Massachusetts personal injury cases are often complex to handle. You will most likely be confronted with jargon-ridden paperwork, unexpected deadlines, and insurance companies that delay.
“Before visiting a law firm, draft the questions you want answered. Ask about their experience with cases like yours, expected timelines, who will handle your case directly, and how they approach settlement negotiations,” says Peter J. Moran, a seasoned lawyer from PSRB Personal Injury Law Firm.
Fortunately, with the assistance of an experienced personal injury lawyer, you can level the playing field. A proper legal partner will know how to pursue your claim, gather the right evidence, and negotiate better settlements without dragging things on.
That said, it is not always easy to get the ideal attorney, given the numerous options available. To help you make an informed decision, this guide outlines the necessary steps.
Table of Contents
Research Potential Candidates
Massachusetts is home to thousands of personal injury attorneys qualified to practice. While some focus specifically on automobile crashes, workplace injuries, and medical malpractice, all offer differing quality levels of service as well as outcomes.
If you want an attorney who will meet your needs, look deep into their background. Professional bar lists, for instance, the Massachusetts Bar Association, Avvo, or Martindale-Hubbell, will turn out to be great sources of information. Peer ratings, disciplinary history, and professional achievements on these platforms can be trusted.
Local law firm websites typically also have detailed lawyer profiles on their sites. What you can find here includes an advocate’s years of experience, case specialty, and trial background, which is exceptionally crucial in narrowing down your selection.
Verify Credentials and Experience
Once you have selected a few individuals, verify their qualifications. They should not only be licensed to practice law in Massachusetts, but also have an unblemished history of ethical conduct. Checking licensing status and disciplinary history is easy to do through the Board of Bar Overseers website.
Experience is just as good as credentials. Attorneys who specialize in personal injury law possess a deep understanding of court procedures, settlement strategies, and the tactics employed by insurance companies.
Past outcomes often tell a bigger story than flashy marketing. So, look for documented case results, verdicts, or settlements that match the type of injury you have.
Read Client Reviews and Testimonials
Client reviews offer valuable insight into what it’s like to work with an attorney. Genuine feedback can reveal strengths, highlight potential weaknesses, and uncover details often missing from law firm websites.
Sites such as Google, Yelp, and Avvo typically give the most objective opinions. When there, pay attention to comments about communication style, updates on cases, timescales for settlement, and how far the attorney explained complex matters.
Patterns in client feedback usually reveal more than one-off opinions. If multiple clients comment on responsiveness or professionalism under challenging circumstances, it indicates reliable behavior that you can reasonably expect during your case journey.
Schedule Initial Consultations
After narrowing your list, schedule consultations with a few lawyers. Most Massachusetts personal injury lawyers have complimentary initial meetings, so a fit can be assessed without financial pressure.
You will want to pay attention to how the attorney speaks during the meeting. Plain language, candid assessments, and realistic expectations demonstrate a lawyer respects candor more than hucksterism.
Compare Fee Structures
Finally, make sure to thoroughly review your lawyer’s fee structure before hiring them. Most law firms that handle personal injury cases work on a contingency arrangement, and that is to say, you do not pay them unless they win your case.
Contingency fees in Massachusetts are 25 to 40 percent, depending on how complex your case is. Some law offices also charge you extra for court filing fees, expert witness fees, or administrative fees, so don’t forget to ask them about those extras.
After you have agreed to the fee, obtain it in writing. A plain, itemized fee agreement prevents you from paying more later and keeps you on equal footing with what you can expect.
