How Do I Find a Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me?
If you were in an accident in Cerritos, you may want to consider hiring a personal injury lawyer. A qualified lawyer with knowledge of California law can help you recover compensation from the person who caused you pain.
The personal injury lawyers at Heritage Accident Lawyers are here to help you after an accident. Our Cerritos law firm is available 24/7 to talk about your case and find the best solution for you. Call us at (562) 376-5595 to set up a free legal consultation.
How Do I Know If I Have a Personal Injury Case?
Before you can hire an attorney, you must know whether you have a valid personal injury claim. Most personal injury cases are founded on the legal principle of negligence. You must prove that you were injured by someone else’s negligence and that person owed a duty of care to you.
Some of the most common types of personal injury claims include:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Slip and falls
- Motorcycle accidents
- Workers’ compensation
- Dog bites
- Medical malpractice
- Lyft and Uber accidents
- Wrongful death
How to Find a Personal Injury Lawyer
There are more than 170,000 lawyers in California, which makes finding the right lawyer for your personal injury case quite challenging. However, with the right criteria, you will be able to narrow down your search to choose the best lawyer to represent you and win a favorable settlement.
Before you begin your search, you need to be aware of the statute of limitations. This is the deadline to file a claim. For personal injury cases in California, you must file within two years of your accident. You will not be able to file if your accident was more than two years ago.
Ask friends and family
Your network of family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers can be your best resource for finding a qualified personal injury lawyer. Ask them for recommendations and find out about their experience. However, keep in mind that every case is different and you should still do your own research and evaluation before hiring a lawyer based on a referral.
Research online
Another way to find a personal injury lawyer is to use legal directories and review sites like Google, Yelp, Avvo, FindLaw, and Lawyers.com. Filter lawyers to your location, then look at their specialty. Some personal injury lawyers specialize in medical malpractice, while others exclusively represent auto accident victims. Once you find a few lawyers, visit their websites and take a look at their testimonials or social media.
Set up a free consultation
Once you have a list of a few potential personal injury lawyers, contact them to set up a free consultation. Most personal injury law firms offer free consultations to evaluate the case and determine if it has legal grounds. A free consultation is one of the best ways to find out if the law firm is right for you, as you will be speaking with them and getting to know their style and approach.
Ask questions
Before your free consultation, write down a list of questions you want answered. Some examples are:
- How many cases like mine have you handled?
- What is your success rate in settling or winning cases like mine?
- How will you communicate with me and keep me updated on my case?
- How long do you expect my personal injury case to take?
Use the free consultation as an opportunity to learn more about their legal services and see if they are a good fit for you.
Benefits of Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney
Handling a personal injury lawsuit on your own can be very difficult. You may think it is as simple as filing an insurance claim and receiving a settlement, but the process is far more complicated. Not only are you recovering and healing from your injury, you will have to constantly be on the phone with the insurance company. This adds immense stress to accident victims who may not have the physical or mental capacity to negotiate a fair settlement.
A personal injury lawyer is an expert in their field and knows exactly how to expedite your case effectively and efficiently. Here are more benefits of hiring a personal injury attorney:
Legal knowledge
Lawyers go through extensive schooling and training, which explains why some lawyers charge high fees. Hiring a personal injury law firm means you will get the full service of their firm, from collecting evidence to filing a demand letter outlining the victim’s losses. An experienced lawyer will fully investigate your case to ensure you receive the highest possible payout.
Expert negotiation
Lawyers are tough negotiators. Most also have trial experience, which can help if your case ends up going to personal injury court. They also have knowledge on handling communications with the at-fault party’s insurance company or their lawyer. If the other party tries to blame you for the accident, a lawyer can help defend you and argue liability.
No upfront fees
Fortunately, most personal injury attorneys in California work on a contingency fee basis. This is different from a divorce lawyer who charges an hourly fee. A contingency fee is a fee structure where you only pay if the lawyer wins your case. If you win a settlement, your lawyer will take a percentage of the total amount you recover from the at-fault party. In most cases, the fee is between 33% and 40%.
Higher settlement
There is no average personal injury settlement amount, as no two accidents are the same. Generally speaking, the more severe the injury, the higher the settlement. However, what really matters is having a qualified personal injury lawyer representing you. When the insurance company sees that you have legal representation, they will have a much harder time offering a lowball settlement.
Peace of mind
Knowing a lawyer is fighting for you and has your best interest at heart will take a lot of pressure off your shoulders. A lawyer will save you time, get you compensation for your medical bills and other losses, and give you the peace of mind so you can focus on your recovery.
Contact Cerritos Personal Injury Lawyers Today
If you were injured due to someone else’s negligence, you could benefit from hiring a personal injury lawyer. At Heritage Accident Lawyers, our personal injury lawyers in Cerritos have recovered millions of dollars for injured victims of auto accidents.
Our legal team offers a free case evaluation to get to know you and your case better. Call us at (562) 376-5595 or fill out this online form to get started.