Most people that find themselves the victim of a Los Angeles personal injury accident know they need to hire an attorney but they may not know what to realistically expect from their attorney once hired. Naturally, each personal injury accident case is unique and therefore the expectations may be slightly different, but according to Los Angeles county personal injury attorney Emery Ledger of Ledger & Associates there are some expectations that should be common to all personal injury accident cases.
The most important expectation you should have from your personal injury attorney is that he will have the experience and knowledge necessary to guide you through the legal process. When deciding on an attorney you should thoroughly investigate the amount of time he has been practicing and the number of cases he has handled similar to yours. Your Los Angeles personal injury attorney should be able to answer all your questions and be able to explain to you in layman’s terms what the issues are in your case, how your case will be handled and what your case is likely worth in monetary terms. If, at any point in the process, you are confused or you have additional questions, your attorney should take the time to sit down with you and put your mind at ease. Remember – your attorney works for YOU, not the other way around.
You should also expect that your attorney will handle your case in an expeditious manner. In many cases, personal injury lawsuits may take months – sometimes years – to complete due to the nature of the case. Before your attorney can begin to negotiate a settlement on your behalf or start discussing trial you must be nearing the end of any necessary medical treatment in order to accurately evaluate the value of your case. Having said that, your attorney should be working on your case while you are healing and should be prepared to negotiate a settlement or proceed to trial once you have completed your treatment.
Your attorney, and his support staff, should always treat you with respect and professionalism. Again, remember that they work for you. In most cases, you will have significant contact with your attorney’s support staff and therefore they are a reflection of your attorney. They should be courteous, knowledgeable and friendly at all times. Although your attorney may be busy in court or handling another client’s case, you should always have access to one of his support staff in a timely manner.
Finally, your attorney should fight for you to get you the maximum compensation possible. In many cases, you will be able to negotiate a favorable out of court settlement. If that is not possible, however, your attorney should be prepared to take your fight to the courtroom and tell your story to a jury.
If you would like a free and detailed evaluation of your case from the Los Angeles County personal injury attorneys at Ledger & Associates, please contact the office at 1-800-300-0001 to schedule your appointment. You may also get more information on the firm by visiting their website at www.ledgerlaw.com.
