How Do I Find A Good Personal Injury Lawyer

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• How Do I Find A Good Personal Injury Lawyer

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• Hint We do not standby in emergency room
  waiting areas!
• Its an old, tired tale that describes lawyers
  as ambulance chasers, pursuing the potential
  payout and not caring about the people affected
  by accidents and injuries

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• These days, lawyers of all stripes find some
  of their clients in ways that didnt even exist a
  decade ago social media, websites and blogs
  among them.

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• But the old methods remain too. Ask any child
  who watches TV what they should do if they are in
  a car accident, and Ill bet you their answer
  will be something along the lines of Call
  1-800-INSERT LAW FIRM NAME HERE.

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• Nothing wrong with that, except as I blogged
  about before, its not the way to find the right
  lawyer to represent you.

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• So, if were not chasing the paramedics down
  the street, where DO personal injury lawyers find
  their clients?

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• The Old Fashioned Way
• Referrals, referrals, referrals A lot of
  business comes from word of mouth. A job well
  done will be remembered for a long time to come
  and previous clients are a big source of
  referrals.

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• After all, someone who has had a positive
  experience with a lawyer, in the midst of a
  difficult and painful injury claim, will remember
  the person who helped them overcome the worst of
  it.

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• And their friends and family will probably
  remember the accident as well, prompting their
  first post-injury call to be to the person who
  has a lawyer connection.

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• Referrals also come from professional areas.
  Specialization is something that happens even
  within the area of personal injury law. I dont
  deal with WSIB claims, for example, but I have
  many colleagues who do.

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• If someone were to approach me to represent
  them in the handling of a dispute for such a
  claim, I would refer them, so that they would
  have the representation they need.

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• On the flip side, I DO specialize in long term
  disability and motor vehicle accident injury
  claims, so a friend of mine who happens to focus
  on slip and fall might send me an MVA client.

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• This kind of professional referral is to
  everyones benefit the lawyers get work in which
  they specialized, and the client gets a lawyer
  who has significant experience in precisely their
  kind of case. Its a win-win.

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• The New Ways
• These days, the internet has provided a
  platform through which consumers can make more
  educated choices about the kind of firm that they
  want to represent them.

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• By searching online, they can find lawyers in
  their geographical area who practice the kind of
  law they need help with, and there is every
  chance that the lawyer or firm will have
  published blog posts (ahem), and even unbiased
  client reviews which give the consumer some
  insight into the lawyers personality and breadth
  of knowledge.

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• Social media has added another layer to this,
  where you can get a sense of a firm or an
  individual lawyers style. Its also a good way
  for lawyers to stay in touch with one another and
  keep those referral networks alive.

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• Me? Im a straight shooter at the head of a
  small firm. I tell it like it is in each and
  every case, and you know when youre dealing with
  my firm, that youre dealing with me. Of course,
  I have clerks who help me with intake and
  paperwork, but the essence of the experience and
  knowledge? It sits with me.

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• What Happens When Client and Lawyer Find Each
  Other?
• Assuming you have found the lawyer you want
  to work with, or they have found you through a
  referral, its time to move forward.

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• Dealing with a personal injury lawyer in the
  case of an accident is a personal situation, so
  you have to be comfortable with the firm that you
  engage. There are a few steps that most lawyers
  and law firms go through at the outset

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• A clerk will be in touch with you, or will
  pick up the phone when you call the office for
  the first time. This first call is an intake
  session, and the clerk will ask you questions
  about your case.

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• Its best to be forthright with your answers
  to be sure that they have the best information to
  decide how they can help you. If your case
  matches the experience that the lawyer has, an
  office visit is the next step.

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• The office visit is a personal approach to
  dealing with a situation that can take a long
  time to resolve, so its important that you and
  your lawyer get a feel for one another.

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• This is the opportunity for the lawyer to
  expand on the intake session, all in the aim of
  determining if they are the right lawyer / firm
  to help you.

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• Its also a chance for you to ask questions
  about what will happen, how things will move
  forward and what you can expect. It IS a
  partnership of sorts, because the lawyer doesnt
  get paid unless your case is successful, so being
  open and communicating are very important.

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• If this visit goes well, and both you and your
  lawyer agree that its worth moving forward
  together, the process is explained by the lawyer
  and a retainer is signed. This allows the lawyer
  to work on your behalf, and speak to others on
  your behalf.

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• Remember, its okay to get a second opinion
  Just because you go through the intake process or
  even the in-office consultation doesnt mean
  youre married to that lawyer.

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• Until you sign a retainer, youre free to look
  around, check with others and see what your own
  network has to offer.
• If you have any questions about the process,
  please feel free to contact my office.
• http//derekwilsonlaw.ca