You have been injured in a motor vehicle collision, a slip-and-fall, or some other type of accident, and someone else was the cause of the accident. Suddenly and unexpectedly, you find yourself injured and dealing with significant medical needs. Your employment, caregiving responsibilities, or other important aspects of your life are abruptly interrupted. Everything looks very different than it did when you started your day. On top of all of this, the people around you are talking about lawsuits, and insurance companies are contacting you and asking you for information. You need to hire a lawyer, but where do you turn? You know a real estate lawyer, a family law lawyer, or maybe a corporate lawyer, but you don’t know a personal injury lawyer. What should you do? Does it really matter what type of lawyer you hire?
The short answer is yes, it absolutely does. An experienced personal injury lawyer has the knowledge, experience, and skills that are needed to properly develop a personal injury case and obtain fair compensation for their clients.
An experienced personal injury lawyer knows the legislation and case law that applies to your case. They know the court rules, and how to deal with defence counsel and insurance adjusters. They know which experts to hire, what evidence to collect, and how to effectively develop your case. They also know how various systems of compensation impact one another. For example, they will know how your short-term or long-term disability benefits impact your lawsuit. It really is no different from the decision you make when you decide which medical doctor you should see. You want the doctor that has the training and experience that best suits your needs. Just like you wouldn’t see a cardiologist to treat a broken bone, you don’t want to hire a real estate lawyer or corporate lawyer to represent you in a personal injury lawsuit. Your personal injury lawsuit is important. You need a personal injury lawyer and firm that is capable of protecting you, your family members, and your future.
Other important considerations to keep in mind when looking to hire a personal injury lawyer:
- The sooner you retain a personal injury lawyer, the better. Immediately after an accident, there are key steps that need to be addressed if you are considering a personal injury lawsuit. They include preserving and collecting evidence, complying with notice requirements (i..e writing a letter to the person responsible for the accident and your injuries), and providing key information to the involved insurance companies. This is important because insurance companies will start to assess the value of your case from day one. In addition, an experienced personal injury lawyer knows that the sooner evidence can be collected and a case can be developed, the better.
- Personal injury lawyers generally work on a contingency fee basis. This means that you are not asked to pay anything up front or during the litigation. Instead of charging you an hourly rate for their time as well as disbursements (expenses incurred to advance the case), personal injury lawyers working on a contingency fee basis charge a percentage of the amount that is paid to you when your case concludes. This means you only pay your lawyer if your claim is successful and when you receive compensation.
- Fit, comfort, and ease of communication matter. On average personal injury lawsuits can take between two to five years. The lawyer you hire will learn about every aspect of your life including personal details like your health history, work history, and details about your relationships with family members and friends. The lawyer you hire will also guide you through the litigation process. You will want to hire a lawyer that you are comfortable with – one that is open, approachable, easy to talk to, available for your questions, and clear in their answers. Effective communication with your lawyer is key to ensuring you have the information you need to understand the process and make informed decisions about your case. This is especially true during settlement discussions or negotiations. Our law firm offers free and thorough consultations during which our personal injury lawyers speak directly with potential clients. This provides the potential client a good opportunity to get to know the lawyer and the firm, and to see if we are a good fit for them.
At Beyond Law, our personal injury lawyers are experienced in handling serious cases including motor vehicle car accident claims, spinal cord injury claims, traumatic brain injury claims, medical malpractice, wrongful death claims, long-term disability claims (LTD claims), and slip-and-fall claims. Although we are personal injury lawyers in Toronto we regularly represent clients throughout Ontario. We make use of technology like Zoom to ensure regular face to face engagement with our clients and we travel to our clients as needed.
If you or a loved one has suffered serious personal injuries please contact us and we would be pleased to assist you. If, after speaking with us, you do not feel we are the best lawyer for you, then we will help you find someone who is.
