Making a personal injury claim can be a stressful and arduous process.
Even taking that first step of approaching a personal injury solicitor can be daunting. While it might be tempting to just call up the first lawyer listed in the telephone directory, taking the time to choose the right solicitor can go a long way towards alleviating the anxiety involved in pursuing a personal injury claim.
The following tips can put you some way towards choosing a personal injury solicitor that will best be able to represent you.
While you may not be schooled in the intricacies of the law, try to classify broadly the type of accident or injury suffered by you. Were you involved in an automobile accident? Did you sustain injuries as a result of a defective product? Did you slip and fall on a hazardous stairway? Were your injuries sustained at the workplace or in the course of work? As opposed to simply stating that you would like to make a personal injury claim, providing this additional information will aid you in choosing a specialist best suited to the nature of your claim.
Technically, any solicitor qualified in England and Wales can represent you. However, you want a solicitor who is experienced in making personal injury claims. Shortlist a number of personal injury lawyers you would consider working with.
Not all personal injury claims are made equal. There are complexities unique to each type of claim. Once you have identified the type of personal injury situation you are facing and have found a list of solicitors who make personal injury claims, narrow down your search by finding out which of them has experience specific to the situation you are facing. Some personal injury solicitors specialise in automobile accident claims, while others specialise in workplace injuries.
You are going to be in close contact with your solicitor and may be required to divulge personal and painful details. It is thus important that you choose to work with someone you feel comfortable with and can trust. Choose a personal injury solicitor who is approachable and willing to explain what is going on, rather than one who prefers to keep you in the dark until you are needed at trial.
Before entering into a retainer agreement with a solicitor, ask for an estimate of fees and have an honest discussion about how these fees will be paid. Some personal injury solicitors may give you the option to enter into a no-win, no-fee arrangement, which means you will not have to pay legal fees if your claim is unsuccessful. It is also likely that in addition to legal fees you will be charged for disbursements such as photocopying charges and filing fees, so be sure to ask your solicitor for an estimate of these as well.
Lloyd Donnelly Solicitors has a personal injury department with a wealth of experience in making personal injury claims.
I was dismissed after I told my employer I was pregnant. Andrew Lloyd took my case on won it...