There are numerous lawyers in New Jersey who handle personal injury cases, each one advertising themselves as an excellent choice. How do you choose the best attorney for your accident claim? Here are the top qualities you should look for in a NJ personal injury lawyer.
Significant Experience In The Field
The most effective attorneys have more than law degrees – they are deeply experienced in real-world proceedings. Successfully navigating the legal arena requires intimate familiarity of how cases work in real life, what obstacles to expect, and what strategies are used by the other camp.
For instance, insurance claims for accident injuries seem pretty straightforward on paper, but in reality, claimants often encounter the subtle “delay, deny, defend” tactics of insurance companies. Your lawyer should be familiar with these tactics in order to protect you from them.
In addition, you’ll want your New Jersey attorney to have experience in your specific type of accident. There are significant differences in the handling of car crashes, trucking accidents, dog bites, construction accidents, and others. A lawyer who is adept at car crash cases may not necessarily be knowledgeable in the laws and mechanisms around truck wrecks.
Look into the attorney’s background or resume. See how many years they have practiced in the field of personal injury, and if they have successful cases that are similar to yours.
Respected In The Industry
The legal industry has rating systems and professional associations, which help tell you about the most upstanding attorneys in the field. One of the most prominent rating systems for lawyers is Avvo, where a rating of 10.0 means that an attorney is “Superb” based on their experience, professional achievements, and professional discipline.
Industry awards are given by various law organizations such as the American Society of Legal Advocates (ASLA) and The National Trial Lawyers. An NJ attorney who has gained accolades from these organizations has surpassed professional standards and scrutiny.
Praised By Real Clients
Besides competence in law, you’ll need kind consideration from your attorney, because it can be daunting and stressful to pursue a legal claim after a serious accident. You don’t want to be kept waiting for callbacks. Your lawyer should take the time to listen to you, help you understand your options, and update you on your case every step of the way.
Law firms will naturally claim that they care about their clients, but you’ll want to confirm that with client testimonials. Did the lawyer really give time to each client instead of handling them as just another case number? What kind of treatment did people experience while consulting and communicating with the firm? Also consider reviews from outside the lawyer’s website, especially from your family or friends who have worked with them.
Supported By A Strong Team
Each personal injury case is a team effort from the lawyer, their investigators, their expert witnesses, and paralegals. Professional investigators and specialized experts are particularly indispensable. For example, a neurologist could give valuable testimony to help you establish your neurological injuries from the accident, and a psychologist could attest to your mental or emotional distress.
Look into the networks and associations of your attorney. You can ask them about the potential doctors and experts they could be working with for your case.
If you have any questions about your potential lawyer and how they might handle your case, don’t be afraid to ask them. Most personal injury firms offer a free consultation, so you lose nothing by talking to them. In New Jersey, we at The Grossman Law Firm are eager to listen to you and provide our award-winning legal service to help you win. Call us at (732) 625-9494 today.
