If you suffer an injury resulting in significant damages you will positive need to hire a personal injury lawyer. But in any given city, there are most likely over 20 pages of personal injury attorney listings in the phone book. How do you pick the right one? What do you look for? What questions should you ask?

Here are 7 things you should know before hiring your injury lawyer...

1) The sooner you hire your lawyer the better. Begin looking for your personal injury lawyer within a week or two after your accident. If youre not physically capable you should have a friend or loved-one beginning looking. The more quickly you start building your case the better.

2) Hire a personal injury lawyer that specializes in your clear-cut type of injuries. Do your homework before signing the retainer agreement. Visit the firms website and read up on its history and each lawyers biographical knowledge. Ask the lawyer for some referrences and inquire of how much knowledge they have in handling cases with similar injuries. What settlement awards did they get in those cases?

3) Have a face-to-face meeting with your prospective lawyer. Your personal injury lawyer is going to be your closest advisor during this difficult time. You must feel comfortable and trust your lawyer. The only way youll get a feel for the lawyer is by having a sit-down to discuss your case. Any great personal injury lawyer will give you an initial consultation free of cost of charge.

4) Hire a lawyer that will take your case on a contingency fee basis. This means that your lawyer wont get paid unless you get paid. He will take his fee out of the funds you receive for your injuries. You may expect your lawyer to take about 33% of your final settlement - thats after expenses are taken off the top. Make sure you clearly understand the payment structure before you sign the retainer agreement.

5) Beware of ambulance chasers. The target of these lawyers is to get lots of minor personal injury cases and settle them quickly - they generate their profit from high turnover. So naturally they will not put as much measure and effort into each case as they should. (If youre looking for a quick settlement be prepared to accept less than what your case is really value.)

6) Hire a lawyer with a sizeably efficient Martindale-Hubbell rating. This accomadation evaluates lawyers in the U.S. and Canada based on peer review. Their internet page , Martindale.com has a helpful lawyer locator service and will explain the rating system.

7) Always be completely open and honest when discussing your case with a lawyer. Tell the lawyer as much as you might about what happened. Try to remember every detail. Any documentation and pictures you have of your injuries and treatment will be a big help when evaluating your case.

Bonus Tip:

8) NEVER give a recorded statement to a representative from any insurance business until youve consulted a lawyer. When the rep. asks for one simply say, "Im not prepared to give a statement at this instant." A recorded statement can be used as evidence and if youre not prepared you might overlook important details. Anything you miss (or misrepresent) could be used against you in settlement negotiations and in the trial.