In the 1993 movie Groundhog Day, Bill Murray plays a grumpy reporter who finds that he is trapped in re-living the day of February 2nd over and over again. After indulging in some wild and destructive behavior, he learns a few lessons about life – and himself. This movie, although a fantasy, can get you thinking. If you could re-live certain experiences and make different decisions, would you?
If you have suffered an injury, you might want to go back in time and avoid the accident altogether. Unfortunately, that is not possible. What we can offer you is a few things to look for when choosing a personal injury attorney.
Over our 30 years of practice as Milwaukee personal injury attorneys, we have certainly learned a few of our own lessons that we are happy to share.
Here are four important qualities to consider if you are choosing a Milwaukee personal injury law firm:
1. Trial Experience:
Avoiding trial by reaching a settlement is certainly easier, but is it the best course of action for your case? You can’t predict whether your case will go to trial or not, so be sure to choose an attorney with courtroom experience, including trial and appellate work. This means they know how to create a courtroom-worthy case on your behalf, and have the knowledge to do everything they can to get the highest possible settlement – not just taking the first offer put forth from the insurance companies. If you want to find a personal injury lawyer with real experience, you can check for yourself: the court of appeals and Supreme Court allow anyone to search for an attorney’s name and see the list of cases that they have handled on appeal.
2. Good Communication:
Communication with your lawyer is what holds your case together, and moves it forward to a resolution. Have you worked with an attorney in the past that was impossible to reach, or when you did talk, you never fully understood what was going on? If you need a personal injury lawyer again, learn from those past mistakes and find someone who is there for you, and treats you like the vital part of your case that you are.
3. Convenient Locations:
Excellent communication with your attorney will often require face-to-face meetings. This can be difficult when the location of their office is far from your home, or just inconvenient to get to. Murphy & Prachthauser has a location downtown, but we also have an office that may be closer to you. Whether you are to the North, South, or West of Milwaukee, we have locations in Mequon, Greenfield and Waukesha to serve you. Nearby locations leads to better communication, which in turn leads to a stronger case for you.
4. A Free Case Evaluation:
If you have been injured, the first step is knowing whether you have a valid case. The second step is finding the right attorney for you. A free case evaluation can help you solve both of these problems. You will get an expert opinion on the validity of your claim, and you will have a chance to check out the personality and communication style of different attorneys. It is worthwhile to re-live this process a few times in a Groundhog Day fashion – like Bill Murray, you will learn something from each repetition, and be able to make an educated decision.
At Murphy & Prachthauser we are car accident attorneys in Milwaukee and personal injury attorneys in Milwaukee who practice the law the way it should be practiced – motivated and equipped to do our best for you. We take pride in being good lawyers who help people.
If you have a case you would like to speak to a personal injury lawyer about, please contact us to schedule a free case evaluation and get an experienced Milwaukee auto accident attorneys and Milwaukee personal injury lawyers working on your behalf.