Despite what you may see on television, most people in North Carolina don’t have attorneys on standby. Most people don’t expect to get into an accident. It usually isn’t until you or a loved one are injured that you realize you need an attorney. Usually, what happens is someone goes online and searches for an attorney when they need one. Unfortunately, a lot of people just pick the first one that pops up. They don’t do their homework to make sure they choose an attorney that specializes in personal injury. Or they have no idea what the attorney’s reputation is. That’s why we always recommend that our clients in Charlotte come into the office for their free initial consultation before they make any decisions.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with looking for a Charlotte personal injury lawyer online. In fact, you wouldn’t have found this article if you didn’t look for it online. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do a little research before you retain your North Carolina injury attorney. It’s a good idea to review their website and see what kind of experience they have. You can also read their client reviews to see if they do a good job.
When people act quickly and hire the first lawyer they see online, they end up being dissatisfied. A few weeks or months after their lawsuit is filed, they realize that their attorney isn’t giving them the kind of personal attention they need. Maybe their lawyer isn’t returning their calls or emails. Or maybe their personal injury lawyer in Charlotte is forcing them to take a low settlement just so they can resolve the case quickly. When this happens, you’re going to want to find a new lawyer. The question is – at what point is it too late to fire your lawyer and retain a new one?
This is a good question and one we’ll address here. It really depends on the circumstances. Sometimes, you can change your attorney at just about any point in the lawsuit. There are other times when you may be better off sticking with whatever attorney you hired or risk having your case dismissed.
What Should You Look for in a Reputable Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney?
The best way to avoid having to change lawyers in the middle of your case is to know what to look for in a good personal injury attorney. There are plenty of reputable injury lawyers in Charlotte. You want to make sure the one you retain offers the following things:
- They specialize in personal injury law. You don’t want to hire a divorce or real estate attorney to handle your car accident lawsuit.
- Sometimes, it’s better to not hire family. It can be difficult to separate the personal side from the business side. It may be a better idea to choose someone you are not familiar with personally.
- They need to return your calls and emails promptly. There’s nothing wrong with asking your lawyer what their normal response time in your initial consultation.
- Make sure they have plenty of experience. You can usually tell from a law firm’s website how much experience their associates have. You don’t want someone fresh out of law school handling your personal injury case. This is especially true if your case is worth a large amount of money.
You should have a good idea of whether or not it’s a good fit after your free initial consultation.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer in Charlotte from the Outset
One way to avoid the problem of hiring a new lawyer is to do your research the first time around. There are a few things you want to look for in a Charlotte personal injury attorney. These have been outlined for you above. It can be complicated to switch lawyers halfway through the legal process. That’s why it’s always better to choose a reputable personal injury lawyer in Charlotte from the outset.
If you or your loved one have been injured in any sort of accident in North Carolina, call our office right away. You can schedule your free initial consultation and find out how strong your case really is. You can also get an idea of how the legal process works. If you think our firm is a good fit for your case, you can make the decision to retain our services. Either way, the initial consultation is absolutely free and you don’t pay a dime until your case is resolved.