Did you know that unintentional injuries are the third leading cause of death in the US after heart disease and cancer?
Motor vehicle accidents take the first spot, followed by medical malpractice, product liability, slips, and falls, among others. If you or your loved one has experienced a personal injury as a result of someone else’s negligence, then you are most certainly entitled to justice.
One of the most significant steps you can take is hiring a professional Oklahoma personal injury lawyer. After the accidents, a lot of things will seem as if they’re spiraling out of control. Medical bills may pile up, leaving you on a tight budget, and depending on your injuries, you may not be able to go back to work, which translates to lost wages.
A dedicated lawyer will uncover the truth about your accident and get you the compensation you deserve. This post will help you discover the secrets to finding the best personal injury lawyer in Oklahoma. Let’s dig in and find out, shall we?
What Area of Tort Law Do you Need Help In?
Tort law, which is the personal injury field, is quite large, with a US market size of almost $40 billion. After sustaining personal injuries, it’s a given that you might not know what to look for in a personal injury attorney. It’s also understandable that you may not know where to look, even if you’re looking for a personal injury lawyer in Oklahoma.
This means that the first thing you have to understand is what area of expertise you want a lawyer from. A majority of lawyers specialize in different areas of tort law from motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, motorcycle accidents, slips, and falls, among others.
All these categories have different guidelines as stipulated by the law. You need to get a personal injury lawyer that specializes in a given field. This means that they will have extensive experience and give you a better chance of winning the case or getting the compensation you deserve.
Check Whether They Have Faced Disciplinary Action
One of the most important aspects of a professional personal injury lawyer is a clean track record. The last thing you want is to deal with a lawyer that has faced disciplinary actions in the past. This is because you have no idea what malice they’re up to or what they will do in your case.
Check the Oklahoma Bar Association for this information. Search for any Oklahoma personal injury attorney to see whether they have any disciplinary history. If they do, it’s advisable to steer clear of them and find the next possible option to represent you in an ethical and professional way.
Look for Legitimacy and Licensing
The next order of business is to look for a legitimate and licensed attorney in Oklahoma. Now, the first thing you’ll probably do when searching for a professional attorney in Oklahoma is to run a Google search for the “best attorney near me.”
This is a good idea, but you need to be vigilant. While you’ll get qualified results, you will also get a plethora of paid results with lawyers that may not have the best skill sets to represent you.
Some law firms simply have the best advertising budgets, but when it comes down to it, they may not be the best option. Once you get the results, it’s important for you to scrutinize at least three of them and do a thorough background check until you settle for the right one. Search for your potential candidates from the Oklahoma State Bar Association.
Additionally, search professional organizations based on the category of tort law you need help in. Make sure you check that the personal injury attorney is board certified and licensed to practice in Oklahoma.
Check Customer Reviews
Reviews are some of the most significant aspects of finding the best personal injury lawyer in Oklahoma. Reading personal client reviews is like getting to know the attorney before you actually meet them in person. Clients usually have a lot to say about the experiences they had with lawyers, especially when it comes to negative experiences.
Go through reviews with a grain of salt and check whether the lawyer can be trusted depending on what past clients have to say. Were the past clients confident about the attorney? Did they have a working relationship?
Was communication efficient? What about the customer services with the firm? Client reviews are like word of mouth, and what past clients have to say can give you a glimpse of the kind of relationship you’re possibly going to have with the lawyer.
If possible, check the testimonials and ask for some referrals as well so you can talk to some past clients in person.
Schedule Your First Meeting
Now that you’ve done some digging and narrowed your potential personal injury lawyers in Oklahoma, it’s time for you to schedule a consultation. The attorney’s website may have tons of information about what they do.
Still, there are many questions that need to be answered, either through the phone or in person. It’s highly recommendable to set up an appointment, and you’ll be glad to know that most personal injury lawyers offer free case evaluations.
The most important part of a consultation is to come prepared with all the questions you need answers to. Ask whether the lawyer has handled a similar case before in Oklahoma if they are specifically the lawyer that will handle your case.
Ask what mode of communication they will use throughout the process and whether they are comfortable taking the case to court. Ask what they feel will be the likely outcome of your case, whether the case will be on a contingency basis, and whether they will keep you updated on the happenings of the case at all times.
Gauge how comfortable you are while talking to them because this may be a long-term relationship before the case closes. Take everything you learn from that appointment into consideration before making any decisions.
Hire the Best Personal Injury Lawyer in Oklahoma
Congratulations! Your search for a lawyer has been defined and with all this information, you should be able to hire the top personal injury lawyer in Oklahoma. Hire a lawyer that’s dependable, aggressive but empathetic, honest, and vigilant in their fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
With that said, if you’re currently on the search for a professional Oklahoma personal injury lawyer, please get in touch with us. We have professional lawyers who are more than willing to fight for you.