If you need to seek financial compensation for an injury, it is important to hire a reputable personal injury lawyer. The outcome of your case could impact your life for years to come, and you need to know that you are receiving quality legal representation from a lawyer who has your best interests in mind.
Seasoned personal injury attorney Mickey Fine has been helping accident victims throughout Bakersfield for more than 25 years. He is committed to helping you recover from your injuries by pursuing the maximum compensation to which you are entitled under the law.
7 Factors for Choosing a Reputable Personal Injury Lawyer in Bakersfield
So, how do you find a reputable personal injury lawyer in Bakersfield? Here are seven factors that should guide your search for a lawyer to handle your claim:
1. Years of Experience
When you need to recover your losses after a traumatic accident, there is no substitute for relevant experience. Filing a successful personal injury claim is not easy, and maximizing your compensation requires a comprehensive understanding of the laws, processes, and procedures involved. If a lawyer is not experienced in handling personal injury claims, this will quickly become apparent as you begin to move forward, and this will almost certainly have a negative impact on the amount of compensation that you are ultimately able to recover.
2. Focus on Personal Injury Law
Due to the challenges involved in filing a successful personal injury claim, it is important to choose a lawyer who focuses his or her practice on personal injury law. Just as you will want a specialist to treat your injuries, you will want a lawyer who devotes his or her practice to helping accident victims recover just compensation.
3. Documented Track Record
A reputable personal injury lawyer will have a documented track record of securing favorable results through settlement negotiations and at trial. If a lawyer claims to have a substantial track record but cannot prove it, this may be a red flag that the lawyer is exaggerating his or her credentials. A highly experienced personal injury lawyer will have helped thousands of clients recover just compensation—and should have several multi-million-dollar awards on his or her resume.
4. Favorable Client Reviews
When looking for a reputable personal injury lawyer in Bakersfield, client reviews can be extremely valuable sources of information. If past clients have had positive experiences, then there is a good chance that you will have a positive experience as well. On the other hand, if a lawyer has a large number of negative reviews, then this may be a sign that you should look elsewhere for your legal representation.
5. Free Consultations
All reputable personal injury lawyers in Bakersfield offer free consultations—and your free consultation should be more than a brief phone call. During a free consultation, the lawyer should ask lots of questions in order to learn about your case, and then he or she should clearly explain your options based on the information you provide. The lawyer may also recommend conducting an investigation in order to gather additional information; and, if a prompt investigation is necessary, the lawyer should be able to send an investigator to the scene of the accident right away.
6. Contingency-Fee Representation
In addition to offering free consultations, reputable personal injury lawyers in Bakersfield also offer contingency-fee representation. This means two things: (i) you should not have to pay any costs or legal fees while your personal injury claim is pending; and, (ii) you should not have to pay anything at all unless the lawyer helps you secure financial compensation. A reputable lawyer will clearly explain his or her contingency fees upfront, and he or she will make clear that it is your decision when – and if – to settle your personal injury claim.
7. 24/7 Accessibility
Finally, you will want to choose a lawyer who makes himself or herself available to clients 24/7. This means that you should be able to get a free consultation day or night, and your lawyer should respond to your calls, texts, and emails promptly. While you might not always be able to get in touch with your lawyer immediately (after all, reputable lawyers will spend most of their time working on their clients’ cases), you should not be left waiting for days when you have questions about your claim.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Bakersfield Personal Injury Lawyer Mickey Fine
Mickey Fine is a Bakersfield personal injury lawyer who has been representing accident victims and families for more than 30 years. If you have been injured and would like to find out if you have a claim, you can call 661-333-3333 or contact us online for a free consultation 24/7.