Once you understand what a personal injury lawyer does, you may be curious what makes a good personal injury lawyer. This step is critical when trying to choose the best one for your case. And, when it comes to finding a lawyer, it’s easy to get confused. From all the television and billboard advertisements, it can be difficult to discern what exactly makes for a good personal injury lawyer—one you can trust with your case.
Highlights of a good personal injury lawyer:
- Track record of success in the courtroom
- Respect among peers and judges
- Strong communication skills
- Research and negotiation skills
- Committed to staying informed
- Has an area of expertise and experience in their specialty
- Transparent legal fees
What makes a good personal injury lawyer?
Here are a few of the traits and qualities we believe are most important when it comes to a good personal injury lawyer who will fight for what you deserve.
Track record of success in the courtroom
The single most important thing to look for when choosing a personal injury lawyer is whether the attorney has actually successfully litigated personal injury cases at trial. This is what sets the personal injury lawyers at Murphy & Prachthauser apart. From the beginning, our lawyers prepare every case for trial. Other lawyers who only try to settle cases and are afraid of advocating at trial will not get the best results on your case.
Respect among peers and judges
Other lawyers and judges know what to look for in a personal injury lawyer as they see firsthand what good lawyers do and what gets the best results. Murphy & Prachthauser is proud to have other lawyers and judges refer their friends and family to our firm. We have worked hard over the last 40 years to build a reputation as strong advocates and respected litigators. The personal injury lawyers at Murphy & Prachthauser have been recognized by their peers and awarded recognition through Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers publications.
Strong communication skills
Good personal injury lawyers develop superior communication skills to really listen and understand what a client is trying to convey. Beyond that, public speaking skills are of utmost importance when arguing to a jury and judge. At Murphy & Prachthauser, rather than assuming, we listen and ask the questions needed to fully understand what’s happening. Many clients feel that lawyers aren’t great listeners, and that’s why we make it a priority at our firm to instill positive listening habits in our lawyers—making you comfortable in every communication you have with us throughout a case.
Research and negotiation skills
In addition to great communication skills, a good personal injury lawyer will be well versed in how to research legal topics and draft briefs and legal documents in preparation for trial—using the facts and law to persuade a judge that the case and arguments are meritorious. Both litigation skills and negotiation skills are very important as a case might proceed to trial.
Staying informed of new developments in the law and new methods of handling a case is vital for a good personal injury lawyer. By doing this, a lawyer might find a different way to conduct discovery or new avenues of investigation to aid their client’s case. Technology is changing and requiring newer forms of investigation, case preparation, and case presentation, and it’s up to lawyers to stay ahead of the game.
Has an area of expertise and experience in their specialty
Every case is different, demanding a different set of skills and backgrounds. At Murphy & Prachthauser, we have a wide variety of dedicated and committed team members that each have their own areas of expertise and knowledge. Depending on what your case looks like, we can fine tune our services to best fit your needs and deliver the outcome and results you deserve. Whether a settlement is the best option for you or a trial is needed, our team is ready to work together and go the distance for you.
Transparent legal fees
We believe in clear communication with our clients, no matter what. That’s why, when it comes to a fee agreement, we do everything possible to make sure you understand the services you’re paying for before signing for anything. It’s our view that a lasting relationship with a client is built on a strong foundation of trust that everybody understands.
How to Choose a Good Personal Injury Lawyer
At Murphy & Prachthauser, we believe it’s up to all of us to continue teaching the lessons of Jim Murphy to the next generation (and the next). One of the great trial lawyers in Wisconsin, Jim’s wisdom has proven invaluable, and his desire to help other lawyers continues on through our culture. Jim led by example by taking cases to trial. He was highly respected by other lawyers and judges. Jim wanted everyone in his firm to be ethical and professional in all aspects of the law. Jim saw integrity as being crucial to being a good personal injury lawyer.
Having the right people for the right case is important. Trial work is not something all personal injury lawyers are ready, willing, or able to do. Legal cases involve managing a huge amount of information and, like anything in life, lawyers need to know how to manage that evidence and have the proper team assembled to support it. That’s what we do, and our team is committed to advising you through the many different issues you may be facing during this challenging time—ensuring that you have what you need to make an informed decision on your case when the time arises.
If you would like to speak to a lawyer experienced with personal injury cases, please contact us to schedule a free consultation.