Finding the best burn injury attorney involves taking a few key steps, including the following.
Ask for recommendations
Lawyers you have worked with in the past may have colleagues who handle burn injuries cases. So if you’ve worked with a family law, business, estate planning, or other attorney, ask if they can refer you to an attorney who specializes in helping fire victims recover from compensation claims.
You can also check with the bar association or professional associations of attorneys in your area who may be able to refer you to burn injury attorneys who are respected in the field.
Find out the cost structure
You need to know in advance how to pay for a burn injury attorney to represent you.
In general, fees depend on the outcome of your case. In most burn injury cases, attorneys will cover between 33% and 40% of the amount they help you recover and charge no attorney’s fees at all if you don’t win your claim. Find out what your prospective attorney’s usual agreement looks like and make sure you’re comfortable with it.
Also note whether you will have to pay any costs regardless of the outcome of your case, as some companies will cover these costs if you don’t win, but others will require you to pay out of pocket.
Make sure your burn injury attorney has the right experience
There are many possible causes of burn injuries. You may have burned yourself because of a car accident, a defective product, the negligence of a rental company or owner, or many other reasons.
Different types of attorneys specialize in different types of cases, so make sure your attorney is an expert in the types of burns you’ve experienced. For example, this could mean hiring a product liability attorney, a car accident attorney, or a building liability attorney, depending on your situation.
Discover previous cases handled by your burn injury attorney
Burn injury claims can be resolved by negotiating an out-of-court settlement or by suing. Make sure any burn injury attorney you hire has experience with both types of outcomes. And you need to find out if your attorney has helped previous clients recover large settlements or damages claims.
While the specific facts of your case will determine the amount of compensation you are likely to receive, your attorney’s knowledge and experience will undoubtedly play a role in whether or not you receive adequate compensation. So you want a lawyer with a track record.
