The need for legal help arises in many different contexts.  Some people need a lawyer to help with buying or selling a home.  Some need legal help perhaps because of a traffic offense, DUI or other criminal mess.  Some need a lawyer to create an estate plan or help with drafting a will.  Some will need a lawyer because of divorce.  Most people in business or industry have many contacts to assist them in finding the right lawyer for their legal need.  Even so, when someone needs a lawyer to help with an injury or an accident, often nobody seems to know which lawyer to call. 

     We are of the strong opinion that you should always  hire the lawyer that you have the most confidence in.  That having been said, the lawyer that you trusted to handle your divorce or your real estate closing may not be your best choice to help on your personal injury claim, or medical malpractice or worker’s compensation case.  When you or a loved one is hurt, get the best personal injury lawyer you can.  The top personal injury lawyers do not handle DUIs, divorces and real estate closings.   And while we are sure that there are real estate lawyers that can handle your medical malpractice claim, you have to ask yourself, just exactly what area of law they are concentrating in?  In today’s legal market, it is our opinion that lawyers handling only personal injury cases are your best bet for top flight legal help on your injury case, medical malpractice case or worker’s compensation claim.

     But you may wonder, how do you find your top personal injury lawyer?  An easy place to start is to call the lawyer that handled your real estate closing or divorce and ask them to refer you to a good injury lawyer.  Many of the cases we receive are based on referrals from lawyers that we know that handle the other types of legal cases, such as estate planning, criminal law, real estate law, etc.  Once you get the lawyers name, you can research them on the internet.  In Illinois, you can go the the website run by the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission and look up the lawyer to ensure that they have malpractice coverage and whether any disciplinary complaints have ever been lodged against them. 

     When you talk to the lawyer, don’t be afraid to ask questions about how often they  have handled your type of case.  The most important reason you want a lawyer that concentrates in injury cases is because, among other reasons, they will be the most sensitive to and attuned into what your case is worth, based upon your injury, the factual basis of your claim and where it would be venued.  A lawyer that only handles the occasional car wreck may not be aware of the most recent developments in settlements and verdict awards for your type of case and may seriously undervalue your claim.

     When you need a medical doctor, you would never hesitate to seek out the specialist that is right for the job.  The same should hold true here.  If you or a loved one are hurt, or wrongful death is involved, get the best help you can.  If your real estate lawyer friend cannot refer you to a good injury lawyer, then use our website to contact us and if we can’t help you because you live out of state, we will find a top lawyer to help you.  Good luck!