What You Should Know Before You Hire a Lawyer

When you’ve been hurt, you are dealing with pain, loss of income, probably an insurance company ignoring your requests for help, and enduring multiple doctor visits and medical treatments.

It is important to hire an injury lawyer to represent you so you have a knowledgeable, professional expert “in your corner” who represents your interests, just as corporations and insurance companies have a team of people to represent theirs. You need someone who will fight on your behalf to help you receive full compensation for your injuries.

Important things to do if you believe you have a case:

If you believe you have a claim, contact a lawyer immediately.
Document the facts of your injury.
Collect physical evidence and take photos.
Maintain records of where you were treated, by whom and when.
Keep all receipts related to your claim, such as medical bills, property damage and other costs.
Identify all witnesses by name, address and phone number.
Seek necessary medical attention immediately, and follow all doctors instructions for follow-up care.

How, when, and why to hire an injury lawyer:

Hire a lawyer immediately. Contact a lawyer as soon as reasonably possible following your injury or incident. There are statutes of limitations imposed on some types of cases which severely limit the amount of time a claimant has to notify responsible parties that a claim exists.
Find a lawyer with experience. A personal injury lawyer knows how to build a case, how to negotiate with an insurance company, and how to present the facts and evidence properly. In the event your case goes to trial, it is important that you hire a lawyer who is experienced as a litigator in the Philadelphia court system. Ken Rodgers has decades of experience as a Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification[existing link}, and has been awarded the highest rating of the Martindale Hubble [existing link]attorney reference service. Having this distinction ensures clients that they have a lawyer with an exceptional level of trial experience.
Dealing with insurance companies. Remember, an insurance company makes its’ income by paying as little as possible on claims. Therefore, the Claims Department takes information from injured people in a manner that helps limit how much they pay out. A professional lawyer understands the complex legal system and laws that non-lawyers do not know. You need a lawyer to ensure you do not get taken advantage of.
How much do I have to pay a lawyer? Injured persons usually hire a lawyer on a contingent fee basis rather than paying by the hour. A contingent fee contract means that the lawyer is paid only if money is recovered for you. The client does not pay a fee unless there is a recovery, therefore, the lawyer and the client have the same interests.
Do all lawyers handle all types of cases? No. Not all lawyers handle injury cases, and many do not handle handle medical malpractice or workers’ compensation cases. The legal field can be very complex so lawyers usually will specialize in specific areas. It is important to describe the details of your case to a lawyer and then ask them if they handle that type of legal work. You can also ask them to describe how much experience they have with similar cases.

View our Frequently Asked Questions for more information about how to hire a lawyer, as well as answers to other questions we frequently receive.