Your first appointment with a personal injury attorney can be intimidating when you do work with lawyers or the legal process on a regular basis. Here are some things to keep in mind when consulting with a lawyer concerning your personal injury case:
Interview different lawyers: There are oodles of personal injury lawyers vying for your business. If you don't feel supremely confident after you interview a prospective lawyer, go out and interview a different lawyer and keep doing so until you find a lawyer that suits your needs.
Do a gut check: Do you like and respect the lawyer? The lawyer does not have to be "a nice guy or gal" for you to like him or her. They simply need to fit within your needs matrix. Some people need the aggressive "junk yard dog" type lawyer to feel comfortable and some people need the consummate diplomat. No matter what, remember that you will have to work closely with this person through some pretty tough issues so select a lawyer that you like and respect.
Watch out for the sales pitch that tries to compensate for lack of trial experience: Many lawyers say that they are members of organizations in an effort to impress you. WHO CARES? The only thing that matters is the lawyers experience. Most importantly, TRIAL experience. Ask the lawyer about his/her trial experience and ask them to show you their verdict forms if they say they have large verdicts.
Don't wait too long to look for a lawyer: In personal injury cases there is always a statute of limitations that will bar your claim if you do not act timely. Don't wait until the last minute to see a lawyer! Many lawyers will turn your case away if you are too close to statute.
For more information about Oregon Personal Injury law, contact Joe Durkee at 971.998.6790 or visit his website at http://www.oregonpersonalinjurylawoffice.com
