If you’re injured in a car accident or in any other circumstance, you may need to contact a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer in Tampa, Florida. But it’s not always the best idea to just hire the first personal injury law firm you find.
Instead, you’ll want to consider five major things before hiring any personal injury attorney. Let us explore those five elements one by one – by the end, you’ll know how to choose the right personal injury legal representative for your needs.
Does the Lawyer Have Experience in Cases Like Yours?
First and foremost, consider whether a particular Tampa lawyer has experience in cases like yours. There are two ways in which you can do this:
- Determine what a law firm specializes in. For example, if you’re injured in a car accident, a personal injury lawyer that focuses on car accident cases is the right call instead of a criminal defense attorney. The same is true for more specific cases – you will want to hire a personal injury attorney with specific experience given the facts of your case, such as handling trucking accidents, accidents involving an Uber, Lyft, or other ridesharing service, or even bicycle accidents.
- Google a lawyer or law firm’s name before contacting them. Read about their firm online to make sure that they are a good fit for your particular circumstances.
If you progress through both of these steps and a potential personal injury attorney in Tampa has experience with cases like yours, it could be worth giving them a call and at least sitting through an initial consultation. Practically every law firm worth your time and money will offer a free personal injury case evaluation before you have to sign any dotted lines.
Read more in our blog: When to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Tampa, Florida
Does the Tampa Personal Injury Lawyer Have Good Reviews?
Next, consider whether a Tampa personal injury legal firm has good reviews from previous and current clients. Most law firms looking to attract new clients will have easily visible reviews on their primary websites. Those testimonials can tell you a lot about what you can expect from your business relationship with a law firm.
But don’t rely on any lawyer’s personal or official website as your only source of reviews. Remember, lawyers can stack those review pages with positive results, giving a lopsided picture of their actual reputations.
Instead, you should use third-party review sources like Google. You should only contact and work with a personal injury attorney in Tampa who has excellent reviews and a history of solid success.
It’s true that no lawyer can guarantee a 100% success rate on all of their cases. But for the most part, good lawyers will have stellar reviews from satisfied clients who will vouch for their support, knowledge, and more.
Will the Lawyer You Meet With Work on Your Case?
Should you choose to work with a particular Tampa injury lawyer, go to a free case evaluation. Then ask them who will work on your case: the lawyer you are meeting with or someone else in the law firm.
There’s no right or wrong answer here, but most clients are more comfortable meeting the specific lawyer they’ll be working with. For example, if you work with a firm’s major partner, you’ll want that partner to focus on your case instead of one of their junior attorneys.
This may or may not be possible. Some larger law firms have expansive staff rosters of capable attorneys. But in any case, you should at least be given the opportunity to meet with the legal representative who will be handling your case details before you sign a document.
If a law firm doesn’t know who will handle your case, or if they don’t allow you to meet the lawyer in charge of your personal injury lawsuit, move on. It could mean that they are too swamped with current cases to give your legal situation the time and attention it deserves.
What’s the Tampa Personal Injury Attorney’s Fee Policy?
You should also ask a personal injury lawyer in Tampa about their fee policy. For instance, if you need a truck accident lawyer to help you win a case, you can pick your representative so you don’t lose money in the process.
In many personal injury lawsuits and similar cases, the last thing you want to worry about is paying for legal representation. That’s why many of the best law firms operate on a contingency fee basis. They only charge you money if they recover compensation or damages for you from a legal action. Although a personal injury attorney could charge you hourly, almost all victims of an accident choose to go the contingency fee route.
It’s also important to discuss how the costs will be handled on your file. There are costs associated with investigating the case, obtaining medical records, and, potentially, extensive costs if your case requires a lawsuit to be filed. Look for a personal injury firm that will advance all of the costs on your case. You shouldn’t have to pay for the costs on your case without there being a settlement or judgment in your favor. By knowing this information, you can get the legal assistance you need without having to break the bank.
Does the Tampa Lawyer Offer a Guarantee?
Lastly, consider this key fact: no lawyer can guarantee you any case outcome, either in terms of the overall outcome (e.g., a win or loss) or in terms of a specific monetary amount for damages.
For example, if you meet with a car accident attorney and they promise to recover $100,000 in damages, leave the meeting immediately. No lawyer is capable of predicting how a case will end up turning out with 100% certainty or guarantee any outcome whatsoever.
However, a good lawyer will be able to tell you what they think they should be able to do for you and your case. They should be able to explain to you how the process works and what to expect. It is also important that you follow the advice and guidance that your experienced personal injury lawyer provides to you. 
Contact Hunter Law Today
Ultimately, these five things are highly important when it comes to choosing the right personal injury lawyer for your Tampa case. Whether you want to sue an at-fault driver or protect yourself from accusations of injuring another person, a good lawyer will make all the difference for you.
You don’t have to look any further than Hunter Law. Need a car accident attorney? We can help. Looking for a motorcycle accident lawyer? We’ve got you covered. Our experienced, trusted attorneys are well-equipped and ready to break down the details of your case and explore your legal options. Contact us today for a free personal injury consultation.