If you have suffered an injury that led to permanent or temporary disability, it’s very important to hire the right attorney and receive the settlement to which you are legally entitled. Even if the evidence you possess is concise and sound, being represented by an expert in the field will always maximize the chances of a positive case outcome for you.
That being said, if you indeed choose to be represented by a lawyer, you will have to find the right individual that possesses extensive experience in the field and puts your interest above theirs.
Let’s take a look at the main characteristics that should top your list when looking for a disability lawyer.
Find a specialist that’s reliable
There are many different types of lawyers and all of them specialize in a specific law field. In this case, you will need a lawyer that’s extremely professional and has dealt with similar cases to yours.
However, being knowledgeable in a certain field doesn’t necessarily translate to being a textbook good lawyer. A disability lawyer will have to offer far more than just expertise. For instance, given the delicate situation you find yourself in, it’s a good idea to find a lawyer that completely understands your position and is constantly available for your queries and needs.
If you hire a lawyer that’s not very reliable and rarely responds to your calls and e-mails, it can be a sign that the lawyer in question is not the right fit for the case. Find a lawyer that understands your disability on all levels and knows what it’s like to be going through this type of delicate and difficult situation.
Look for lawyers that are backed by a solid staff
Although the right lawyers will always find time for their clients, sometimes their schedules can get extremely packed due to a large number of hearings. However, only the professionals will be backed by a solid staff that will take care of all your needs and helps you prepare the legal documents properly.
The staff will try to find a free space in the attorney’s schedule so that they can thoroughly discuss your case and outline the best course of action. In addition to that, the attorney will try to give you an honest assessment of your whole case after reviewing the facts in detail.
Of course, the attorney can’t provide a straight answer to whether your case will be approved. However, they can try to explain what will work in your favor and where both of you will face the obstacles.
Ask and offer transparency
A professional will never shy away from sharing their exact approval rate with new clients. They will thoroughly communicate what makes them effective and how they will present your case at the hearing.
You can freely ask your attorney about their win rates regarding full benefits and partial benefits. If they are hesitant to share this type of information with the client, it might be a good idea to consider looking for a new attorney.
It’s also important that you communicate thoroughly how you sustained the injury and how severe your disability is.
Look for the right price
It’s easy to rack up the bills fast if you are working with experienced lawyers. However, if you know the fee structure beforehand, it’s far easier to organize yourself financially. There are various fee structures when it comes to legal services. For instance, the payment of the lawyer might be dependent on the success of your case. This type of fee structure is also known as a contingency fee and it can range anywhere from 20% or 40% of the awarded amount.
However, some attorneys will prefer to be paid by the hour and will ask for this type of payment regardless of the possible outcome prognosis. Think long and hard before deciding how you will cover your legal service costs as it’s very easy to go over budget in situations like this.
Final thoughts
Finding the lawyer that will represent you at the hearing will surely be a trial and error process. However, if you follow the steps we outlined for you above, you will narrow down your options rather quickly.
That being said, try to get into contact with as many lawyers before deciding on one. Make sure that you are comfortable being represented by that individual and that they completely understand the situation you find yourself in.
