Hire the Personal Injury Attorney that is Right for You

By Tim O’Hare As a Dallas personal injury attorney, integrity is of utmost importance in every aspect of my work — from the cases I choose to take on to the way in which I operate my law practice to the manner in which I handle each client’s case. A 2008 article published on Forbes.com offers some great tips for hiring an attorney. I’ve added a bit of my own insight as well. As a businessman, I know that word of mouth referrals are the most valuable referrals I can receive. When looking for an attorney, the same is true for you. Ask your friends, family and coworkers for a referral. Getting a reference from someone you trust is a great way to find a respectable attorney. Ask for suggestions on whom to call, and be sure to ask your friends about their personal experience with that attorney. If you can’t find attorney who specializes in the field of law you need, there are a number of other great resources. Ask local community organizations, such as the Dallas Bar Association (DBA). The DBA has a lawyer referral program for the public. Contact the DBA with your specific needs and they will connect you with a lawyer who can help. It is important to understand that the bar simply recognizes these lawyers as licensed, and likely does not have any information on a specific attorney’s reputation or character. Once you find a lawyer in your area, it is important to follow up with further research to determine whether or not they are reputable. In doing your due diligence, check their websites, check their track records and ask questions. If you visit an attorney’s website and find more of a sales pitch than substance, chances are they are not the type of attorney you are looking for. Keep your eye out for professional websites that provide quality information. When you meet with an attorney for the first time, be prepared with specific questions. Find out how many cases similar to yours he or she has handled and inquire about the results of those cases. If you have selected a firm, find out which lawyer within that firm will be handling your case. Be sure to research the individual attorney, not just the firm as a whole. Don’t make wide sweeping assumptions about an attorney — develop your opinion based on your own research. It is easy for lawyers, especially personal injury attorneys, to be stereotyped as distrustful. While this may be true for some, it is in no way true for all. A personal injury attorney who has integrity is essential in helping clients protect their rights, recover lost wages and medical expenses and even punish corporations that have acted outside of the law. If you hire the right attorney, you won’t regret it. Don’t let your misconception of lawyers deter you from seeking legal help in a situation involving wrongful death, car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle or pedestrian accidents, slips and falls, premises or product liability or work injuries. Tim O’Hare is a Dallas personal injury attorney who practices the integrity he preaches to his staff. If you have been injured in a car accident, or suffered injury on someone else’s property, or been injured in some other manner where another was at fault, contact The Law Offices of Tim O’Hare for a free initial consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney. Call us at 972-960-0000 or Toll-Free 888-960-0020.