How do you sort the good injury claims lawyers from the bad? How are you, a member of the public, supposed to know what to look out for when choosing an injury solicitor?
Below, we have listed 5 tips for spotting the best.
- Online reputation
There’s two sides to this point – the reputation injury claim lawyers say they have, and the reputation they do have. It’s an important distinction because the first point of contact a potential claimant with have with a lawyer is their website, which will no doubt claim to be dedicated to customer satisfaction. Go a little further with your research and Google the lawyers you are looking at to uncover any horror stories and disgruntled customers.
- Success rates
There is no definition of success when it comes to an injury claim. As such, lawyers can say they have a 99% claim success rate – and most people will presume that means 99% of their customers received a positive outcome in their case. A top tip here is don’t take success rates at face value – ask for clarification from the lawyer you are looking into; ask how their success rate has been calculated, and ask for any reviews and testimonials they have.
- Honesty
There’s a percentage of lawyers out there who flat-out promise to win you compensation for your injury. But, lawyers can’t promise you this – some cases win, some cases lose. Also, there’s a percentage of lawyers out there who claim that your claim won’t cost you a penny – this simply isn’t true; there may be fees to pay if your case loses and if your case wins, any lawyer fees will come out of your payout. Lawyers who are upfront about this are the best.
- Law Society membership
The Law Society is the independent professional body for solicitors. Any lawyer who is not a member of this professional body should be questioned. Lawyers who are a member (click here to see an example) practice law to the highest standards and fully respect the rule of law. The Law Society isn’t just confined to personal injury either – solicitors can practice any number of laws and be a member. Be sure to look out for any membership credentials.
- Compassion
Being injured in an accident is a traumatic experience and you deserve to be treated with respect and compassion throughout the claims process. The best injury claims lawyers will work on your case taking into account your individual circumstances and they will do their utmost to ensure that your case is strong enough to be a success. They will also not only support you, but your family and anybody else affected by your accident too.