If you’ve been injured in a car accident, on the job, or due to any other cause, then you are likely entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit against those responsible for your suffering. Most plaintiffs who decide to file such a claim have the assistance of a personal injury lawyer to guide them through the process and represent them if the case goes to court.
The Cliff Notes: Key Takeaways From This Post
We listed 3 reasons why a personal injury attorney’s trial experience is a crucial factor in your selection of legal representation; however, here are the key bullet points if you are in a rush:
- A significant percentage of personal injury cases make it to court, so it’s important to hire a lawyer with trial experience.
- An experienced attorney can help navigate difficult decisions regarding state or federal jurisdiction and explain the pros and cons of each.
- Cases that go to court are usually decided by a jury, so lawyers need interpersonal skills to keep the jury on their side.
- Herman Wells offers attorneys with extensive knowledge of relevant regulations and courtroom experience in several areas of personal injury law.
While there are many personal injury lawyers on the market today, it is important to retain the services of an attorney with extensive trial experience. The following information presents 3 reasons why this should be a crucial factor in your selection of legal representation.
1. A Significant Percentages of Cases Make it to Court
It’s true that almost 90% of personal injury cases don’t go to trial, and are settled out of court. However, that also means that more than 1 out of every 10 cases does make it to court.
Thus, it is important that your lawyer has previous trial experience. Even if he or she is an excellent negotiator, different skills are required to win a case in the courtroom than those needed to reach a mutually acceptable settlement outside of it.
2. Your Lawyer Can Help You to Navigate Difficult Decisions
Another reason to hire an personal injury lawyer with extensive trial experience is the assistance they can provide when it comes to the difficult decisions you’ll face while pursuing your claim.
Most injury cases fall within the jurisdiction of the state in which the accident occurred. However, some claims could be eligible for presentation in federal court. If you are presented with the option to litigate on the state or federal level, what should you do?
A knowledgeable lawyer with trial experience can explain the pros and cons of each, and help you make an informed decision. An experienced attorney may determine that the statute of limitations for filing a state lawsuit has already expired, so the federal court would be the only viable option.
The above example illustrates the value of an attorney that has a good working knowledge of the justice system.
3. Cases that Go to Court are Usually Decided by a Jury
The third reason to choose a lawyer with extensive trial experience is what we call the “human factor.” Injury cases that go to court are typically decided by a jury. Your legal representative not only needs to have a solid base of knowledge from which to draw; he/she also needs to have the interpersonal skills to keep the jury on your side. Presentation of facts is often not enough; persuasiveness and conviction are the qualities that win court cases.
Personal injury lawyers may be skilled in negotiation, but can still fall woefully short if a case actually makes it to the courtroom. That would mean their client is left without the compensation they deserve for their injuries.
Selecting the Right Attorney for You
Even though your personal injury case may be settled out of court, it’s important that your legal representative stands ready to fight on your behalf should negotiations fall through.
At Herman Wells, our attorneys have both a vast reservoir of knowledge about relevant state and federal regulations and extensive experience interacting with judges and juries in court. We specialize in several fields of personal injury law, ranging from workers’ compensation cases to car and motorcycle collisions. Reach out to us today for a free case evaluation.