Although uncommon, Washington State does have its fair share of railroad accidents. Collisions and derailments do occur. There’s a maze of passenger and freight lines crisscrossing the Evergreen State, and although most operate safely and without incident, sometimes things go awry.
Being the victim of a train incident is a traumatic event. If this has happened to you, you may be entitled to compensation. You’ll want to hire the best attorney to represent you, but how do you know which law firm is the best? We’ll discuss how to shop for the best personal injury attorney and learn about which parties you can file a lawsuit against.
Things to Consider When Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney
All Washington State personal injury attorneys aren’t the same. You may believe that a lawyer is a lawyer, right? When it comes to getting properly compensated, there are more hurdles to jump and hoops to go through than you think. You’ll want to hire the best Kent, Washington, personal injury lawyer from a law firm that will handle all the details so you have the time to heal.
Before you hire any old lawyer, there are a few things you should do and a few questions you should ask. Railroad accident cases can be more complex than ones that involve automobiles.
Check Their Background
Hiring a lawyer isn’t something you should do without doing some research. Many lawyers would happily take your case, but are they really looking out for your best interest?
Once you’ve narrowed your search to a few, check to see if they have any negative press or judgments against them. Check with the Washington State Bar Association to see if they have any disciplinary action taken against them.
Are They The Experts?
Just as not all lawyers are the same, neither are all personal injury lawyers. Personal injury cases that involve railroads have more nuances and considerations than a basic car accident. Ask the law firm how much experience they have handling railroad accident cases and what’s their average settlement. You’ll want an attorney that’s comfortable with and has experience with train accidents and not just personal injury cases.
Can You Win Your Case?
Any lawyer worth his or her salt will want to know the details of your accident before they decide to take on your case. What you may feel is a slam dunk case could be more difficult to prove. A good attorney will want to review all of the available evidence to determine if you have a good chance of being offered a fair settlement or, if it goes to trial, winning your case. Be leery of any law firm willing to take your case without asking about your details.
Upfront Fees
Ask about how much it’ll cost for them to handle your case. Are there any upfront fees or additional costs that’ll be expected from you as they move forward with your lawsuit? Most personal injury attorneys work on a fee contingency basis, meaning they’ll only be paid if you receive a settlement. Don’t assume all lawyers work this way.
Availability
Although your attorney will handle all of the details of filing a lawsuit or pursuing a settlement, you’ll still probably want to be kept in the loop, right? Ask them how often you’ll be giving updates on your case and who you should specifically contact if you have questions. A good attorney will make themselves available to you within a reasonable amount of time.
Who’s Responsible for the Railroad Accident?
Figuring out who’s been negligent or responsible for the railroad accident is usually a little more tricky than for a car accident. This is one of the many reasons why hiring a personal injury attorney with experience with railroad accidents is key. Here are some parties who could be responsible:
- Railroad company – The company that owns, maintains, and operates the train.
- Railroad employees – The individual or team of railroad employees that were responsible for the accident.
- Track owner – Different tracks or sections of tracks may be owned by different municipalities or companies. If a track issue caused the accident, the owner of that section of the track could be held responsible.
Only Hire an Experienced Attorney
After a traumatic train accident, you’ll need plenty of time to heal. Hiring an attorney with experience with railroad accident lawsuits will give you peace of mind so you can put this tragic event behind you. This type of lawsuit requires a lawyer with first-hand knowledge of personal injury cases involving railroads who will fight for you to be properly compensated.
