How to choose the right personal injury lawyer in San Diego?

Stewart Shamon, Founding Partner of Shamon Law, APC
Stewart Shamon, Founding Partner of Shamon Law, APC

Stewart Shamon is a founding partner of Shamon Law, APC. He has a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from San Diego State University and earned his law degree from California Western School of Law. After 9 years of working in the sector of personal injury, criminal defense, and litigation experience, he founded Shamon Law in 2013 to follow his passion for standing up for individuals suffering in accidents and being mistreated by insurance companies. He is known to be an eloquent public speaker, problem solver, and tough negotiator.

The basic premise of any law is to ensure the citizen’s safety and enforce certain rules and regulations for their protection and care. It is also the case with Personal Injury, one of the most common types of lawsuits filed in United States federal district court. Personal Injury Law strives to provide an individual or group with proper compensation for any injury to the body, mind, emotions, possession, or infrastructure. This injury or harm caused can be intentional or unintentional accidents; any motive or not, the plaintiff is subject to compensation for the loss.

What does a Personal Injury Lawyer do?

A personal injury lawyer is a trained professional with expertise in the specific area of injury claims. Their profound knowledge of law helps them easily maneuver through the several ins and outs of the complex judicial requirements. A qualified professional lawyer will guide your procedures and properly mentor you throughout your personal injury claim. At the same time, the expert advocates for your case; they may also negotiate on your behalf with insurance companies.

Since the injuries, harm, or damage faced by the victim can be diverse, different cases have different characteristics and circumstances related to them. Not every case is the same, and a personal injury lawyer plays a vital role in understanding the nature and the direction to go with your case. They will research the case on the plaintiff’s behalf and represent it with factual evidence and information. In addition, it makes it easier to prove the preparator’s accountability and increases your chances of getting the compensation faster and more efficiently. 

When & Why do you need a Personal Injury Lawyer?

While many think a personal injury case is simple and easy, injury law is a complex subject matter. Since most accidents or injuries occur without warning, there may be a lot of elements to consider in a case revolving around the claim. One needs to properly record every minor detail unbiasedly to present it to the court as evidence later. And evidence usually tends to go cold with time; collection needs to be quick and precise.

It is where a personal injury lawyer comes into the picture; usually, once you hire a professional, they will immediately start with the history and timeline of the case. Due to the unique nature of each case, compensation for non-economic damages like pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other intangible losses are very complicated to calculate. A personal injury lawyer will mobilize their expertise and convert these intangible damages into a presentable financial structure. 

Sometimes insurance companies may deny your claim and employ their attorneys to mitigate your claims and decrease the compensation rate. It might be challenging to go against a well-built organization by yourself; in such cases, a personal injury lawyer will handle the negotiations and save you from their tactics of devaluing your claim. A personal injury lawyer can also lead to a higher settlement than your original intent. It is also why one needs to choose the right personal injury lawyer for their claims.

Filing a personal injury claim without a lawyer might limit your chances of getting the deserved rights & compensation for your injuries. In addition, a personal injury lawyer will mobilize their expertise and convert these intangible damages into a presentable financial structure.

Tips for Choosing the Right Personal Injury Lawyer in San Diego

Tips for Choosing the Right Personal Injury Lawyer

Here are some tips for choosing the best personal injury attorney in San Diego:

Look for lawyers that are experienced in the sector of personal injuries cases. Any attorney with a history of representing cases similar to yours will increase your chances of winning. 

One can also research their reputation in the community, asking friends, family, or colleagues for recommendations. Several Lawyer Rating Services and Legal publications use rating systems to score lawyers; using these services may also be crucial in choosing the best personal injury attorney in San Diego.

Another thing to consider is their credibility; only licensed lawyers or law firms can practice law in California. Making sure their license and experience in personal injury law practice are of utmost priority.

Many other factors play an important role in choosing the right personal injury lawyer for your case. You will also have to consider their communication style, whether the lawyer is responsive and effectively communicating. It would be best to choose a lawyer with whom you will feel comfortable sharing your case, someone you can easily approach and trust.

Even after you determine the type of experience you need in a lawyer, you will still have many lawyers to choose from. The State Bar of California states that San Diego County has over  more than 250,000 active lawyers. Over a thousand San Diego personal injury lawyers are highly proficient in injury law.

Also Read: How to find a lawyer for a car accident?

How much do San Diego Personal Injury Law Firms Charge?

Injury lawyers often work on a contingency fee basis; this means the fee will depend on the case results. The plaintiff pays a percentage of the received compensation to the lawyer or law firm after the case successfully ends. While the payment may vary according to the deal, in a typical fashion, most deals range from 30% to 40%.

Since subjects of personal injuries cases are mostly victims that spend their resources on medical or other expenses, lawyers will make the plaintiff sign a contingency fee contract rather than asking for any fees upfront. Due to this, one does not need to pay if the lawyer fails to recover any compensation. However, in case of winning, you will still have the bulk of the compensation after dividing the agreed percentage to the lawyer or law firm.

State Bar of California has decided on several factors that go into calculating the contingency fee; 

  • Services performed by the attorney or law firm
  • Novelty and complexity of the case
  • Skills or expertise required for the legal services
  • Delay or let go of the existing work or not
  • Imposed time limitations of the case or client
  • Lawyer’s ability, experience, and reputation in the community
  • Required time and labor

While these are the factors decided by the State Bar of California, several external factors might affect the contingency fee. These external factors vary from time to time and case to case.

Contact a Top-Rated San Diego Personal Injury Lawyer Today

Following the information compiled in this piece, it might have provided clear insights on selecting your Personal Injury Attorney. One has to consider multiple factors before selecting the law personnel; an inexperienced attorney can easily mishandle the case, resulting in a loss or lower compensation agreement. 

We at Shamon Law look forward to helping you in your times of need. Our expert team has years of experience and knowledge that differentiates them from new or inexperienced practitioners. Contact us for more information and advice needed for your personal injuries cases.

Conclusion

There is nothing more important than choosing a personal injury lawyer; the right personnel can ensure your victory in the weakest of cases. While one may choose to represent their claims, a qualified attorney will make the process easier and faster. They will also eradicate most of the errors that an inexperienced person can face or cause and easily face unseen or uncertain variables related to the case. The expertise of a qualified attorney is highly valued in even more complex claims regarding emotional, mental, or other intangible losses. Therefore, consider choosing a personal injury lawyer to save time and ensure compensation.

FAQs of Choosing the Right Personal Injury Lawyer in San Diego

A personal injury lawyer represents the plaintiff’s claim to the jury and helps them win the personal injury case. They use their expertise to recover maximum compensation for the plaintiff’s loss or injury.

While recruiting a personal injury lawyer comes down to personal preference, hiring one would increase your chances of winning the case.

San Diego falls in California, and the statute of limitations limits a personal injury suit to two years in the state. You can file a personal injury lawsuit from the initial date of the injury to 2 years in the future.

You can ask for recommendations from the community or research online to find a personal injury lawyer in San Diego.

Suppose the personal injury lawyer is a qualified expert with enough credibility and is willing to communicate and guide you through the process thoroughly. In that case, the professional can be a good option for you.

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