Hurt in an Accident and Need a Lawyer Now? How to Find an Injury Attorney Who Will Take Your Case

If you've been hurt in a car accident, a fall or another incident caused by someone else, you may feel like you need a lawyer right away, and you may be worried you can't afford one. The good news is that most personal injury attorneys offer a free consultation and don't charge anything upfront. Here's how to find an injury lawyer in your area, what to do if attorneys turn down your case, and how to protect your claim while you search.

What a Personal Injury Attorney Can Do for You

A personal injury lawyer helps people who were hurt because of someone else's carelessness recover compensation for their losses. That can include medical bills, lost wages, future care, property damage, and pain and suffering. An attorney can:

Evaluate your claim and tell you whether it's worth pursuing.
Deal with insurance companies so you don't have to negotiate on your own.
Gather evidence such as police reports, witness statements, photos and medical records.
Calculate the full value of your losses, including costs you may not have thought about yet.
File a lawsuit if a fair settlement isn't offered, and meet the deadlines that come with it.

Common cases include car, truck and motorcycle accidents, slip-and-fall injuries, dog bites, workplace injuries involving a third party, and injuries caused by defective products.

You Usually Don't Need Money Upfront

Cost is one of the biggest reasons injured people hesitate to call a lawyer. Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee. That means they're paid a percentage of the money you recover, and if you don't recover anything, you typically don't owe a fee. Many firms also cover the upfront costs of building the case.

Before you sign anything, ask:

What percentage do you charge, and does it change if the case goes to trial?
Who pays case costs, such as filing fees and expert reports, and are they taken out before or after your fee?
Will I owe anything if we lose?

Get the fee agreement in writing and read it carefully.

What to Do Right Now While You Look for a Lawyer

The steps you take in the first days after an injury can make a big difference to your claim:

Get medical care. See a doctor promptly, even if you feel okay. Some injuries show up later, and medical records connect your injuries to the incident.
Document everything. Take photos of the scene, your injuries and any property damage. Write down what happened while it's fresh.
Collect contact information. Get names and phone numbers for witnesses and the other people involved, plus their insurance details.
Keep your paperwork. Save medical bills, receipts, repair estimates and records of time missed from work.
Be careful with insurers. Avoid giving a recorded statement or accepting a quick settlement before you understand what your claim is worth.
Stay off social media about the incident. Posts and photos can be used to dispute your injuries.

How to Find an Injury Lawyer in Your Area

When you need a lawyer fast, these are the quickest ways to find a qualified attorney:

Search for lawyers who focus on personal injury. An attorney who handles injury cases every day will know how insurers value claims and what evidence matters.
Call several firms. Free consultations make it easy to talk to more than one lawyer and compare how they'd handle your case.
Use your state bar's lawyer referral service. Most state and many local bar associations match people with attorneys who handle their type of case.
Ask people you trust. Friends, family or a lawyer you've worked with before may be able to recommend someone.
Check credentials and reviews. Confirm the attorney is licensed and in good standing with the state bar, and read what past clients say.

Can't Find a Lawyer to Take Your Case?

Being turned down is frustrating, but it doesn't always mean you don't have a claim. Because injury lawyers are usually paid only if you win, they weigh the likely recovery against the time and cost of the case. Common reasons for a "no" include:

Small damages. If your injuries and costs were minor, the case may not justify the expense.
Unclear fault. If it's hard to show the other party was responsible, or you share much of the blame, the case is riskier.
Limited insurance. If the at-fault person has little coverage, there may be little to recover.
Deadlines. Every state sets a time limit, called a statute of limitations, for filing an injury claim. If it's close or has passed, a lawyer may not be able to help.
Firm capacity or focus. Some firms are full or don't handle your type of case.

If a lawyer declines, ask why and whether they can refer you to someone else. Then keep calling. Firms differ in the cases they take, and another attorney may see your claim differently. For smaller claims, ask whether your state's small claims court could be an option you handle yourself.

If You Can't Afford Legal Help

For injury claims, contingency fees mean most people can hire a lawyer without paying upfront. If you're dealing with a legal problem that contingency lawyers don't handle, free and low-cost help may be available through legal aid organizations, law school clinics and volunteer attorneys. Our guide on how to find a pro bono lawyer explains those options.

The Bottom Line

If you've been injured, you don't have to figure it out alone or pay upfront to get help. Get medical care, document what happened, and talk to a few personal injury attorneys in your area through free consultations. If one lawyer won't take your case, ask why, ask for a referral and keep looking, but move quickly, because filing deadlines apply.

This article is for general information only and isn't legal advice. Laws and deadlines vary by state, so speak with a licensed attorney about your situation.