How to Find the Best Slip and Fall Accident Attorney
What’s the role of a slip and fall accident attorney? And do you currently need to find the best one in Los Angeles?
Read for helpful tips.
Introduction
Sometimes a slip and fall accident can be mild, leaving you with minor pain, if any pain at all. Other times, slip and fall accidents can be very damaging, leaving you injured and wondering how you are going to move forward with life. These accidents can happen whether you are out grocery shopping, walking through a parking lot, out for an evening with your significant other, or anywhere at all – all you need are the right conditions for you to slip and fall.
Then what?
If you are injured from a slip and fall accident in California, then you need to find the best accident attorney for your case. Here’s how you do that.
Visit Local Bar Associations and Referral Sites
Attorneys are licensed in their state – and this license information is a matter of public record. Referral services are public service programs that put the information of qualifying attorneys in a searchable database. So, if you are looking for a slip and fall accident attorney, you can easily search for one – and feel confident knowing that they meet certain requirements, such as:
- Good standing with the State Bar.
- Carries professional liability insurance.
- Proper experience.
Searching for legal help in this manner is a great way to know you have access to a trusted, experienced attorney who is authorized to practice in your area.
Word-of-Mouth Referrals
Talking to those you know and trust can be a great way to learn about slip and fall accident attorneys. Consider reaching out to friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, etc. to see if they have had any experience with a similar situation or if they know of an attorney. If so, ask about a few different things to see how their case relates to yours:
- The type of case.
- If their settlement was what they were looking for.
- Attorney’s approach and ease of communication.
- Their level of satisfaction with the case’s outcome.
Many people will be quick to tell you about a friend or a friend of a friend that they know who may have had a slip and fall accident attorney and potentially received a settlement, but they won’t know the specifics – and they likely won’t even have the details right. So, be careful in the names you take down and ensure the experience is legitimate before you put much thought into the recommendation.
Read Online Reviews
Although online reviews can come with a lot of asterisks, they are great for giving you insight into an experience with an attorney. Look for both positive and negative reviews – and look at the response of the attorney to both. Is the engagement warm and friendly? Professional?
There will likely be a negative review – and that’s ok. Though if the majority of the reviews are negative, this should be a red flag.
You can search for the attorneys you discovered in your word-of-mouth quest. Or, you can simply search for a slip and fall accident attorney “near me.”
Review the Attorney’s Website
Once you have a list of attorneys that you are interested in meeting, check out their websites – and even their social media sites. This will allow you to get an idea of the accident cases they specialize in – or if they even handle cases like yours – before you go any further.
You are looking for an attorney that will be a good fit – both for your case and you, in general. Reviewing the website for the law practice is a great place to start. Not only would it help you to get a feel for the attorney and the practice, but it could also give you an idea of their track record.
Set Up a Consultation
When you have done your due diligence and have narrowed down your search for an attorney, then it is time to set up a consultation. This will allow you to meet with the lawyer and discuss your case. This could be an in-person meeting, a virtual meeting, or over the phone. You will briefly discuss your case and have the opportunity to ask a few questions.
This consultation will allow you the chance to see if you and this attorney are a good fit both based on your needs and your case, as well as your personality. You will know if it just doesn’t feel right.
Keep in mind that it is absolutely fine to set up more than one consultation.
Questions to Ask
So what type of questions do you ask during your consultation? Below you will find a general list of those that will, hopefully, help you make your decision on which attorney to retain.
- How long have you been handling slip and fall accident cases?
- Have you ever handled a case like mine? Did it settle or go to trial?
- What are your thoughts on my case? Do you see any challenges?
- Do you have enough time to dedicate to my case?
- What do you think my case is worth?
- When it comes to fees, what happens if my case goes to trial? What happens if I lose?
- How long do you think it will take to settle my case?
- And, of course, how do you charge? Most accident attorneys are paid on a contingency basis. In other words, they get paid when you get paid.
Hiring the Best Slip and Fall Accident Attorney
If you have been injured in a slip and fall accident, then you are likely facing mounting medical bills and may have either lost – or are still losing – wages. There are many ways in which a slip and fall accident can impact your life, but without an attorney on your side, it will be difficult to obtain the compensation you deserve.
Approach your case ready to take back your life and overcome your fall in the best way you can. And you do that with the best legal representation. So, check with your local attorney referral services, ask for recommendations from friends and family, check out their online presence, set up consultations, etc. The more thorough you are at hiring the right attorney, the more likely you are to receive the settlement you are looking for.
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