Finding The Best Personal Injury Lawyer In Michigan

Personal injury lawyers are an essential part of the legal profession. They work diligently to make sure all those injured through no fault of their own get the compensation that they deserve. Whether you’ve dealt with a workplace injury, slip and fall, or any other accident, it’s worth looking into making a claim. But how do you find the best lawyer for the job? There are some massive green flags and red flags to watch out for when finding the best candidates. Let’s start with the green ones.

5 Green Flags When Searching For The Best Michigan Lawyers

1) What do they specialize in?

This is important when choosing a specific lawyer. Some will have plenty of experience in personal injury cases but may not be that well-read in specific fields. Being a jack-of-all-trades in law doesn’t work when you need the best of the best in your corner. For example, if you’re dealing with a slip-and-fall case, you want someone who’s dealt with plenty. If you’re there because of a dog bite, and they say you’re the first they’ve ever seen, that’s not a good sign.

2) How long have they been working in that field?

Experience isn’t just about the cases they’ve handled but the number of years they’ve spent in the legal profession. Are they fresh out of law school and only now taking on cases for themselves? Or have they been at the firm for so long that they’re in line to make partners? Everyone has to start somewhere, and legal secretaries progressing up the career ladder deserve their big break. But do you want it to be you if you have a delicate high-stakes case to win?

3) What are their qualifications?

Obviously, you can practice law and win cases without qualifications. Some will pass the bar and gain work experience after law school. Others will take that further with additional qualifications, such as a doctorate in juridical science. Ask to see these credentials and find out where they were from. Personal injury lawyers who qualify from Yale or other Ivy League schools are hard to beat. You can check out the current opinions and standings online.

4) What are their reviews and case studies like?

One way to find out how good a personal injury lawyer in Southfield is – ask the people they represent. Ideally, there will be plenty of testimonials and case studies available online highlighting their success. This is about more than just a good win record. It’s about finding out if they are dedicated to their work, great at working on the finer details of a case, and respectful to their clients.

5) Are they respected in the community?

This final point is something that prospective clients don’t always consider. There is the misconception that lawyers and firms are highly competitive and cutthroat. However, many will receive referrals from other lawyers because of their expertise and reputations. Lawyers with lots of referrals and character references online are the ones that are hard to beat.

5 Red Flags When Searching For The Best Michigan Lawyers

Sadly, while there are plenty of great law firms in the state covering all those green flags, not all meet the criteria. There are also plenty of red flags that you need to be aware of. Look out for these signs when talking to potential personal injury lawyers or researching companies. If you find one or more, move on to someone else.

1) Lawyers that send solicitation letters

This is one of the worst practices in law, and no self-respecting professional will do it. Lawyers desperate for new clients may send letters to people they know have recently been in an accident. They will tell them all about their great services and the chance of a big payout. But it also means they dug around in some police or hospital records to find you. Don’t go near them.

2) Lawyers that charge for a consultation.

Again, there will be many lawyers with the tactic of claiming to be fairer or cheaper because there aren’t any upfront fees. However, there shouldn’t be a consultation fee. The best lawyer will meet with you and either convince you they are right for the case or refer you to someone else. You shouldn’t pay anything until they carry out their work.

3) Lawyers that don’t have a legal team

All of the best lawyers are hard-working with a great work ethic. But this doesn’t mean they will be working alone to try and do everything. Personal injury lawyers who can’t delegate will end up spreading themselves too thin, and something will slip through the cracks. Those who don’t have any staff to lean on might be too inexperienced or lacking in funds.

4) Lawyers that aren’t board certified

This one is pretty straightforward. As with the issue above with finding lawyers with good qualifications, you also need someone certified. If they can’t offer proof they are with the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA), see this as a red flag.

5) Lawyers who are vague about the teams of service

Ideally, when you choose a lawyer to represent you, they will be completely upfront about their services. They will go over everything they can offer, how much it will cost, and all the finer details in between. If they say they’ll flesh out the details after you sign, that’s a bad sign. You need to be able to trust them and know where you stand from day one.

Find The Right Lawyer For Your Case

It is really important to find a lawyer who can handle your case with complete care and professionalism. This is more than just a job. This is a case that could have significant repercussions for your physical, mental, and/or financial health. So, it really does pay to take your time to research the best personal injury lawyers in Michigan. Talk to the best candidates, see what they have to offer, and trust your gut.