Choosing an attorney can be an intimidating process, especially if you have never hired an attorney before. How do you know if the person you have chosen is the right one? Here are a few guidelines that will help.

Experience is probably the most important quality in any attorney. Ask the attorney how many cases they have handled, and what the size and complexity of each case was. See our Track Record of documented success.

Litigation expertise is necessary to avoid trial and settle a case, honestly. See Three Great Reasons to Hire an Attorney for Your Auto Accident Case. The best way to settle your case is to prove that you will prevail at trial. Therefore trial is not necessary. Notice your case must be proven, not just argued. That means every case should be prepared as if going to trial, right from the beginning. Collect evidence early, see Witness Identification and Statements in Auto Accident Collisions, and coordinate treatment and doctor opinions. See our Injury Guide. Interview witnesses on liability and preserve evidence chain of custody to use if trial were necessary. Don't give recorded statements or broad medical authorizations, See Five Winning Tips to Settling Your Automobile Accident Case. If these things are not done early, much evidence can be lost or irreversible damage done. Therefore, having an attorney with litigation experience is absolutely necessary. Some law offices, believe it or not, do not litigate many cases. That is, they are unwilling to file the lawsuit and move toward trial if the case does not settle. Therefore ask a key question to the prospective attorney when interviewing them, how many cases have you tried? If your attorney does not have trial experience this will cause problems for you later if your case does not settle.

Attention to promptness and detail: You should pay close attention to the promptness of the attorney when interviewing. Was the attorney on time for your appointment? Did he recall the facts of your case from your previous phone conversations? If the attorney was late, and struggled to remember the basic facts of your situation, the chances are is that the attorney is generally unorganized, or worse uncaring, and not properly prepared. Stay away from this candidate. It may seem like a small thing initially, but attorneys that take their job seriously pay special attention to these small details, so that bigger pitfalls are avoided later.

Comfort: Find an attorney that you are comfortable with. This is a person you will be working with for potentially a long period of time.  Cases can last a year or longer. So be sure that you are working with someone you trust. Most people have an inner voice that tells them when a situation is right. If you are not comfortable with the attorney you are interviewing, talk to another one until you find the right fit.

If you are contemplating hiring an attorney call our office at 1-888-752-7474 or Contact Us Online and compare our qualities to this list. We are sure that your free consultation will confirm our experience, and promptness. We hope to put you at ease in your selection process.