If you or someone you love was injured in a personal injury accident caused by another party’s negligence, you might be searching for a lawyer.
When you search online, you may enter the search term, “personal injury lawyer near me.” However, do you really need to hire a lawyer that is close to where you live?
The answer is not as black and white as you may assume. While you probably shouldn’t hire an attorney that is hundreds of miles away, you shouldn’t necessarily hire the closest option either.
Below, the California personal injury lawyers at The Law Office of Chuck Geerhart go over the details of looking for an attorney near you vs an attorney that is located further away.
If you have any questions or would like to speak with an experienced member of our team about a possible personal injury claim, contact us online or call (415) 577-4992 today.
Deciding When You Need to Hire a California Personal Injury Attorney
The first thing to consider is whether you need an attorney or not. If your personal injury accident happened in California, your case would be subject to California law. California is a pure comparative negligence state, which means you can collect a portion of your damages even if you are partially at fault in the accident.
In fact, you can collect some compensation even if you are primarily at fault. For example, if you are determined to be 25% at fault, you will receive 75% of your damages. If you are found to be 75% at fault, you could collect up to 25% in damages.
Why is this important? With pure comparative negligence, the defendants will be doing their best to place the maximum blame on you. Their goal is to pay the least amount of money possible.
That means you need a qualified California personal injury attorney on your side. You should choose an attorney who can protect your rights and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
Choose a Qualified Attorney
One of the biggest mistakes people make when hiring a personal injury lawyer is hiring the attorney that is closest to their home. Just because they are a five- or ten-minute drive doesn’t make them the most qualified to handle your case.
If you have a medical malpractice claim, you need an attorney specializing in these types of cases who has the experience necessary to take your case to trial. The personal injury law firm closest to you may primarily handle car accident cases.
Choose an Attorney You Feel Comfortable With
Don’t choose an attorney simply because they are the closest option. What if you don’t like their personality or you don’t feel completely comfortable with them? Finding the right attorney whom you trust and feel comfortable with is crucial. You will be working closely with this person.
If you don’t like them, how will they come across to a jury if the case goes to trial? You want an attorney who is relatable and who will make a good impression on a jury. By only searching for attorneys close to you, you could miss out on the right lawyer for your case.
Choosing an Attorney with the Necessary Financial Resources
Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis. That means they don’t get paid unless they recover compensation in your case. The usual fee agreement is a percentage of your overall settlement. If your case goes to trial, the attorney needs to handle all the legal costs and fees to present a strong case.
If the attorneys near you won’t have the financial means to take on your case, or perhaps they are busy, they may need to transfer your case to another law firm anyway. Rather than start all over with a new lawyer, why not find the right one for you from the start?
Hiring the San Francisco Personal Injury Lawyers at the Law Office of Chuck Geerhart
If you need a personal injury lawyer to help you, look no further than the San Francisco personal injury lawyers at The Law Office of Chuck Geerhart.
We have years of experience helping injured victims like you. We aren’t afraid to stand up to big corporations. We offer free, no-obligation consultations, so there is no risk to meet with us.
We can help you decide what the best course of action is for your particular case. Contact the experienced California personal injury attorneys at the Law Office of Chuck Geerhart online today or call (415) 577-4992 to learn more about how we can help you fight for the compensation you are owed.