It is extremely difficult to choose a reliable and competent lawyer at the best of times, but choosing one becomes even trickier when it needs to be done at a time of personal injury to yourself or someone you care about. If you need to find a personal injury lawyer then you are going to have to select one that is in the business to be helpful and useful to people in times of crisis, rather than going for lawyers who might promise you the world but will only be thinking about their payout at the end – the so called ‘ambulance chasers.’ Here are five ways to make sure you get a decent personal injury lawyer:

(1) Get in touch with the American Bar Association and ask them for one of their referral lists for lawyers specializing in personal injury in your area. This can be done by phone or email – simply write them a brief email, entitled ‘personal injury attorney Chicago’ (or whatever city you live in) and request their help finding decent and respected attorneys in your area. This ABA website will also be able to assist you in any other legal resources that might be necessary for your case.

(2) Chat with your relatives or friends and see if they have come across a good lawyer themselves. The advice of friends is invaluable because not only will they be impartial and act out of your best interests but the chances are they will have seen the lawyer in action and you will know something about the person you are hiring.

(3) If you have a lawyer for your business or who you used when you were making a will, ask them for a referral. They may well someone who they went to school with and who now specializes in personal injury.

(4) Once you have a recommendation arrange a meeting both with your favored candidate and a few others too. Check whether they have handled cases like yours before, whether they won and how much it cost. Ask them to look into your case and get back to you. Get a feeling whether they are people you could work with or not and whether you have a good feeling about them.

(5) Lastly, once you have chosen an attorney, make sure you ask about the fees right from the outset. Check if they will charge to evaluate your case and whether they would be happy to pay you from your settlement, if a settlement appears likely. Get everything agreed and in writing before proceeding.