If you’ve been injured in an accident, you may have decided to hire a personal injury lawyer to ensure that your legal rights are being protected. In fact, it’s a great idea to at least get the advice of a skilled Medicine Hat injury lawyer to understand any injury claim you may be thinking of bringing against a party. But there are some things you need to know before you hire a lawyer.
Are the Best Lawyers the Ones Who Do the Most Advertising?
You want to make sure that you are getting the most skilled legal representation for your claim. But you are bombarded with advertising on every conceivable surface trying to get your business as a claimant.
Do an online search and you will find pages of personal injury lawyers, many getting advanced placement due to online advertising dollars to Google. Does the most advertising equate to the best lawyers? And, if not, how will you choose the best professional for you?
Regulation is Often Absent
The truth is that personal injury marketing is everywhere. And regulation and enforcement are often completely absent. Provincial law societies are very clear that lawyers should not use advertising that is misleading, confusing or deceptive. Yet they often don’t have the funds or resources to enforce their rules. This leaves the public having to weed through the vast expanse of advertising and, sometimes, dubious or false claims.
A Vulnerable Time
Researching personal injury lawyers in Medicine Hat usually comes at the most vulnerable time after an accident and injury. Yet it’s important to research lawyers carefully to ensure that you are getting the best fit for your scenario and for your rights. Unfortunately, this isn’t always easy.
Legal Directories and Referral Sites
Many legal directories and referral sites make money from lawyers who pay to be included on the site. This serves two purposes: the site makes revenue and the lawyers get leads into their firm.
Even though these may be great lawyers and firms, many are not and the unsuspecting public thinks they are getting professional referrals when they are really just paid advertisements. As with everything on the internet, you must always consider the source and the motivation.
Beware the Lawyer Who Hands Off Claims for a Fee
Unfortunately, some of the biggest advertisers are the worst culprits. Many of the large firms that have the most advertising will hand off a claim to another lawyer for a referral fee. This is very common practice and you will want to make sure that the lawyer you hire will be the actual lawyer taking care of your claim.
Watch For Hidden Fees
Personal injury lawyers typically charge a contingency fee meaning that their legal fees are based on a portion of the claim you are awarded. However, this isn’t always the case. And even if the lawyer is advertising contingency legal fees, be careful to understand any additional fees that can be charged. The more conditions and exceptions that the fee agreement has, the more difficult it will be for you to determine exactly what you are paying upon claim resolution.
What Can You Do?
Look for unbiased and unpaid sources for a lawyer. Established and successful firms don’t have to rely heavily on paid advertising. Get personal references from family, friends or professional colleagues. At BPCAB Law, we believe the best clients are the most educated ones. We would be glad to discuss your claim with you and offer a no-cost initial consultation.