How to Choose the Right Personal Injury Lawyer in West Palm Beach
Find the perfect personal injury lawyer for your case. Follow our guide and make an informed decision. Get expert representation in West Palm Beach today!
According to the most recent data from the Florida Department of Health, Palm Beach County saw 14,057 emergency department visits (age-adjusted) for non-fatal motor vehicle injuries in 2023.
Such high figures are already concerning, but many other types of personal injuries impact the lives of Palm Beach County’s residents, including those in West Palm Beach. Falls, medical errors, and defective products are just a few examples.
Fortunately, a personal injury lawyer in West Palm Beach, FL, can help. They can provide legal guidance if you or anyone you care about has suffered from physical or psychological harm caused by someone else’s negligence or actions.
But with so many options, how do you choose the best accident lawyer for your case?
Join our team at Felice Trial Attorneys as we share tips to help you navigate your choices in this personal injury case guidance.
Search Specifically for a Personal Injury Lawyer
Data from the American Bar Association (ABA) shows that, as of 2024, Florida had 80,080 resident lawyers. However, not all of them specialize in tort cases; many practice family law, while others specialize in criminal cases.
Tort cases are civil claims filed by a claimant or plaintiff (the party harmed or whose property sustained damage) against a defendant (the person or party whose actions harmed the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s property). They include personal injury cases, such as:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Medical errors and negligence
- Dog bite incidents
- Slip and fall accidents
So, your first order of business must be to find a personal injury attorney specifically. You can begin your search online or ask for recommendations from trusted family, friends, or colleagues. Considering how common the above incidents are, it’s highly likely you know someone who also had to seek a lawyer for West Palm Beach legal advice regarding tort cases.
Confirm the Lawyer’s Experience in Handling Cases Like Yours
Once you have a list of prospective personal injury attorneys, visit their website and review their portfolio. Look for information about the specific cases they handle.
For instance, suppose you experienced harm due to medical negligence or error. Such incidents are common in the U.S., with a study published in the National Library of Medicine saying that approximately 400,000 hospitalized patients experience preventable harm yearly.
In that case, you must ensure the personal injury lawyer you choose specializes in medical errors, not just car accidents. They must have also handled cases similar to yours in which they’ve helped their clients recover the highest possible compensation through a settlement or trial.
Verify the Lawyer’s Good Bar Standing
All active lawyers in Florida, including West Palm Beach, must be members of the Florida Bar. The Florida Bar is a professional organization of lawyers licensed by the Florida Supreme Court to practice in the state. Its mission is to ensure that practicing attorneys adhere to the state’s high standards of legal professionalism.
Some of the primary roles of the Florida Bar include:
- Regulating lawyers by investigating and prosecuting those who engage in unethical conduct
- Assisting clients who’ve suffered financial losses due to their lawyers’ misconduct
- Resolving disputes between lawyers and their clients
- Educating the public on the legal system and judicial topics, such as through legal periodicals
You want your lawyer to be in good standing with the Florida Bar, which indicates they adhere to stringent legal codes and have no history of misconduct. So, once you have a list of prospects, search for their name on the Florida Bar website. The status you want to see is “Member in Good Standing,” and the field beside the category “10-Year Discipline History” should ideally say “None.”
Look for a Lawyer Offering Free Case Evaluations
An excellent way to gauge who’s best for your case is to talk to all your prospective personal injury attorneys. Through a consultation, you can gain insights into their:
- Personality
- Professionalism
- Credibility
The good news is that a reputable personal injury lawyer offers free case evaluations. During the consultation, the attorney should:
- Listen carefully and attentively to you while showing compassion
- Explain things using easy-to-understand language
- Be straightforward when answering all your questions, especially those inquiring about their experience
- Make you feel comfortable instead of using terms or phrases that may make you feel pressured to hire them
- Never make claims promising your case will be 100% successful
- Provide relevant information and guidance regarding the details of your case
- Inform you of the strategies they’ll use to prove the defendant’s negligence or actions harmed you
You should also ask about the attorney’s fees during your initial consultation. A reputable lawyer will be straightforward about their fee structures and how much and when they’ll charge you.
Consider Hiring a Lawyer Offering a Contingency Fee
A contingency fee is a “no-win, no-fee” payment structure. So, if you hire a personal injury attorney using this payment basis, you won’t pay them anything unless they win your case and recover compensation on your behalf.
Contingency fees vary and are a percentage of the compensation recovered. For example, if the rate is 30%, and your lawyer successfully recovers $100,000 on your behalf, you’ll pay them $30,000. Depending on your agreement, the amount you pay your lawyer may include or exclude other necessary charges, such as court costs and filing fees.
A contingency fee could be ideal if you don’t have the financial means to hire an attorney immediately. It can also give you peace of mind knowing your attorney will strive to reach the best possible outcome, given that their income is also on the line. After all, if they don’t do their best, they won’t receive compensation, either.
Partner With Felice Trial Attorneys for Your Personal Injury Case
Searching specifically for a personal injury lawyer, confirming they specialize in cases like yours, and verifying they have a good standing with the Florida Bar are crucial steps to finding the best attorney for your tort case in West Palm Beach, FL.
Fortunately, you no longer have to search far and wide for a personal injury attorney who meets all the qualifications in this guide. At Felice Trial Attorneys, our highly experienced personal injury lawyers have over 75 years of combined experience handling personal injury, Social Security Disability, and workers’ compensation cases. We’ve recovered over $85,000,000 in verdicts and settlements for our clients.
Speak with us today so we can schedule your free case consultation!
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