You will need a personal injury lawyer if you have been injured or if you need someone to defend you against a personal injury lawsuit.
Few personal injury lawyers will be able to do both, so this should be one of the first things you check.
An internet search for personal injury lawyers will bring up hundreds of results.
You should narrow this down to four or five lawyers you will contact directly before making your choice.
One way to begin to narrow your search is to pick out injury lawyers that belong to reputable lawyers' associations.
This will increase your chances of getting a good service provider.
Also, if you are the injured party, the lawyer's office should be located near where the accident occurred.
As you look through the various web sites, examine lawyers' areas of expertise to see if they suit your needs.
Also, do a search on that lawyer to see if any opinions or testimonials about them have been published on other web sites.
It may also be worth checking the web site archives of local newspapers to see if anything has been published about cases a lawyer has handled.
Ask your family and friends if they have used injury lawyers and if they can give any recommendations.
Also, if you have an attorney in another area that you trust, you should ask them for recommendations.
Once you have narrowed your search down to four or five injury lawyers, it's time to call and speak to someone.
A meeting will give you a good idea if they are the right person for you.
You should always ask for references and testimonials.
Don't worry if they can't see you at short notice-a good injury lawyer will be busy.
If you have been injured, a good personal injury lawyer should tell you whether you have a genuine case.
Arguably the best option is a lawyer who works on a "contingency fee".
If the claim is unsuccessful, you shouldn't be liable for costs.
However, if it is successful, about 30 per cent of the settlement will go to the lawyer.