After a major accident that leaves you injured, physical recovery and dealing with pain are what will take most of your energy. But addressing the legal aspects of your accident is also important and this requires an attorney. To get the best possible result, you need not just any attorney, but a reputable, experienced and accomplished attorney. But when you’re recuperating you need to fast track the search for a lawyer so you can focus on your health.
Here are a few tips on how to quickly search online for a great Seattle accident attorney.
#1 Online Lawyer Finder Services
One of the quickest ways to find a highly rated Seattle accident attorney is to bypass a Google search and go straight to an independent certified resource like Avvo.com’s Find a Lawyer portal. Simply select Personal Injury under View Lawyers by Practice Area. Then select Washington under Narrow Results by State.
From there, it’s best to get more granular with your search. Rather than choosing Seattle at large for your search, on Narrow Results by City pick a suburb like Kirkland. Bypass the Sponsored Listings at the top and look at the top 10 organic results. Only consider attorneys rated 10 out of 10 for experience, industry recognition and professional conduct.
#2 Online Lawyer Rating Services
Lots of lawyers put advertisements online but what’s more meaningful is advertising that you can’t buy. Independent attorney review sites like Martindale.com allow you to verify the credentials of a specific attorney and read what fellow attorneys think of that attorney. Peer reviews are important because if an attorney isn’t well respected by their contemporaries, they likely won’t perform well for you.
In addition to helping you locate an attorney, Avvo features client reviews so you can read exactly what former clients think of an attorney and what their experience was like working with that lawyer on their accident case. Look for an attorney with at least 10 client reviews and five star ratings for being highly trustworthy, responsive, knowledgeable and that kept their client informed on case status.
#3 Online American Bar Association Resources
The American Bar Association, which sets the ethical codes for legal practice in the US, offers a Find Legal Help portal on their national website. To use this resource, click on Washington on the US map, and then click Lawyer Referral. This will take you to a page of local bar associations in your area. For Seattle area attorneys, click on King County.
However, you should know up front that this service is not free. They will charge you $10 to make referrals to up to three personal injury attorneys and will set up an initial free appointment for you. If you are too incapacitated to perform an internet search as recommended in #1 and #2 above, this may be a lower stress option for you.
Turn to Rob Kornfeld after Your Accident