What Qualities Should You Look for to Hire the Best Lawyer for Your Mid-Missouri Personal Injury Case?

Learn How to Find the Right Personal Injury Lawyer to Take On Your Personal Injury Case in Central Missouri

If you’ve been injured in Columbia, Fulton, Jefferson City, Lake of the Ozarks, Moberly, or any other mid-Missouri community, due to the negligence of another person, it will almost certainly be in your best interest to hire a personal injury attorney to represent you in your personal injury case. However, knowing that you should hire a lawyer is one thing; knowing what qualities you should look for in your personal injury lawyer is another. To help with your search in finding the best lawyer for your particular personal injury case, we’ve provided a list of key qualities to look for in your potential attorney.

What to Look for in an Attorney Before Hiring Them to Fight Your Mid-Missouri Personal Injury Claim

1. Location of Your Lawyer



“Location, location, location.” It’s a phrase used often in the real estate industry, but it’s also a phrase you should keep in mind when selecting your personal injury lawyer. To begin, you will need to look for a lawyer who is licensed to practice law in the state where your injury occurred. If you were injured in Missouri, you can check to see if your potential lawyer is licensed in the State of Missouri by checking the Missouri Bar’s “Official Missouri Directory of Lawyers." 

Next, even if your potential lawyer is licensed to practice in the state where your injury occurred, you should look to see if the lawyer is local to your community and has experience practicing in the county where your case is located. Different county courts have different local rules on how cases should be brought before them, and your lawyer’s knowledge of these local rules will affect the efficiency of moving your case forward. 

Finally, hiring a local attorney allows you to meet with your lawyer in person, potentially saving you case expenses as your case proceeds forward with discovery and deposition.

2. Knowledge and Experience in Personal Injury Law 


Personal injury law is perhaps the most saturated area of law in the legal market. As such, many firms and lawyers will claim to handle personal injury cases when asked. However, for many of these firms and lawyers, personal injury law is not their primary practice area. With how quickly statutes and case law change in personal injury law, it’s important to select a lawyer who is knowledgeable of the current personal injury landscape. To do so, look for a lawyer who focuses on personal injury and wrongful death law, rather than a “jack-of-all-trades” attorney.

3. Track Record of Success 

Like looking for an experienced personal injury lawyer, you should investigate your potential lawyer’s track record in handling personal injury cases. Has the attorney ever tried a lawsuit to a jury? How often does the lawyer file suit on a personal injury case? If the lawyer has never tried a personal injury case, or if they rarely file personal injury lawsuits, they are likely not the best lawyer for your injury case. Further, while past results afford no guarantee of future results on your case (as every case is different), your potential lawyer should be able to provide a list of prior successful personal injury cases that align with the general facts of your case.

4. Attorney’s Fees Charged 

Most personal injury firms work on a contingency fee basis, which typically means you only pay attorney’s fees if your claim results in a monetary recovery. In other words, if you lose your case, you do not owe any attorney’s fees. However, the percentage of the contingency fee can vary across different personal injury firms. In Missouri, attorneys’ fees typically range from 33-40 percent. Oftentimes, attorney-client fee agreements will include an escalating fee clause where the fee increases depending on when your case is resolved. For example, a common Missouri attorney-client fee agreement requires payment of 33% of your gross recovery if your case is resolved prior to a lawsuit being filed and 40% of your gross recovery if your case is resolved after a lawsuit is filed. If your potential Missouri personal injury attorney is requesting fees more than 40%, you may want to consult with other attorneys.

5. Your Lawyer’s Role in Your Case

When meeting with your potential lawyer, another important quality to investigate is the role your lawyer will play in your case. Specifically, it’s important to learn whether the attorney you are meeting with will be the attorney assigned to your case, or whether another attorney at the firm will be handling your case. If your potential lawyer is unable to answer this question during your consultation, there’s a chance your claim will be assigned to a different attorney. Even if your potential lawyer claims they will be the lead attorney on the case, inquire about whether there will be an associate attorney or paralegal assigned the case. The more other individuals involved in your case, the greater the odds your potential lawyer will have a smaller role in the day-to-day work on your case.

Duckworth Injury Law proudly serves victims of personal injury & wrongful death in mid-Missouri. Contact us today

If you or a loved one has been injured due to someone else’s negligence, please contact Duckworth Injury Law today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. Our personal injury attorney would love to have the opportunity to explain the qualities our firm brings to the table in representing you on your claim. Duckworth Injury Law is local to mid-Missouri, and all the firm handles is personal injury and wrongful death cases. Attorney EC Duckworth has a proven track record of successful claims, the firm charges a customary attorney’s fee, and every case is personally handled by lawyer EC Duckworth. Please don’t hesitate to reach out today.