11 December, 2024
Choosing a lawyer to represent you in your personal injury claim can be an intimidating process, especially on top of dealing with the repercussions of your injury. What is equally as intimidating and frustrating, is trying to manage your claim on your own without the requisite knowledge and experience. Retaining a Personal Injury Lawyer to manage your claim can seem daunting at first, but their obligation to you is to look after your best interest and ensure that you maximise your financial outcome.
We have put together a list of the 7 most important things to consider when considering who you want to
represent you:
1. Area of Law
Figuring out which specific area of personal injury law you need help with will assist you in finding the most suitable lawyer for your claim. “Personal Injury Claim” covers many things - Workers’ Compensation Claims, Motor Vehicle Accidents Claims, Public Liability Claims, Total and Permanent Disability Claims, Nervous Shock Claims, Medical Negligence Claims and Criminal Injury Compensation Claims. Finding a law firm that specialises in your type of claim will mean you have an experienced and confident lawyer representing you, which can make a huge difference to the outcome of your claim.
At PPIL, we specialise in Workers’ Compensation Claims, Motor Vehicle Accidents Claims and Public
Liability Claims.
2. Location
Whilst a large portion of your claim can be managed through online and telephone communication, it can still be beneficial to be within a reasonable distance to your law firm. Meeting with your lawyer face-to-face allows for an organic first impression and relationship to form, and if you aren’t feeling confident with your lawyer after meeting with them, you can decide against retaining them before you are contractually bound. Another thing to note is that throughout the claim process, certain legal documentation can require a wet signature. Being within close proximity of your lawyer can save the hassle of printing and scanning your
documents, especially when time pressure and deadlines apply.
Here at PPIL we have two offices; one in Mandurah and one in North Perth.
3. Experience
Personal Injury law is far from black-and-white, with each claim encompassing specific legislation, time frames, and Statute of Limitation Expiry dates. This is why an experienced Personal Injury Lawyer is ideal for helping to maximise your compensation and protect your rights and entitlements. Experienced Personal Injury Lawyers have managed a substantial number of claims, exposing them to a multitude of different scenarios and subject matter, and will work strategically to maximise your lump sum entitlement.
Our lawyers at PPIL have over 70 years combined experience.
4. Communication skills
It can be difficult to understand the legal process, which is why communication should be a vital consideration when choosing your personal injury lawyer. You should be able to easily contact your lawyer or their assistant, and receive sufficient communication in return. A good law firm will ensure that your emails and phone calls are responded to and your queries resolved.
5. Size of Firm
There are pros and cons with both small and large law firms. Large firms are usually well established and stabilised, however, your experience may be less personal and more costly. Large firms typically have a high case-load, meaning your one-on-one experience with a lawyer may be few and far between. Instead, you could be communicating with Legal Assistant’s and
Administrators.
Your experience with Small to Mid-sized firms will likely be more personal, and perhaps less expensive than a larger firm. If you’re hoping for a close one-on-one relationship with your personal injury lawyer, it may be a good idea to find a small to mid-sized firm that specialises in your type of claim. Here at PPIL we have 26 staff across 2 offices, which classes us as a medium-sized firm.
6. How fees are charged
Before signing a Costs Agreement with a personal injury lawyer, there are 3 main things that should be reviewed:
A. Hourly rate - A personal injury lawyer’s hourly rate is determined by specific legislation depending on the jurisdiction that your claim falls in. It would be worthwhile checking the hourly rate in your costs agreement to ensure that the hourly rate is reflected correctly.
B. Disbursements - Disbursements are payments made by your lawyer on your behalf to a third party, usually to obtain evidence in support of your claim and progress your matter through litigation if required. For example, medical reports and independent medical examination fees, court filing fees and file opening fees are all classed as disbursements. Sometimes law firms will require you to provide payment up front into the trust account to pay these disbursements. Other law firms may fund the disbursements through litigation funding contracts or out of its own pocket, for reimbursement at the settlement of the claim. It should be noted that the majority of the disbursements can be recovered from the insurance company upon settlement of the claim.
C. Capped fees - Some personal injury law firms cap their Solicitor Client Costs (your contribution to their legal fees) at a percentage of your lump sum settlement. Capped fees provide assurance that you pay no more than the percentage identified in the Costs Agreement.
Here at PPIL we pay disbursements on our clients’ behalf, and aim to recover these costs from the insurer during settlement negotiations. Any disbursement that the insurer does not agree to pay for are called ‘Irrecoverable Disbursements’, and they are deducted from our clients’ lump sum settlement.
Additionally, our Solicitor Client Costs (which are also deducted at settlement) are capped at 10% of your lump sum. If you would like to learn more about our fee structure, click here.
7. Testimonials
A great way to contemplate which personal injury law firm to engage is by reading what past clients have to say about their experience with the firm. Reading testimonials and google reviews is an easy and authentic way to see at a glance whether you believe they are the right firm for you.
To view our Google Reviews for Mandurah, click here. For North Perth, click here.
