If you have recently been injured in a New York or New Jersey accident and believe that another person or entity is responsible for those injuries, you may have the basis for a personal injury accident case. If someone else was at fault, then you may be entitled to compensation for the injuries you suffered, including compensation for things such as your medical bills, time lost from work, and pain and suffering. The first step toward being compensated for your injuries is to retain the services of a New York or New Jersey personal injury attorney.

Selecting an attorney can be a daunting process if you have never needed one before. Although each victim must ultimately make his or her own decision regarding which to retain, there are some common steps that you may wish to take that will help you find the right attorney for you.

• Ask friends, family and co-workers for a referral. Unfortunately, personal injury accidents happen every day. You may be surprised how many people you know have used the services of a personal injury attorney before for a similar situation.
• Contact the local or state bar associations for a referral. Bar associations are professional organizations to which attorneys often belong. They are frequently able to give you a list of attorneys in your area who handle your type of legal matter. They may also be able to provide a referral based on very specific criteria, such as a specific foreign language spoken by the attorney. Additional information they may be able to provide often includes the number of years the attorney has been in practice and how large the firm is.
• Research the Internet. In the 21st century, almost all attorneys have an internet presence. An attorney’s website can often tell you some very important information, such as what type of cases the firm handles, what some of their recent cases have settled for, and biographies on the firm‘s attorneys.
• Put all of your information together and narrow down the list to the three or four attorneys who seem to be the best fit for your case. Once you have done that, call and make an appointment for a consultation. Look for attorneys who offer a free initial consultation.
• Prepare for your consultation. Get together all the documents you have that relate to your case, such as a police report, and make copies if possible. Make a written list of questions that you have for the attorneys. Remember that, although the consultation may be free, you do not have an unlimited amount of time with the attorney. Also remember that the attorney will be able to give you only a preliminary opinion about the strength of your case. Until it has been properly investigated, an attorney can only advise you based on the information you provide. Ask about things such as the number of cases similar to yours the attorney has handled, what the attorney’s win/loss record is, how the attorney’s fee is calculated and paid, and anything else that is of concern to you.
• Make a final decision based on your consultations. Remember, you may be working with this attorney and his or her staff for months, even years, to come to a resolution of your case. Along with the attorney’s credentials and level of experience, base your decision on who youthink you will feel comfortable working with for the time it will take to settle or try your case.

With a combined 150 years of experience, the personal injury accident attorneys at Ginarte Gonzalez Winograd L.L.P.,can help ensure that you receive the compensation to which you are entitled for the injuries you have suffered as the result of a New York or New Jersey personal injury accident.

With six offices conveniently located in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area, we also have an office located near you to serve our clients better. Contact the firm today by calling 888-446-2783 for your free consultation, or fill out our online contact form.