While it is possible — and within your rights — to file a personal injury claim without a lawyer, doing so may not be in your best interest. Personal injury law is complex and can be confusing without professional guidance. Without any extensive understanding of the law, you may unknowingly forfeit essential rights, fail to file necessary documents on time, or miss an opportunity to secure a specific type of compensation or pursue a settlement from a certain at-fault party.

Filing a claim is challenging for anyone without a legal background, training, and experience, and you must also consider that you might be in pain or still feeling vulnerable after your accident. An Edinburg personal injury lawyer will fight as fiercely to protect your rights as you would and prevent you from reliving the trauma of your accident any more than you have to.

Critical to your claim is accurately calculating how much compensation you should receive. This can be difficult, as compensation is not limited to the tangible expenses you’ve incurred until now, such as medical bills and lost wages. You are also entitled to recover your future costs, but how do you know how long you will need medical treatment? Without a crystal ball, it may even be impossible to determine how well you will recover from your injuries, or if you ever will. Then, you can also receive compensation for non-economic damages — your pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment, and loss of consortium or companionship. But how do you put a monetary figure on something so subjective?

The amount of compensation you will receive will ultimately depend on several factors, including the severity of your injuries and their long-term impact, and the strength of your evidence proving the other party’s negligence. But as this answer demonstrates, there is a lot of room for speculation and negotiation. That’s why the opinions of medical and economic experts can be instrumental in your case. Our Edinburg personal injury lawyer at Patino Law Firm will look at the specifics of your case to estimate the compensation you could receive, drawing on our years of experience achieving results for clients in similar cases.

You can also use our personal injury calculator to get a rough ballpark, but please remember that this is not a guarantee, and the exact amount you might receive more or less after a thorough investigation of your claim. However, our Edinburg personal injury law firm will do all we can to secure the best possible outcome.

A good personal injury attorney can significantly influence the outcome of your case. But the right lawyer for one person will not necessarily be the best fit for another. Choosing an attorney is a personal decision and will ultimately come down to who you trust to defend your rights and look out for your best interests.

That said, there are several factors you should consider when seeking the best representation in Edinburg.

Check the attorney’s experience and expertise. Every accident is unique, affecting victims in different ways. Two individuals could sustain the same injuries in a crash, such as a head injury, and have distinct experiences — one may have a headache for a few days, while the other may develop a concussion that causes long-term memory problems or disorientation. But there will always be commonalities between cases. A personal injury lawyer with experience litigating a traumatic brain injury claim will be much better positioned to help you if you have sustained a brain injury, even if they have never represented a client with your specific set of symptoms. When looking for an attorney, ask about the cases they have worked on and the results they’ve secured for clients.

Consider their reputation. Any firm can claim to have its clients’ best interests at heart, but their testimonials will tell the real story about what it’s like to work with them. Source testimonials from third-party review platforms such as Google to determine an attorney’s quality of service — could a client always reach them when they had questions? Did the client feel genuinely looked after, or did it feel like their case wasn’t a priority? Ultimately, was the client satisfied with the outcome of their claim? You should also consider a firm’s accreditations and awards. All personal injury lawyers need to be members of the Texas Bar and in good standing to practice, but wider recognition can reassure you that they are at the top of their game.

For example, the Top Attorneys of North America — an independent publication that distinguishes accomplished attorneys in their respective fields — recognizes Dr. Patino as a leading personal injury attorney Edinburg residents can trust.

We were also named Law Firm of the Year by the American Institute of Trial Lawyers — an invitation-only organization that awards only the best in the industry after a thorough multi-phase investigation comprising nomination, peer review, and third-party research.

Use personal injury attorney directories. Law firm directories (examples include Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell, and Expertise) are a great source of firms in your area, providing a top-level overview of the areas firms serve and the types of claims they specialize in. However, it’s wise to remember that a feature does not equal an endorsement — many of these directories offer free listings, and some offer additional exposure (such as a higher placement or a larger profile) for a price.

Consider their location. A personal injury lawyer in Edinburg may boast an excellent national reputation with offices all over the country. But bigger isn’t always better. Larger firms inevitably employ more attorneys, paralegals and legal secretaries, and it can feel as though you never know exactly who is working on your case, let alone get hold of them for an update on your case. Many larger firms may have a presence in Texas but be headquartered in New York, Florida, or even as far west as California. While an attorney may be qualified to practice here, that doesn’t mean they know the area and the community, and that puts you at a disadvantage.

The team at Patino Law Firm has lived in Hidalgo County for decades. Our office is just a few miles south of Edinburg in nearby McAllen, so we are familiar with the judges and defense attorneys who serve the public — you. This insight is invaluable when we are negotiating settlements and advocating for you in court, making us uniquely positioned to deal with your personal injury claim in Southern Texas.

Scrutizine their fee structure. Most personal injury law firms — Patino Law Firm included — operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you only pay if your attorney wins your case. However, you should ask about their fees should your claim be successful — what percentage of your settlement will a law firm take? Does this percentage change if you decide to file a lawsuit? You should also combine this insight with your inquiries into a law firm’s track record. A personal injury lawyer may have a streak of recent settlements, but if these are smaller settlements and the firm in question takes a significant cut of your settlement, it could be a red flag that they encourage their clients to settle their claims as quickly as possible, even when a claim is worth far more. When you choose Patino Law Firm, we do not charge upfront fees and will explain our payment structure during your free case review. We will also keep you updated on administrative costs and the pros and cons of opting for additional expenses as your claim progresses so you can make an informed decision and will never be surprised by your legal fee deduction.