Finding a Personal Injury Lawyer in Michigan

Finding an attorney is easy. Finding the right attorney can be hard. A good lawyer not only knows the laws in your state, but also has a feel for the business, political, and legal climate there as well. For instance the economic climate in Michigan is very different than other states and not doing so well, which does have bearing on the laws being pushed and passed and how businesses and insurance companies handle personal injury claims. So how do you find a personal injury lawyer in Michigan for your case?

Many people start by asking friends who are attorneys for help and this is fine. Even if your friend isn’t a personal injury lawyer in Michigan, chances are they know someone who is. In many cities, the legal community is surprisingly small and your friend can probably refer you to someone. You might also seek referrals from friends, family or co-workers who have had legal issues similar to your own and had to use a personal injury lawyer. 

Michigan has several large agencies that advertise on TV, in newspapers and on billboards. If you are in Michigan, you’ve very likely seen Sam Bernstein (“Call Sam”) commericials. There is nothing wrong with calling the larger, well-known firms--they get large and well-known for reasons. But just because they are large, don’t assume that they are right for you. Take the time to interview and do your research.

The next place you can look is the bar associations, either the state or local. In the larger Michigan counties and cities there is the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association (Wayne County), Genesee County Bar Association, Grand Traverse - Leelanau - Antrim Bar Association, Grand Rapids Bar Association, Macomb County Bar Association, Oakland County Bar Association, and the Washtenaw County Bar Association. Or go straight to the Michigan bar association site to get a list of lawyers in your area with the speciality of personal injury. After that, try www.attorneyfind.com, www.findlaw.com, or even your local Yellow Pages online or in print.

Researching your lawyer

Once you find the name of your potential attorney either by referral or Internet search, do a little more homework. The first step is to look up the attorney on the Michigan bar website. Check to see if the attorney has any disciplinary proceedings against him or her. Disciplinary proceedings are public, so if the attorney has been sanctioned or reprimanded, you can find out.

Next, get a little background information on your lawyer. After the Michigan bar association Web site, you can simply run a Google search on the attorney’s name and the city where they are located. See if you get any news stories about him or her or any other sites that list him or her and their associations or work. The information you find, positive or negative, can help you decide if the attorney is the right kind of attorney for you.

In the end, choose your attorney the same way you choose any service professional. Do your homework, find out as much as you can about your prospective attorney, and communicate your goals and concerns as clearly as possible. Finding a personal injury lawyer in Michigan does not have to be difficult, but spend the time to find one that is right for you.