Did you suffer injuries because of someone’s sheer recklessness in Ontario? Were you injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault? Do you have a valid workers’ compensation claim? These are some circumstances that demand the expertise of an Ontario, CA personal injury lawyer. If you have never filed a claim in the past or have no experience hiring an attorney, you need to know these five facts listed below.
- No injury lawyer will ask for an upfront fee. Personal injury lawyers in most states work on a contingency fee. The lawyer gets a part of the settlement only when you win. In other words, you don’t have to pay anything to seek the experience and help of a lawyer. Also, the first meeting with an attorney doesn’t usually cost anything.
- You shouldn’t delay hiring an attorney. California’s statute of limitations gives a deadline of two years for filing personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. You are racing against time, and it is best to lawyer up at the earliest. Remember that getting access to evidence and witnesses would be a lot harder after a while.
- Lawyers can negotiate better. If you have an auto accident or workers’ compensation claim, you will have to negotiate with the insurance claims adjuster, and that can be extremely complicated. Get an attorney on your side because they know what it takes to see through bad faith insurance tactics.
- The contingency fee of injury lawyers may vary. If your case is complex and requires extensive work, the lawyer may charge more. Experience attorneys also tend to ask for a higher fee. The standard range of contingency fees of injury lawyers varies between 25% and 40% of the final recovery.
- Don’t hire a lawyer who doesn’t have trial experience. Most injury claims in California are settled without a trial, primarily because going to court can be a time-consuming and expensive option for all parties concerned. However, some cases do need a trial. Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may want to get an attorney who has courtroom confidence.
Finally, ensure that the injury lawyer you hire is available for the case. Many attorneys pass the case to other associates, and while that’s not a bad thing, you would still need access to your lawyer. Always ask the lawyer about their current caseload and get an estimate of expected costs other than their fee.