Of critical importance is that the client should find out how much knowledge the attorney has of the particular injury you have suffered? An experienced personal injury lawyer should have a wide range of medical knowledge, and be well-versed in the specifics of your injury, otherwise they will not know how to present the claim to the insurance company, and just as importantly, without knowledge of the medicine involved in your injury, the attorney will not be qualified to monitor the care the injured person is receiving. 

Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine injuries (back and neck injuries), which are quite common, have very specific diagnostic needs as well as treatment needs. Failing to recognize issues can have a very harmful effect on eventually winning your case if the attorney does not understand the issues. Yet another example is in the case of a head or concussion type of injury. Doctors often misdiagnose or fail to treat this injury, and it is very important for the lawyer to recognize early on the issues related to any sort of head injury. The person who has suffered a head injury will also often not even realize they are suffering post-concussion or head injury symptoms. Many times, the injured person or client will not even know they have suffered a concussion or other type of head injury, and it is crucial that the attorney makes an early inquiry into the existence of this injury. 

Yet another example involves bone fractures. There are many different types of bone fractures, and the type of fracture, and the location of the fracture, can have a very significant impact on what the insurance company owes. Not all fractures are the same, and an injury to the tibial plateau is much more devastating than a simple hairline fracture to the tibia or femur. Knowing the difference in types of fractures can make a BIG difference in what the insurance company should pay for compensation to the injured person, and an experienced personal injury lawyer will not only be able to identify these issues, but have a working knowledge of them!

This is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete list of matters to consider when hiring an attorney following your injury or accident. Every case is different, and it is important for the injured person to assess on an individual basis the lawyer’s actual knowledge and ability to present the case.