This blog explores a variety of ways clients find the best personal injury lawyers. The selection of a lawyer may be the most important decision the client makes throughout the entire process of Winning a Personal Injury Claim. By understanding more about the thought processes of those in search of legal counsel, lawyers can position themselves favorably. I have developed a nationwide network of personal injury attorneys to whom I make referrals. Feel free to contact me if you are in need of referral counsel, especially in the Philadelphia area. My book, Winning Personal Injury Cases, can be ordered here. It has much more about finding the best personal injury lawyer.
Attracting Clients
An individual who decides to hire a personal injury attorney must find an attorney they can trust. The search should focus on the reputation for success and the principles and ethics possessed by any lawyer considered. Lawyers, therefore, must similarly focus on building a reputation of professionalism, achievement, and integrity. Recommendations
One way to find the best personal injury lawyer is through the recommendation of close friends or family members. This is also the best way for lawyers to find good clients. Potential clients who come to a lawyer because of a favorable recommendation from a “satisfied customer” are the most loyal of clients, and generally have relatively good cases. “Word of mouth” is everyone’s best advertising, and it is absolutely free.
Advice for Lawyers
When a lawyer meets a new client, one of the first questions he should ask is for the referral source. Lawyers must always thank the referral source, whether theyend up taking the case or not. And this thank you should be personal. An e-mail is ok, but a phone call is much better. People need to know that you greatly and sincerely appreciate what they are trying to do for you. The highest praise an old client can give you is a recommendation to someone they care about. That is something to rejoice over, and if you communicate this feeling to the referral source, you will have taken a great step toward building a pipeline of new cases for the rest of your career.
Another reason to ask the new client who referred them is to ferret out bad clients. From time to time, all PI lawyers are approached by people who seek to pursue fraudulent claims. If the new client cannot recall who referred them, or gives you a name you do not recognize, there is a very good chance that you are being scammed. A final reason to get this information is so that you will know who to contact if you lose touch with the client.
Just as you must focus on building your referral sources at the initial client interview, the final meeting—when you distribute the settlement money—is another ideal time to focus on this issue. When I settle a case, I let the client know how much I appreciated working with them (not for them), and how much I would value referrals for the future. People like to be asked, so be sure to do so. If possible, distribution of the settlement should be in person. This is the time when their feeling toward you may be at its most positive. But many times clients will prefer that you mail them their check, so you may miss out on that in-person meeting.
Whichever way it goes, you must retain the client’s contact information. Make sure they are on your mailing list for any direct mailings you send out. E mail is another great way to stay in touch with old clients. I send an e-newsletter out every three weeks. It is a great way to stay in touch. Then, when the need for an injury attorney arises, the client will remember you and know how to reach you. Send me an e-mail at Evan@LegalAidman.com if you would like to receive my e-newsletter. It will give you an idea of how to structure yours.
Keep Your Ears Open.
You will from time to time hear people discuss accidents they or someone they know were in. Personally, I find it uncomfortable to solicit business this way. But if the case sounds really good, it is tough to resist offering to assist. It is helpful if friends and family members keep you in mind when they come into contact with people in need of a PI lawyer. Make sure you give some of your business cards to anyone willing to recommend you. You must be tactful about this kind of thing, lest you fall into the stereotype the public has of ambulance chasing injury lawyers. It is not an easy fence to straddle. Stay Up to Date.
It is important to be as close as you can to the cutting edge of new technology. Understanding how to use social media (Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, etc.) to advertise your practice is becoming more and more important.
Be sure that your email signature is well put together and to the point. “Mail sigs” that take up more than a few lines are annoying. Mine lets everyone know that I have a special focus on eye injury litigation. This really helps get the word out. If the signature is too long, an important marketing point like this can be lost in the detail. Here is my mail signature: ************************** Evan Aidman, Esquire 822 Montgomery Avenue Suite 210 Narberth, PA 19072 610 642 7676 voice; 610 667 7305 fax Evan@LegalAidman.com www.LegalAidman.com Focus on Vision Injuries
Insurance companies run index checks on claimants so that they can find out their claims history. Lawyers can do this, too. It will let them know if this is a client with big potential problems, and one in whom you may not wish to invest your limited resources of time and money. If the client has a lengthy history of filing personal injury claims, you need to know this. Many clients will not recall all of their prior accidents, so this claims search will help you re-create that history. Contact ISO ClaimSearch if you wish to run an index check. Their number is 201 469 3097. Their website is www.iso.com/Products/ISO-ClaimSearch/ISO-ClaimSearch-improve-claims-processing-and-prevent-fraud.html. You can assume that anything that is on the Internet will be accessed by your adversary. You need to know the good news and the bad as soon as you can.
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