Vehicle accidents causing personal injury or wrongful death, medical malpractice or catastrophic accidents are just a few instances where you may find yourself in need of a personal injury attorney. Finding a personal injury attorney in San Jose, California must not be as simple as opening up a phone book and picking one from the masses. Some basic research is required for picking a personal injury attorney in California.

Most importantly you would desire a personal injury attorney to have extensive experience both in litigation and in mediation. Find out just how many cases they’ve tried, how many they’ve won including the dollar amounts they were able to garner in settlements and how many cases ended with mediation versus jury trial. Jury trials are a gamble. The possibility of getting more money from a jury is iffy and the process will more than likely take much longer and cost more in legal fees in the long run, cutting into the amount awarded in the end.

Make certain the firm you are interested in has the ability to handle your specific needs. In the case of nursing home abuse, for instance, you would absolutely want a personal injury attorney that uses investigators to uncover previous misconduct or other outstanding claims against the same facility.

Free consultations and fees charged on a contingency basis; that is their fees are collected only after winning the case, are routine practice for most firms. Don’t just take for granted that the California personal attorney you call will operate the same way. Ascertain this information before you even walk through the door.

In some cases, the only help you may need is with the insurance company. Many California personal injury attorneys can help you make sense of all the claim forms. Find out in advance how they charge for this service and whether they always bill top dollar or if they have a junior associate that can handle the minor details.

In any case, finding the right personal attorney for you requires careful consideration of the needs of your case. If you don’t have a personal referral, make sure the attorney you call answers your questions upfront on the phone or guarantees you a free consultation.