Your 101-guide for finding a personal injury attorney in Philadelphia

There is no dearth of law firms in Philadelphia. Some are unmistakably better than others. If you sustained injuries because of a person’s intent, fault, or negligence, you could potentially file an injury lawsuit against them in Pennsylvania. For that, you will need legal advice and representation, although not mandatory by law. What does it take to hire Philadelphia, PA personal injury attorneys? We have a simplified 101-guide below for your help. 

1. Look for options sooner. Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations allows two years to file an injury lawsuit. If there is insurance involved (in case of auto accidents), you may lose considerable time negotiating your claim, and all the while, the 2-year deadline is still running. In other words, if you want legal help, look for attorneys soon after your accident or injury. 
2. Check online. Almost all injury lawyers in Philadelphia have websites these days. A quick search on Google or websites like Nolo and Avvo will help you sort attorneys in your area. The idea is simple – Find at least a few options to interview. You can make a short list to get started and call the law offices for an appointment.
3. Reviews matter. A customer/client is more likely to post a review online when unhappy or disgruntled with a product or service. If a personal injury lawyer has too many bad reviews, you could consider that a sign of their expertise. Keep in mind that your attorney is expected to share references on request. 
4. Ask about experience. Less than 10% of personal injurycases end up in court. Yours could be one. When you hire a lawyer, ask them if they have represented clients at trial. Also, the realm of personal injury law is huge. You need a lawyer who has worked and handled similar cases. A medical malpractice case would require a different kind of expertise than a slip-and-fall lawsuit.
5. Discuss the fee. You don’t have to pay an attorney to review your injury case. In fact, a lawyer shouldn’t charge a fee until you win. This is called a contingency fee, which is only payable when the client makes a recovery. Nevertheless, it is still wise to know the figure, which shouldn’t ideally exceed 40% of the final fee. 

Lastly, don’t hire a lawyer who promises a lot. When it comes to personal injury lawsuits, guarantees are never true and could be a potential red flag.