After suffering an accident, choosing a personal injury lawyer is among the most important decisions you will make. The right attorney can help you alleviate stress, provide insight into how much your case is worth, negotiate with insurance adjusters on your behalf, and more. In this article, we’ll describe what to look for when selecting an experienced personal injury lawyer in Northern New Jersey. If you are in need of an attorney after an accident, Buttafuoco & Associates provides free consultations on your case.
Experience and Practice Areas
Personal injury law is an expansive field with a huge variety of case types, each of which involves different statutes and precedents. In other words, not all personal injury claims operate the same way, and when an attorney says they work on personal injury cases, this could mean a lot of different things.
When searching for a Northern New Jersey personal injury attorney to work on your case, you’ll first want to consider which category your personal injury claim falls into. When reviewing your options, you’ll need to choose legal representation with a strong track record in the particular niche of personal injury law.
Some examples of major practice areas include:
- Vehicle Accidents: Lawyers who specialize in car accidents will be well-versed in traffic laws, accident reconstruction, and insurance claims.
- Medical Malpractice: These cases involve injuries or harm caused by medical professionals, such as doctors, nurses, or hospitals.
- Product Liability: This type of case involves injuries caused by a defective or dangerous product. A product liability lawyer will have experience with product design, manufacturing processes, and the laws and regulations governing product liability.
- Slip and Fall Accidents: These cases involve injuries sustained from slipping, tripping, or falling on someone else’s property. A premises liability lawyer will have experience with building codes, safety regulations, and property maintenance standards.
- Workers’ Compensation: This type of personal injury case involves injuries sustained on the job. A workers’ compensation lawyer will be familiar with the workers’ compensation system, including the laws and regulations governing workplace injuries. These accidents are especially common in the construction industry.
- Wrongful Death: These cases involve the death of a loved one due to someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing. They may overlap with other types of personal injury cases, but have their own legal nuances and complexities.
Reputation
Check the lawyer’s reputation by reading reviews, checking ratings, and asking for references. You can also consult with friends, family, or acquaintances in your personal network for recommendations. Some places that you can find reviews and ratings for many personal injury lawyers include:
The best personal injury lawyer serving Northern New Jersey will not only have 5 starred reviews, but past clients will take the time to put their experience into writing. Taking the time to carefully read reviews and see which attorneys are a good fit for your priorities is worth it.
Communication and Availability
It’s key to choose a lawyer who communicates effectively and promptly and who will keep you informed of important developments throughout the legal process. A good lawyer will listen to your concerns and be willing to answer all your questions. Also, make sure the lawyer you choose is available when you need them. If you can’t get in touch with your lawyer when you need them, it may be a sign that they are too busy to be fully committed to your case.
During your consultation, ask how they handle communication, how quickly they respond to phone calls and emails, and express your own communication preferences. This should give you a sense of whether the lawyer is a good fit with your communication style.
Fees
Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if you win your case. However, when you consult with a personal injury attorney in Northern New Jersey, you should still discuss fees and payment arrangements upfront to avoid any surprises later.
Typically, a contingency fee is 30-40% of the amount the victim recovers, so keep this number in mind during your discussion.
Schedule a Free Consultation
At Buttafuoco & Associates, we are committed to providing personalized attention and fighting to get our clients the compensation they deserve.
Call 1-800-NOW-HURT for a free consultation and find out if Buttafuoco & Associates is the best law firm to handle your case.
