If the worst happens to you at work or while driving on one of Queensland’s roads or motorways, you may find yourself needing to file an injury claim.
While you are able to make a claim yourself, it is often in your best interests to employ the services of a personal injury lawyer. After all, personal injury law in Queensland is complicated and may be overwhelming if you are trying to recover from an injury.
Picking a personal injury lawyer, whether it be for a motor vehicle accident or a workers’ compensation claim, is an important decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Picking the right lawyer can help ensure you get an outcome that best suits your situation.
We answer your questions and give you the information you need to make sure you pick the best personal injury lawyer for your situation. Here are the top things you should consider:
Does this personal injury lawyer operate in Queensland?
This may seem obvious, but not all lawyers will be able to operate in Queensland. Moreover, while some larger firms may be qualified to operate in every state, other firms – like Gouldson Legal – operate exclusively in Queensland.
This means Gouldson knows Queensland law inside and out. But, perhaps more importantly, we understand Queenslanders inside and out.
After all, we’re Queenslanders just like you.
What area of personal injury law do they operate in?
Just as there are a huge number of different injuries and circumstances you may be able to claim for, there are several different types of personal injury claims.
Let’s look at motor vehicle accidents for example, there are so many more varied situations than the stereotypical car accident claim.
Depending on how and where the incident occurred, you may need to file a pedestrian accident claim, a passenger accident claim, or even a claim for being injured while on a bus.
Having a lawyer that has experience handling your kind of claim will be majorly beneficial, as they are able to approach and consider your case from all angles, ensuring you get the best outcome possible.
What percentage will they take?
In Queensland, everybody is entitled to legal representation. Therefore, most personal injury lawyers operate on a no win, no fee basis.
Put simply, if you and your lawyer do not win your case, you do not have to pay anything.
However, the big difference for personal injury lawyers in Queensland is the percentage of your settlement amount they take. For most lawyers in the state, it will usually be around 50%.
At Gouldson, on the other hand, we believe most of your money should go to who needs it most – you. That’s why we cap our fees at 30% of your settlement amount. Leaving you with the bulk of your settlement, financially able to go about your recovery.
Consider their reviews
Finding out what other people have to say about a particular lawyer or law firm is another good indicator for determining whether or not they are the right fit for you.
Google reviews is a good place to start to gain an understanding of the reputation of a lawyer.
While this is a great starting point, we also recommend checking out other reviews and awards to validate a lawyer or law firm.
Doyle’s Guide, for example, ranks lawyers around Australia, as voted by their fellow lawyers.
Gouldson Legal has been fortunate enough to win this prestigious award 7 years in a row! So we must be doing something right.
Final thought – always get a lawyer
Many people ask themselves whether they need a lawyer to file a personal injury claim. In our experience, yes!
Even if you think your case to be the most straightforward and textbook example of negligence, you should always employ a qualified personal injury lawyer to handle your case.
Why? There are several reasons:
- Queensland law is complicated. Having someone represent you that understands legal jargon and processes is invaluable.
- They will be able to approach your case from all angles.
- A lawyer will also be able to claim for damages that may not occur to you, maximising your final settlement.
- Recovering from an injury is already taxing as it is. Having someone handle all the paperwork and legal processes for you will take a huge amount of stress out of your life and let you focus on what is really important – recovery and your health.