When it comes to personal injuries and resulting lawsuits, it can be difficult to figure out the best thing to do.

You’re injured, and you’re trying to take care of yourself and heal, but you also have to think about any legal battles that may ensue. If you’ve been the victim of an automobile accident or other serious injury, chances are you’re going to need an injury attorney.

When it comes to the best personal injury attorney in Baton Rouge, do you know what to look for? Finding an attorney that you trust is key. Below, we’ve put together 17 tips for finding the best personal injury attorney in Baton Rouge.

1. Find Someone Whose Values Align With Yours

The most important step in finding and selecting the best personal injury attorney in Baton Rouge is looking for someone whose values align with yours.

Are you able to connect with the attorney on a personal level? Do they seem to have views, values, and morals that line up with yours?

This is an important base-level decision maker. If you come from two very different points of view, you probably won’t see eye-to-eye on a lot of things throughout your case, and it’s probably better not to work together.

On the other hand, if you seem to click pretty well, your experience working together should go more smoothly.

If you’re still on the fence about hiring a personal injury attorney but then find someone who seems to have the same vision you do, this can be very reassuring.

2. Learn About the Attorney’s Previous Cases

Does your lawyer offer the opportunity to learn about previous cases they have handled?

Of course, this is often confidential and sensitive information. Still, maybe they have some information they can share with you.

If the attorney you are considering has handled many cases like yours in the past, you can trust that you’re in good hands. However, if they’ve never dealt with something like this before, you may want to think twice about working with them.

Learning about the attorney’s previous successes (or failures) with cases like yours may help you make your decision quickly as you search for the best personal injury attorney in Baton Rouge.

3. Verify Their Background and Education

Of course, any lawyer you work with should be a trained professional.

Ask about their background and education. Where did they study? What degree did they earn? What training have they received? What experience do they have in the field? Did they graduate from one of the top law schools in the state or a lower tier law firm?

All of this is important to verify before moving forward. The best personal injury attorney in Baton Rouge will be well educated and well prepared to take you on.

4. Look at Their Credentials–Or Lack Thereof

What makes this person qualified to be your lawyer in this specific case? Does anything disqualify them?

In addition to background and education, the best personal injury attorney in Baton Rouge should have the right credentials. This looks like a good combination of education, experience, and specific awards that relate to your case exactly.

It may also be a good idea to check for any disciplinary actions the lawyer may have faced. Have they ever had a complaint filed against them–or worse, been suspended or disbarred? Would you want to hire that lawyer?

This is an aspect many people don’t even think to consider, but it’s available as public records online. If you do a little digging and find out your lawyer has not been disciplined or disbarred in the past, you’re going to want to take that into account before hiring them.

5. Ask for Testimonials

Testimonials can be one of the most helpful tools when trying to choose the best personal injury attorney in Baton Rouge.

These are honest, real-life responses from people who have worked with this same firm in the past and then provided their unfiltered thoughts on the experience.

A personal injury attorney’s testimonials will say a lot about who they really are. If they have a lot of satisfied clients, chances are you could join their ranks.

On the other hand, if they have no happy reviews to speak of, you should probably stay away. Asking for testimonials before agreeing to work with an attorney will help assure you that you’re making the right decision.

6. Learn About Their Policies

What will this relationship look like? Ask about your potential lawyer’s policies when you are still in the decision-making stage.

The best personal injury attorney in Baton Rouge is someone who promises you a 100% satisfaction guarantee. And of course, all attorneys in this field offer a paid when paid agreement. In other words, if they win your case, they get paid. If they lose, they don’t. Some lawyers tout this as a making their firm special. It’s not. Nearly every injury attorney handles their cases this way.

Knowing what the policies in place are for all kinds of situations will help you move forward with confidence. Thoroughly read over any contracts you’d sign with them before doing so.

Moreover, are you able to terminate your relationship with your lawyer? What would that look like? Some lawyers give you the freedom to fire them–no fees, no drawbacks–within 30 days if you aren’t happy.

7. Ask About Pricing and Rates Up Front

Before getting too deep into things, ask about pricing, rates, and how all of that works. The best personal injury attorneys in Baton Rouge will be willing to have this discussion without needing to hide anything.

You don’t want to find yourself months into a legal battle, only to find that the bill you’ll be facing is the biggest stressor of all.

Some law firms only make money if they make you money. This can really help you sleep at night, trusting that you will not be out of money if your case fails to win in a court of law. On the other hand, some demand a minimum amount or expect to be paid no matter what.

Whatever the situation is, make sure to ask about these things beforehand.

8. Make Sure You Feel Listened To

If your attorney consistently cuts you off and doesn’t let you speak, you’re going to feel frustrated and overlooked. And if they won’t even give you the time of day, what makes you think they care about winning your case?

Make sure the attorney you’re considering truly listens to you. You may have important details to share about the case that could make or break its success. Your attorney should understand and respect this.

If you feel heard, you will have a better chance of working well together. Going into this as a team is a good way to look at it. The best personal injury attorney in Baton Rouge is someone who does this.

9. Will They Review Your Case Beforehand?

The best personal injury attorney in Baton Rouge is someone who will take a look at your case before agreeing to represent you. This is important because an attorney who makes you sign on before even weighing whether your case has any merit is probably just after your money.

Before signing on as your client, they should thoroughly review your specific situation. Then, they should provide you with an honest opinion on its likelihood of success.

If the attorney will review your case to give you their initial thoughts as part of a consultation, they are probably trustworthy. This is usually a totally free case review and they will provide their expert opinion on what your options are.

10. What Do They Provide For Free?

Some attorneys have zipped lips and zipped pockets until you agree to pay them something.

Others, on the other hand, are truly in the law field to help people like you. The ones committed to making a difference will provide information, consultations, and general advice for free.

Do they have a blog with all kinds of answers to your questions? Do they offer a free consultation to help you decide whether to move forward with a legal battle?

These are the kinds of things you should look for when choosing the right attorney for you.

11. Have They Received Awards and Accolades?

Usually, when someone is a great personal injury attorney, others take notice.

The best of the best lawyers often receive awards recognizing their outstanding competence and skill.

When you are considering an attorney, ask if they’ve received any awards or accolades. These things come from a third party who has chosen to honor the lawyer simply because of a job really well done.

Sometimes, awards–or lack thereof–can speak volumes about the lawyer’s skills and reputation among their peers.

12. Make Sure They Stay Up-To-Date

A lawyer does not have to be young to be a great lawyer. However, he or she does need to keep up with the latest developments and legal matters.

They should know what’s going on lately in the legal world and be aware of any changes that could affect your case. This is often achieved through reading law journals and communicating regularly with other legal professionals.

The body of law can grow and change quite a bit over the years. It’s important that your lawyer stays on top of these things and is educated about any recent changes.

13. Meet Them In Person

Take a trip to your potential attorney’s law offices and meet them in person. Often, a lawyer can seem one way on the phone but is a totally different story in person.

If you decide to move forward, you’ll be meeting with your lawyer quite a bit, so make sure you get along in person. They should appear clean-cut, professional, mature, and competent.

Working with someone who does not meet this basic criteria–or who has no law office to speak of–is an automatic red flag.

14. Look At Their Experience

This is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing the best personal injury attorney in Baton Rouge. Experience is key.

A lawyer may seem very trustworthy and qualified, but if they have no experience, how can you trust that they know what they’re doing?

Personal injury attorneys often have trial experience and an in-depth understanding of medical diagnoses and the general processes that come with personal injury cases.

They should also have negotiation experience and they should know the insurance field inside and out. Making sure all of this applies before deciding to move forward can make you feel much more confident in your lawyer.

15. Make Sure They Care

At the end of the day, you are a real person facing real problems as the result of an unfortunate accident.

Your lawyer should understand that and treat you as a human being, not just a client that provides an income.

If you feel like your lawyer truly cares about you and your case, that’s a good sign. They should be committed to resolving your situation because they understand you are suffering as a person.

16. Are They Well Established?

The attorney you work with should be well established in your state.

They should be familiar with auto and health insurance companies where you live. In addition, the lawyer should be familiar with the laws in your state and the procedures in your parish.

Over time, good lawyers will make a name for themselves in an area. If your attorney is well established and has a good reputation, you can feel good about moving forward with them.

17. Monitor How You Feel

At the end of the day, sometimes your gut will tell you things your head might miss.

If you have a good feeling about the personal injury attorney you’re meeting with, go for it. And if you don’t, don’t be afraid to walk away.

Paying attention to your instincts can also help you make sure that you are choosing the best personal injury attorney in Baton Rouge.

Looking For the Best Personal Injury Attorney in Baton Rouge?

If you’re on a hunt for the best personal injury attorney in Baton Rouge, look no further. Stephen Babcock is standing by to help you.

Your case — and your future will be our top priority. When we meet with you, we will review your case with you for free and after you hire us you will have Stephen’s 100% Client Satisfaction Guarantee.

If you have any questions about this article or want to contact us, call Stephen at (225) 240-4053 or do so here.

Get Even! Call Stephen!