When thinking about hiring a lawyer, it can be confusing to hear the two terms used interchangeably. A personal injury attorney and a personal injury lawyer. In reality, they are not the same. The difference between a personal injury attorney and a lawyer is that a lawyer is trained in the law and requires a degree from an accredited college or university followed by study at a law school while an attorney may not have attended an accredited law school but has been licensed to practice law.
While it may seem insignificant, there are differences between a personal injury lawyer and a personal injury attorney upfront that can be significant for you in the end when dealing with your legal case. You want to make sure you hire someone who knows what they’re doing. You don’t want to get into trouble because of miscommunication or misrepresentation.
Experts say that it’s best if you ask these questions before hiring your personal injury lawyer or attorney:
- How many years have you been practicing law?
- What percentage of your practice is devoted to personal injury law?
- If you don’t focus on personal injury law, does that mean that I will not get the services I need for my case?
- Do you use other attorneys in your firm whose practice areas are more specific and expertise matches mine?
- What areas of law are you customarily involved in?
- Is there an area of law that you particularly like or dislike?
- How long have you been at your firm?
- Do I need to see several attorneys before deciding who will represent me?
- Do you think the attorney-client relationship can be established quickly and efficiently?
The answers to these questions will help determine if a personal injury lawyer is right for your case. If a defendant is liable, what kind of compensation could I expect from a jury award or settlement. You want to make sure that they know how much compensation other people with similar injuries received. In some cases, it takes hiring two separate attorneys to get everything done because one attorney may not bring up all aspects if they are not familiar with them.
You’re making a decision based on your comfort level and what you want out of your legal counsel. You are hiring an attorney but you shouldn’t let that frighten you because they can help guide you through the process and they’ll be there every step of the way to answer any questions you may have. They will be there to ensure you receive the compensation that you deserve, and if they don’t think your case is worth it, they won’t take it.
Personal injury lawyers have had cases like yours come across their desks. Personal injury lawyers understand what needs to be done in order to get a fair settlement in your favor. Personal injury law can involve numerous court cases that need to be handled and an attorney will understand how the court system works.