(Guest post) If you have recently been injured in an accident, you may be entitled to compensation. However, claiming what is rightfully due to you can be a legal minefield, and it is advisable to seek legal advice quickly after your accident to make sure you are properly advised on the next steps to take.
To find a good personal injury lawyer, it can be tempting to simply start typing search terms into Google. However, it is best to take a more structured approach to selecting a solicitor you can trust.
- Personal recommendation is a great way to find a solicitor. Ask your friends and colleagues if any of them have ever used a personal injury solicitor, and ask them to describe their experiences.
- If you don’t have any personal recommendations, then the Yellow Pages is often the next port of call. You can look through the pages of adverts to check whether there are any firms you have heard good things about, or whose advert seems particularly informative. However, be critical when reading adverts. The most flashy, colourful full page ad is not necessary the best legal team for your case (they have simply paid the most for their advertising.) Make sure you approach a firm that specialises or has experience in your specific type of personal injury.
- Internet forums can also be good places to glean people’s experience of personal injury lawyers. Beware, though, as on the internet nobody is who they seem, and both criticism and praise can be deliberately planted – so choose where you browse very carefully and favour forums and message boards based in your local area.
- You can find individual solicitors and firms listed on the Law Society website. This site also includes information about whether the solicitors are accredited for a particular type of work.
- Be wary of approaching one of the big companies that advertises on television. Your cases is likely to be handed to a smaller firm that you have no say in the choice of, and whose offices will probably not be near you. You might be better off approaching a local firm with local offices.
For specialist legal advice regarding personal injury claims, speak to a personal injury lawyer in the UK.
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