Hiring the right personal injury lawyer in Oakville is not a decision you can rush.
In the weeks, months and even years after a serious car crash, slip and fall, or other kind of accident, your personal injury lawyer can become one of the most important people in your life, alongside your medical team.
And with so many lawyers to choose from, selecting the professional who is right for your needs and situation can feel like an overwhelming decision.
To make the choice easier, here are some of the most revealing questions to ask before hiring a personal injury lawyer in Oakville — and why the answers matter.
Is personal injury law your area of expertise?
Personal injury law is not an area for dabblers.
Nobody would even think of seeing a foot specialist when they’re suffering from back pain, and I encourage injury victims to think the same way about their legal representation.
To have full confidence in your legal team, you need to know that they are familiar with the idiosyncrasies of the legislation that governs the practice area — including Ontario’s Insurance Act and Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule — not to mention the practice customs and tactical thinking of the insurance companies you will be going up against.
Have you ever taken a case to trial?
Some lawyers promote their willingness to fight for clients, but true advocacy is demonstrated by lawyers who have taken cases all the way to trial. Before hiring counsel, it’s worth asking how often they’ve done so.
That doesn’t mean every case must go to trial to reach a satisfactory settlement. In fact, there is a relatively low chance your matter will end up being decided by a judge or jury. But we prepare every case as though it could go the distance and follow through with court action if it’s necessary to get the compensation you deserve.
The risks and costs associated with a trial are important factors for insurers and you can see the difference in the quality and speed of their settlement offers when they know a full hearing before the court is a realistic possibility.
Who is on your team and how will we interact?
The personal injury lawyer you hire is not the only person you’ll be dealing with over the course of your matter. There’s a good chance that you’ll also end up interacting (to varying degrees) with the firm’s law clerks, receptionists and other lawyers, so it’s helpful to get a feel for those people and the work they will be doing on your behalf.
You can get some clues about whether a personal injury law firm will be a good fit from your early interactions, including your initial reach-outs or phone calls, assuming real people and not AI chatbots answered them.
At Edwards Pollard LLP, we pride ourselves not only on the technical ability of every member of staff, but also on their client service-focused approach.
What’s your communication style?
Good communication is the foundation of a strong lawyer-client relationship, yet every lawyer approaches it differently. Before hiring someone, ensure their style aligns with your needs.
If you’re finding it difficult to get timely updates early in your interactions, that pattern is unlikely to improve once you’ve officially retained the firm.
At a smaller firm like Edwards Pollard LLP, we’re able to be more responsive to client questions or concerns, and even proactive about reaching out to injury victims about upcoming events or appointments as we advance their case through the legal process.
Who’s in your professional network?
When it comes to personal injury claims, the size of a law firm matters less than the strength of its connections.
At Edwards Pollard LLP, we leverage cutting-edge legal technology and a vast network of medical and industry professionals who help us build compelling, evidence-based cases.
We work closely with occupational therapists, chiropractors, physical therapists and other health professionals — as well as accountants and actuaries — to quantify financial losses and demonstrate the full impact of an injury on our clients’ lives.
What are your fees?
Clients should not be afraid to discuss the topic of legal fees, and personal injury lawyers should have no hesitation about outlining their fee structure and billing arrangements from the first meeting.
At the end of the day, it’s your money and you should know precisely how and when your lawyer will be compensated before you hire them.
Where do you find your clients?
If you recognize your personal injury lawyer from the side of a bus, you probably already know the answer to this question. The problem is there’s not much correlation between the size of a firm’s advertising budget and the quality of its service.
You can get a better sense of the firm’s standing in the local and legal community when the bulk of its business comes from word-of-mouth referrals, via former clients and professional colleagues who trust them to handle cases for their loved ones. At Edwards Pollard LLP, it’s these kinds of personal recommendations that keep our law practice thriving.
Should I meet with other lawyers before hiring one?
Some personal injury lawyers in Oakville see volume as the key to success in this practice area, so if you’re feeling pressured to sign a retainer on the spot, it could be a signal that you will end up feeling like just another of the firm’s numbers.
At Edwards Pollard LLP, our touchstone is trust. The lawyer-client relationship in a personal injury matter often lasts for years, and it can only succeed when each party trusts the other to communicate openly and honestly at all times.
That’s why I typically encourage prospective clients to speak with other lawyers and evaluate all of us based on the same criteria I’ve laid out in this article.
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Ontario or you have any questions about a personal injury claim, feel free to contact me or another member of the team at Edwards Pollard LLP.