Key Qualities to Look for in a Good Catastrophic Injury Attorney

You sustained a serious injury, and now you’re facing lifelong impacts. With so much at stake, you’ve decided to hire a catastrophic injury attorney to oversee your case. While this is a smart move, it’s important that you properly vet an attorney before handing your case over to them.

Whether you suffered a spinal cord injury that resulted in paralysis, an amputation, a severe brain injury, or third-degree burns, a catastrophic injury could affect your ability to work and function on a day-to-day basis for the rest of your life. Unavoidably, it will also alter your loved ones’ lives.

If negligence contributed to the accident that caused your injury, filing a personal injury claim can help you recover your current and future financial losses, including medical expenses, lost wages, and loss of enjoyment of life.

When searching for an attorney to handle your claim, it won’t do to retain a personal injury lawyer who focuses on traditional personal injury cases. You must find an attorney who focuses on helping clients deal with catastrophic injuries.

Important Qualities to Look for in a Catastrophic Injury Attorney

You have every right to be picky when selecting an attorney — after all, you’ll be placing your future in their hands. With that in mind, here are some of the most important qualities to look for in a catastrophic injury attorney:

Experience and a Proven Track Record

If a personal injury lawyer advertises themselves as an authority on catastrophic injury cases, they’ll have the experience and track record to prove it. Often, this information is accessible on the attorney’s website. Pay close attention to their:

• Education
• Certifications
• Professional recognition (e.g., awards and association memberships)
• Number of years practicing
• Client testimonials
• Settlements and verdicts related to catastrophic injury cases

If any of this information isn’t available online, they should be willing to provide it upon request.

As you probe each attorney's background, it’s also a good idea to confirm that they haven’t received any disciplinary actions. You can look up their disciplinary record with the Virginia State Bar.

Empathy and Compassion

Empathy is the ability to put oneself in another person's shoes. Compassion, on the other hand, is the urge to help another to ease their suffering. These qualities will be natural and evident in any good catastrophic injury attorney.

You’ll be able to see it in their eyes and hear it in their words and tone of voice. If it’s not there, you’ll know it too.

As someone who’s trying to pick up the pieces of their life after a severe injury, you’ll likely welcome your attorney’s empathy and may even find it healing. They’ll use these feelings as fuel as they prepare your case, negotiate with insurers, and fight for justice and fair compensation.

Strong Communication Skills

You’ll get a sense of a lawyer’s communication skills during your initial consultation. A good catastrophic injury attorney will be an attentive listener and a clear and efficient speaker. They’ll break down the laws that apply to your case without using legal jargon and outline your options succinctly.

An attorney with the qualifications to win your case will anticipate most of your questions and answer them without you having to ask. Make sure to note their tone, which should be calm yet confident. That demeanor will serve them well when they’re negotiating with the at-fault party’s insurer or opposing counsel.

Strategic Thinking

A catastrophic injury lawyer’s strategic strengths will shine through during your first meeting when they go over the possible courses of action for your case.

They should explain what steps they’ll take if they accept your case. These may include collecting evidence, speaking to experts to build a compelling narrative, assessing your claim’s value, and negotiating a fair settlement, which is the ideal outcome because it allows both parties to avoid costly litigation.

These tactics imply moves and countermoves that your attorney will make as they deal with the defendant’s representatives. Together, they form your legal professional’s broader strategy.

Access to Resources and Expert Witnesses

A catastrophic injury lawyer should have extensive resources to call upon to support your case. They’ll have a network of experts who focus on different practice areas, such as healthcare, finance, and vocational rehabilitation. These experts can provide valuable insight that will help your lawyer build a stronger case for you.

Transparent Fee Structure

Most catastrophic injury attorneys take cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that they only get paid if they win the case through negotiation or litigation.

The fee an attorney claims generally only includes representation — it may not cover other expenses, such as the cost to gather medical records and police reports, interview expert witnesses, and file depositions and exhibits.

A trustworthy catastrophic injury lawyer will be up front about their fee structure and what expenses the agreement does and doesn’t cover, as well as when and how they’re to be paid.

FAQ

When Should I Hire an Attorney?

If you’ve sustained a catastrophic injury, you should hire an attorney as soon as possible. In Virginia, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim is two years, and your lawyer will need as much time as possible to build a convincing case.

What Should I Bring to My First Meeting With a Lawyer?

Bring along as many relevant documents regarding your case as possible, such as medical bills and records, the original accident report, and the contact information of any eyewitnesses.

How Much Will a Lawyer Receive as a Contingency Fee?

On average, catastrophic injury attorneys claim 30%–40% of the final settlement amount.

Don’t Face a Catastrophic Injury Alone

If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury due to someone else’s negligence, contact Commonwealth Law Group to schedule a consultation with a caring and skillful personal injury attorney. We’ll help you seek the compensation and justice that you deserve.