4. Your local bar association probably has a lawyer referral service. Understand that lawyers have signed up and paid a fee to be listed in certain specialties. Their names come up on a rotating basis. This is another good source for an initial appointment. Just take the questions we talk about here to that interview. Call and ask for the written information that I mentioned above.

5. Interview several attorneys. Ask each attorney who else handles these cases in your area. If they won’t give you any names, leave. Ask this question of each attorney. The names you see showing up on various lists of recommendations are probably good bets for attorneys doing these cases on a regular basis in your area. This is probably the best way to find the attorney who is right for you.

6. Be careful about any attorney who rushes you to sign a contingent fee agreement. A contingent fee is not the right fee for every type of personal injury case. You should take the agreement home, read it and understand it. We have heard of instances where fee agreements are delivered by courier within hours of the time you first call the attorney’s office. That’s right, before you even have had a chance to meet with the attorney. This is outrageous. Beware of “runners.”  A “runner” hangs out at the police station or listens to police radio to “run” to accident scenes or hospital rooms to encourage victims to sign contracts with attorneys. Outrageous does not begin to describe this practice!