If you have been in a serious accident, you should at the very least consult a lawyer. Every injury lawyer offers a free consultation. You can then decide if it makes sense to hire the lawyer and pursue a claim. If you have been in a relatively minor accident, with no injury or an injury that is resolved in a short period of time, you very well may not need a lawyer at all and can pursue any claim on your own. But if you don’t know, at the very least you should consult a lawyer to know your options.
If I do need a lawyer, how do I choose?
On your daily commute, you are inundated with endless billboards of injury lawyers promising to “win” you money for your injury claim. Anyone willing to pay can put up a billboard. Don’t base your decision on a tagline. Do your research. If you do hire a lawyer, you may be with that lawyer for months or years. You want to make sure it is a good fit and you are comfortable with the lawyer’s qualifications.
Ask friends and family.
Talk to people you trust—friends, family, co-workers. If you know lawyers that don’t necessarily practice injury law, ask their recommendations. A Google search may help but it can also send you down a rabbit hole of ads by those firms that simply paid the most to appear on the first page – even when the firm may be nowhere close to you.
Find Board Certified Injury lawyers in your area by searching tbls.org .
Only about 2% of Texas lawyers are Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law. To receive this certification, the lawyer must try a sufficient number of cases, pass a difficult six-hour exam, and receive recommendations from lawyers and judges. This way you know the lawyer is well qualified to handle your case. [Disclaimer – I’m Board Certified but there are other lawyers in the Clear Lake area that are, as well. They can be found at tbls.org].
Ask Questions and Choose the Lawyer that is Best for You.
Every injury lawyer offers a free consultation. And every injury lawyer is paid only if they make a recovery on your behalf. So don’t let those taglines sway your decision. Some law firms handle thousands of cases. Some firms are more selective and handle a smaller case load. Choose what is best for you.
Do not hire someone that directly solicits you.
Accident reports are public record. Unfortunately, if you have been in a wreck, you may start getting calls from people or companies offering to help you after an accident. Do not use these companies (or the firms where they try to send you). With limited exceptions, it is unethical (and very possibly illegal) to directly solicit an accident victim with whom you do not have a pre-existing relationship.
