimants who hired a personal injury attorney for their cases received three times more than those who pursued their claim without a lawyer.

When you consider that there were 25.5 million emergency room visits for accidental injuries in 2021, then it makes sense that people need specially-trained advocates who work for injured people. Here is information about personal injury attorneys and why you should consider hiring one after an accidental injury or death.

What is a Personal Injury Lawyer?

A personal injury lawyer represents people who sustain physical or mental injuries due to someone else’s negligence. These claims fall under tort law, which addresses civil wrongs.

Being a personal injury attorney involves passing the bar and representing people when other people, businesses or government entities do something or fail to do something that injures them. Some states, like Texas, board certify personal injury attorneys. These lawyers meet minimum standards advanced by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Other states have boards of legal specialization, too. If you live in a state that certifies lawyers, you can hire someone knowing they likely have the skills and knowledge to handle your case successfully.

What Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Do?

A personal injury lawyer helps clients by:

• Gathering facts: Your first appointment with an attorney involves telling them the facts of your case and giving information to support them. The attorney responds by offering advice and guiding you when the process becomes overwhelming.

• Investigating: An attorney will gather evidence, including medical records, traffic cam videos, police reports and witness statements. They may also hire experts to assess the more complex facts of your accident, e.g., whether the county properly maintained a road.

• Case management: This part is often the most difficult. As a claim heats up, there is constant communication with insurance adjusters and information sharing. A skilled lawyer with excellent support staff knows how to get through this work efficiently.

• Negotiation: Only three percent of personal injury claims settle by trial verdict. Most settle due to an accident lawyer’s well-developed negotiation skills. If you hire an attorney, your claim most likely settles before court involvement.

• Litigation and trial: If a defendant fails to make reasonable settlement offers, an attorney will file a complaint and prepare the matter for trial–if necessary. Even if you must file a civil action, your claim may still settle well before trial.

Personal injury attorneys have demanding schedules and heavy caseloads. This demanding area of law grows steadily each year. When you seek an attorney, you may encounter many overwhelmed offices and a lack of communication. So, it’s important to hire an attorney early in the process so they have time to work on your case. Waiting too long may mean never finding an attorney who can handle your claim.

What Kind of Cases Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Handle?

Personal injury cases include:

• Car accidents: In 2022, motor vehicle crashes caused 5.2 million injuries and 46,027 deaths, making them a large segment of the personal injury market.

• Motorcycle accidents: Motorcycle riders are especially vulnerable and comprise 15% of accident fatalities. Many attorneys representing people in motorcycle accidents are also riders and want to hold careless drivers accountable.

• Truck accidents: Their sheer size alone makes trucks dangerous in accidents. Commercial truckers often feel pressure to deliver on time, leading them to disobey traffic laws or drive while tired. The result is 5,904 trucks and buses involved in fatal crashes in 2021.

• Pedestrian accidents: Pedestrian fatalities increased 19% in just three years, making it one of the leading causes of traffic deaths. Distracted driving, drug or alcohol impairment or drowsiness often lead to pedestrian accidents.

• Bicycle accidents: Bicycle use has increased since COVID-19 in 2020, with bicycles being a main source of transportation for many. Unfortunately, that also means increased injury and fatality rates. In 2021, bicyclists were 2.2% of traffic fatalities.

• Premises liability: These accidents arise from property owners' negligence in maintaining their property. Broken stairs, slippery surfaces, and inadequate snow and ice control may cause slips and falls. Slip and fall injuries result in 2.6 million emergency department visits per year.

• Dog bites: Around 4.5 million dog bites occur each year, and one in five of those bites becomes infected. Laws vary between states, but dog owners are generally responsible for keeping their dogs from hurting others.

• Medical malpractice: States have robust medical malpractice laws and many people need them when doctors fail to treat their injuries or illnesses or leave them maimed. From 2016 to 2020, claims received $151 million in compensation on 120 settlements.

• Construction accidents: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) names falls, electrocution, and being struck or caught by machinery as the most frequent construction accidents. The workers’ compensation system handles many of these accidents, but in some cases, a civil lawsuit is also possible.

• Product liability: From exploding Pintos to tainted baby formula, product liability lawsuits make lawyers heroes by getting justice for people injured by products they trust. In 2022, plaintiffs filed a record high of 5,826 cases.

How Can I Find a Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me?

It may be tempting to Google “best personal injury lawyer,” but that strategy may overwhelm you with results. Also, some law firms pay to place their firms at the top of Google results, and they may not be the match for you.

Resources like ConsumerShield can help you find attorneys. However, you still need to evaluate them and choose the one who best suits your case.

How to Talk to a Personal Injury Lawyer

Personal injury attorneys meet with potential clients every day. For that reason, it doesn’t hurt to have a guide for how to talk to them. You want that first meeting to be informative and reassuring–which can’t happen unless you’re prepared.

When you see a personal injury attorney, stick to the facts. Describe how the accident occurred and answer the lawyer’s questions. You want to keep this discussion like a dialogue so your attorney receives the necessary information.

Also, make sure you have the following information available:

• Names and contact information for medical providers

• Police report and badge numbers (if an officer attended the accident)

• Names and contact information for witnesses

• The other party’s insurance information, or your uninsured or underinsured coverage if the other party was uninsured

Finally, never talk to insurance adjusters before speaking to an attorney. Insurance companies seek to delay and frustrate you so that you may give up on your claim. Adjusters may also attempt to intimidate you into saying the wrong thing. The impacts that can have on your claim are not worth the risk.

How to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer

How do you know who will work best for you? Here are some guidelines:

• Read the fee agreement carefully: Personal injury attorneys typically charge on a contingency fee basis, meaning they receive a percentage of your recovery. Avoid attorneys who charge consultation fees or insist on an hourly arrangement.

• Ask about experience: You want to ensure your attorney worked on your type of case previously. For example, if a semi-truck collided with you, you want an attorney with experience pursuing commercial trucking companies.

• Be comfortable: Talking about injuries often means sharing embarrassing facts and medical histories. You are more likely to be forthright with an attorney who inspires comfort rather than judgment or tension.

• Take your time: While you must act quickly, don’t do so at the cost of hiring the wrong attorney. If you feel pressured or that the attorney isn’t telling you everything, move on. You don’t need to make an accident more stressful than necessary.

ConsumerShield knows you may feel overwhelmed after an accident. Rather than struggle with this ordeal alone, let us help you find the right personal injury lawyer. Contact us to start the process.