Jason Stephens | October 31, 2021 | Brain Injuries
A person can sustain a brain injury in a variety of accidents or situations. For example, a person may sustain a brain injury in a construction accident, motorcycle accident, slip and fall accident, or motor vehicle accident. In addition, defective products and medical malpractice can also result in traumatic brain injuries.
Individuals who sustain brain injuries may develop permanent impairments and disabilities. They may be unable to work or enjoy the same activities they did before the injury. Brain injuries can result in cognitive, physical, and emotional impairments. Child brain injury cases can result in life-long disabilities.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim for a Brain Injury
If another party causes your brain injury, that party could be financially liable for your damages. The types of damages caused by a traumatic brain injury include, but are not limited to:
- The cost of medical treatment and health care
- Personal care and nursing care
- The loss of income and benefits
- Diminished earning potential
- Impairments and disabilities
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional, physical, and mental pain and suffering
- Decreases in your quality of life
Brain injury victims may require several types of therapy to recover from the injury or learn to cope with impairments. Unfortunately, the cost of these treatments can be expensive. In addition, paying living expenses when you cannot work is challenging.
Therefore, it is crucial that a person with a brain injury recover fair compensation for their damages. The money they receive for their injury claim may provide for continued medical and personal care.
Hiring a Fort Worth brain injury lawyer can help you recover the money you deserve for a brain injury. However, how do you know who is the best brain injury lawyer to handle your case?
Below are five qualities to look for when choosing a brain injury attorney. These qualities do not guarantee success, but they can indicate a highly qualified, skilled personal injury lawyer.
1. Experience Handling Brain Injury Cases
Experience matters. When an attorney handles a high volume of a specific type of case, the attorney learns more about the subject matter. With each new case, the attorney’s knowledge increases.
Brain injury claims often involve complicated medical treatments and conditions. Therefore, having an understanding of brain injuries and the consequences of brain injuries is essential. The attorney cannot present a compelling case for maximum compensation if the attorney does not understand how brain injuries impact a person’s life.
However, experience in other areas is important too. Experienced brain injury lawyers understand how insurance companies view brain injury claims. They understand the tactics used by insurance companies to deny or undervalue brain injury claims. More importantly, they know how to fight insurance companies and win.
Experienced brain injury lawyers have a thorough understanding of the law that governs brain injury cases. In addition, they are familiar with the local court system and how judges and juries view brain injury cases.
2. Resources and Legal Staff
A personal injury case involving a brain injury is complicated. It involves hiring medical experts, financial professionals, and other experts to assist with the case. The investigation into how the brain injury occurred could be lengthy.
An attorney needs to have ample resources and an outstanding legal team to assist with the case. Some lawyers work by themselves, and they do an excellent job. However, if your case is complex, you may need an attorney with more resources to handle your case.
3. Good Reviews from Peers and Clients
It is always wise to read reviews before hiring a brain injury lawyer. Reviews from peers and clients can be found online from several different sources.
Peer reviews can be found on sites such as Martindale-Hubbell and BestLawyers. Client reviews can be found on social media sites, Google, Yelp, and other public review sites.
It is important to remember that anyone can post a review of an attorney. For example, a disgruntled employee or a competitor can post a negative review. Therefore, consider all reviews, but be suspect of reviews that do not provide specific details of why the attorney received a poor rating.
4. Trial Experience
Most personal injury cases do not go to trial. Instead, the claims are settled through negotiations with the liability insurance provider or representatives for the at-fault party. Therefore, you need a brain injury lawyer who has exceptional negotiation skills.
However, some brain injury cases may go to trial. For that reason, you should ask an attorney how much time he has spent trying cases in court. Also, ask the lawyer what his success rate is for court cases.
Arguing a case in court is much different from negotiating a settlement with an insurance provider. You want an experienced lawyer who understands courtroom procedures, rules of evidence, and how to connect with jurors. These skills generally improve with years of practice.
5. Reasonable Payment Terms
Attorneys decide how they bill for their services. Some lawyers bill by the hours and require a retainer fee when you hire the law firm. However, most personal injury attorneys accept cases on a contingency fee basis.
Instead of worrying about how you will come up with a large retainer fee, you do not need to pay anything upfront to hire a brain injury lawyer. The attorney receives the fee for his services when he recovers money for your claim. The fee is based on a percentage of the settlement proceeds or jury verdict.
However, there are costs of the cases that must be considered. The costs of the case could include deposition fees, travel costs, postage, expert witness fees, and investigation costs.
Ask the lawyer how these costs are handled. It is important to understand what costs you are responsible for paying and if you are required to pay those costs even if the attorney loses the case.
Choosing a Fort Worth Brain Injury Lawyer That is Right for You
One final factor that you want to consider is whether you feel comfortable talking to the attorney. It is essential that you and your attorney can communicate effectively. You want an attorney who takes the time to listen to your concerns and answers your questions.
If you do not feel comfortable talking with the lawyer, it might not be a good personality fit. Interviewing several brain injury lawyers can be a wise way to find an attorney who has both the experience and personality right for your case.
Contact Our Brain Injury Law Firm in Fort Worth, TX
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Fort Worth and need legal help, contact our Fort Worth brain injury lawyers at Stephens Law Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | Truck Accidents to schedule a free consultation.
Stephens Law Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | Truck Accidents
1300 S University Dr # 300
Fort Worth, TX 76107
(817) 420-7000