So you’ve been injured and want to hire a personal injury lawyer to help you get a fair settlement. Good idea…but where do you start? What should you expect? What questions should you ask?

If you’ve been seriously injured (your damages add up to more than $1,000) and you want to hire a lawyer, get on it quickly. Searching for and hiring a good lawyer might take some time, so the sooner you start the better.

This does not mean you should sign the contract right away. But you should begin meeting with lawyers within the first week or two after your injury. You could have a loved one start looking if you’re not physically capable.

A good lawyer brings a lot to the table - knowledge of the legal game, experience negotiating, etc. But they will also take a substantial amount of any settlement awarded to you - usually somewhere around 33%.

You should know it’s not absolutely necessary to get a personal injury lawyer. It really depends on your case. If you just want to file a claim (ask for money directly from the defendant and/or their insurance company) and your case is relatively straightforward, then you might be able to “go it alone.” This approach could save you a significant amount of money.
But if you’re like most people you’re not even considering the prospect of handling your own case. So naturally you’re going to hire a personal injury lawyer.