What Does a Personal Injury Attorney Do?
A personal injury attorney helps clients with claims regarding injuries they sustain due to the negligence of others. These claims can include direct injuries from assault and battery, automobile accidents, defective or malfunctioning products, negligent conditions on someone else’s property (such as slipping and falling), slander, libel, defamation, or medical malpractice.
Basic knowledge of human anatomy, standard medical terms, and even physics can be helpful to a personal injury attorney. They will frequently have to collaborate with and take depositions from medical professionals or reconstruct the details of an accident that caused an injury. Knowledge of insurance and liability laws relating to the attorney’s area of specialization is also critical. Skills common to most attorney positions — such as written and verbal communication, research, and negotiation — are crucial for a personal injury attorney.
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National Average Salary
Personal injury attorney salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. To explore salary ranges by local market, please visit our sister site zengig.com.
The average U.S. salary for a Personal Injury Attorney is:
$120,550
Personal Injury Attorney Job Descriptions
When it comes to recruiting a personal injury attorney, having the right job description can make a big difference. Here are some real world job descriptions you can use as templates for your next opening.
Example 1
Personal injury attorneys represent clients in court who are seeking justice and compensation for personal injury. Many specialize in a particular aspect of personal injury law. Personal injury attorneys should possess strong communication skills, an exceptional code of ethics, and compassion for their clients. They must also be effective advocates for their clients. They must possess strong research and analytical skills. [Your Company Name] is hiring an experienced personal injury attorney. If you have experience helping clients find justice and compensation for their injuries, you might be an ideal candidate.
Typical duties and responsibilities
- Advise and counsel clients on matters relating to injuries sustained through the negligence of another, such as auto accidents, assault and battery, or product liability
- Consult with doctors regarding the extent of a client’s injuries
- Write and file claims, motions, and court briefs
- Litigate cases in court if necessary
- Negotiate settlement terms with defendants and their insurance companies
Education and experience
This position requires a Juris Doctorate as well as a license to practice law in the state where the candidate will work.
Employers prefer candidates with board certification from the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys (ABPLA).
Required skills and qualifications
- Written and verbal communication skills
- Knowledge of state and federal laws regarding safety, liability and insurance regulation
- Research skills
- Analytical thinking
- Expertise in negotiation
- Litigation experience
- Basic knowledge of medical terms
Preferred qualifications
- Able to develop and manage plaintiff personal injury cases worth 1 million and up
- Independently manage a litigation caseload, working cases from beginning to end
- 5+ years of experience
Example 2
Responsibilities
- Meet with clients, and be involved form the initial consultation to conclusion of the case
- Draft demands, complaints, motions, and discovery requests
- Attend court proceedings, depositions, and client intakes/interviews as necessary
- Review medical records, accident reports, police reports, and other associated case information
- Researching and drafting various legal documents
- General case management and oversight
- Organizing and maintaining cases and documents
- Overseeing and monitoring important case developments and dates
- Preparing client, insurance company, and court correspondence
- Keeping clients informed on the status of their case and assisting in management of client expectations
Qualifications
- Relevant Courtroom experience
- 2+ years experience with personal injury
- In-depth knowledge of civil procedure and torts
- Detail oriented and organized
- Able to work as part of a team
- Strong verbal and written interpersonal skills
- Good research organization, and problem solving skills
- Multilingual a plus, but not required. (Spanish/Portuguese)
Example 3
Company ABC is looking for an experienced Personal Injury Attorney to join its growing practice. The Personal Injury Attorney will handle a heavy and complex case-load of cases in litigation. Including, but not limited to trial prep and trial.
Responsibilities
- Day-to-day handling of litigation cases
- Drafting and filing of litigation documents to include pleadings, discovery requests, discovery responses, demands, motions, and memorandum
- Guide clients through the case process
- Interaction with expert witnesses to include conferences, drafting of expert reports, and affidavits
- Attendance and preparation for depositions, mediations, hearings, and court appearances
Qualifications
- Law degree from a fully accredited law school
- An active member in good standing with the State Bar Association
- Minimum 3+ years of personal injury experience
- Ability to manage high volume of pre-lit and litigation cases
- Excellent client service and communication skills
- Self-starter driven by long-term career goals
- Superior writing and oral advocacy skills
Example 4
In this role, you will focus on providing aggressive, effective, ethical representation to each individual client. You will be handling a large caseload. Therefore, the ideal candidate must have strong communication and negotiation skills as well as being solution oriented. You must also be able to stay focused and organized as well as meet deadlines. We are willing to train you to become the best attorney you can be.
Duties and responsibilities
The Personal Injury Attorney will have the responsibility of managing a large caseload that will predominantly consist of pre-suit auto accident cases. Responsibilities therefore include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Providing legal support and guidance to clients
- Finding ethical solutions to legal matters
- Negotiating settlements with insurance carriers
- Covering PIP recorded statements and PIP Examinations Under Oath
- Otherwise handling case management from inception to completion
- Staying informed about any current legislation and case law
- Building trustworthy relationships with clients
- Marketing firm services in the community and as otherwise required.
Qualifications and experience
- Outstanding academic credentials
- Minimum of 1 year of experience as an attorney handling personal injury cases or, alternatively, minimum of 2 years of experience as a prosecutor or public defender
- Self-starter driven by long-term career goals
- Superior oral and written advocacy skills
- Team oriented
Candidate Certifications to Look For
- Board Certified in Personal Injury Law. Board certification in personal injury law tells a candidate’s prospective clients that they have the respect of their peers, and they are acknowledged as a significant injury trial lawyer. Board certification is specific to each state, and the requirements for certification vary. All candidates must be practicing personal injury law and must maintain continuing education in personal injury law.
- Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer. Being board-certified as a civil trial lawyer demonstrates that candidates are experts in personal injury or medical malpractice law. The eligibility conditions differ by state but require years of experience and passing a rigorous and difficult exam.
Sample Interview Questions
- What types of cases have you handled in the past involving personal injury?
- What kinds of evidence do you typically use to build a case for your clients, and how do you approach gathering evidence?
- What is your approach to negotiating with insurance companies and other parties involved in a personal injury case?
- What strategies do you use to keep your clients informed and involved throughout the course of a personal injury case?
- What factors do you consider when determining whether a settlement offer is fair and reasonable, based on your experience negotiating and drafting settlement agreements?
- With injured or damaged clients, how can you provide high-quality legal representation while also managing their emotional and personal needs?
- In your area of practice, how do you stay abreast of changes in personal injury law?
- What was your approach to handling a particularly complex or challenging personal injury case, and how did you overcome the legal as well as factual challenges?
- To ensure that all your cases are handled efficiently and effectively, how do you manage your caseload?
- What is your experience working with medical experts and other professionals to grasp the extent of the damage and injuries of your clients?