Have you been involved in an accident that was due to another party’s negligence? Whether your injury is the result of a car accident, a slip and fall at a business, a dog bite, or another incident, you deserve compensation for your medical bills and any time you’ve had to take off work. The best way to ensure you’re being treated fairly after an accident is to work with a professional personal injury attorney.

Choosing the right lawyer is key to getting the compensation you deserve in a timely fashion. Here’s how to choose wisely.

Ask for Referrals

Do you have any friends, family members, or colleagues who have been injured and worked with personal injury attorneys to represent them in a claim? If so, ask if you can chat with them about their experience. Did they receive fair compensation? Was their attorney friendly, compassionate, and professional? Would they recommend the attorney to another person who had experienced an injury? A personal referral is one of the best ways to ensure you choose an attorney you will be happy with.

Do Online Research

Another good way to vet an attorney is to do some online research. Look for reviews of the firm you are considering on Facebook, Yelp, and Google. How many five-star reviews do they have? Do they have any negative reviews and, if so, did the firm respond to the review and offer to talk it through?

Once you’ve found several personal injury attorneys with good reviews, go to their website to learn more about how much experience the lawyers have, what they specialize in, and bios on the individual attorneys.

Find Out About Fee Structure

Before you decide to work with an attorney, you need to get more information on their fee structure. Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, meaning they do not get paid until your claim is settled. They will then take a percentage of the settlement. Make sure to ask what percentage they will receive or, if they do require payment upfront, what that payment schedule entails.

Ask for a Free Claim Review

When you look at a firm’s website, you should be able to determine if they offer free consultations or claim reviews. If they do, this is the perfect opportunity to speak to the attorney and get a good feel for their personality and communication style. You can also find out what they think of your claim and if they believe you have a good chance at receiving compensation. If you do not feel you’ll be able to get along with the lawyer or if they don’t seem to think you have a good case, it’s time to look for a different attorney.

Personal Injury Attorneys: The Right One for Your Claim

If you’ve been injured, the last thing you need is added stress from trying to get the compensation you deserve. When you work with a professional personal injury attorney, you can relieve yourself of the burden and focus instead on healing and getting back to your normal life.