We hope that you will never need a personal injury lawyer. However, there is a chance that you could be involved in a bicycle accident. If so, you want to ensure that you receive the best legal advice possible for your personal injury case.

Hiring a personal injury lawyer in Augusta can give you a better chance of receiving fair compensation for your damages. The insurance company for the at-fault party has substantial resources to fight your claim. They have a team of defense attorneys, adjusters, investigators, and other professionals to protect them from liability.

You need a legal team on your side to protect your best interests. You need an experienced personal injury lawyer who can aggressively pursue evidence to prove the legal elements of a negligence claim, including causation, liability, and damages.

Deciding which Augusta personal injury lawyer to choose can be confusing. For example, do you choose the attorney with the lowest contingency fee or the attorney who advertises more on television than other law firms? 

Below is a guide for finding the best personal injury attorney in Augusta, GA, after a bicycle accident.

Steps for Finding the Best Personal Injury Lawyer in Augusta, GA

Likely, there could be several personal injury attorneys who could handle your bicycle accident case. The task is to locate one of those law firms and choose the attorney you have the most confidence in and feel comfortable with when discussing your case. 

Steps that you can take to find an injury lawyer:

Ask for References 

Ask family and friends for references for a personal injury lawyer. It helps if the person worked directly with the attorney to give you an accurate review of the attorney’s performance and personality. 

You may also want to ask other attorneys and court personnel for a reference. While you want an attorney who practices personal injury law, attorneys in other areas of law usually know which attorney they would choose for a personal injury case. If you know someone who works for the court, they might give you a reference for an accident attorney based on watching the attorney in court. 

Search the Bar’s Find a Lawyer Section 

The Georgia Bar Association has a “find a lawyer” section on its website. You can search for a personal injury lawyer near you. The Bar Association also offers additional information about locating an attorney on its website.

When you search for a lawyer on the Bar’s website, you can review the attorney’s disciplinary history, accreditations, rates, education, and contact information. In addition, some attorneys may include more information about their law practice than other attorneys. 

Read Reviews and Website Content

Reviews can be a great source of information about Augusta personal injury attorneys near you. 

Include peer review sites (attorneys reviewing other attorneys) and review sites for previous clients. Some websites you might want to check include:

Most law firms have websites. Reading the attorney’s website can provide a lot of information about the lawyer and the practice. The website may include additional information about awards, certifications, experience, and prior results.

However, remember that the lawyer’s website is a marketing tool. Therefore, you might not want to base your decision solely on the information found on a law firm’s website.

Meet with Several Lawyers 

Ideally, you want to meet with two to three lawyers before choosing a personal injury attorney to hire. Meeting with an attorney in person is the best way to determine if an attorney is a good fit for your case. 

Questions to ask a personal injury attorney during a consultation include:

  • How often do you handle cases similar to my case?
  • Will my case go to trial? 
  • How many cases do you take to trial each year?
  • How much is my personal injury claim worth?
  • Do you recognize any issues or problems with my case?
  • What are your attorneys’ fees, and do you offer a contingency fee?
  • Am I responsible for paying the costs of the case?
  • How much time will you spend managing my case?

Most personal injury lawyers offer free consultations with no obligation to hire the firm after meeting with the attorney.

Things to Consider When You Hire a Personal Injury Attorney

When you meet with an attorney, there are several qualities that you want to consider before retaining the attorney. 

After narrowing your choices to two or three attorneys, compare the following factors to help you decide which attorney to hire:

  • Experience and education
  • Adequate legal support staff and resources
  • Affordability
  • Ease of communication and contact
  • Patient and compassionate
  • Qualifications, special skills, and certifications
  • Reviews from peers and clients
  • Good listening skills
  • Compelling and convincing 

Your search for a personal injury attorney in Augusta, GA, may take a few weeks. However, the outcome of your case could depend on the attorney you hire. Taking the time to find the right attorney for you could mean a larger settlement for your personal injury case. 

For more information, see our benchmarking report or contact us.