Knowing the difference between lawyers is crucial when it comes to a legal case. You need a Criminal Defense Lawyer in case of being accused of burglary, homicide, assault, and more. While a Personal Injury Lawyer specializes in cases involving injury from auto accidents, slips & falls, medical malpractice, dog bites and animal attacks, and more.
Both lawyers have a different set of responsibilities and different working fields. Let us dig a little deeper to learn more about their expertise:
What Do Criminal Defense Lawyers Do?
Criminal lawyer works go beyond court trial as they are going to help you before trial too.
Interview Client about the Case
Criminal Defense Attorney takes the client’s interview to gain valuable information about the case. The defense lawyer may continue the interview in the form of a questionnaire, which the client needs to answer truthfully. Hence, trust between client and defense lawyer is crucial, providing any misleading or inaccurate information to your lawyer can hamper your case.
Investigate the Client’s Case
If they choose to take your case, they go for investigating your case on their own. They interview police officers, witnesses, and even gather experts to gain more information and depth about the case. Furthermore, the defense attorney will review the prosecution’s case as prosecution is bound to submit their case to the defense attorney before trial.
Here are more responsibilities of a criminal defense lawyer:
- Examination of The Evidence
- Plea Bargaining Negotiations
- Prepare for Trial
- Jury Selection
- Representatives in Court
- Handle Sentencing If Convicted
What Do Personal Injury Attorneys Do?
Personal Injury lawyers have their area of expertise, with an understanding of legal procedures regarding settlements related to accidental injuries. Here are a few things that they do to help their clients:
Investigate Personal Injury Claims
Personal injury attorney works on a contingency basis, this means they do not take fees until the case is settled. This is the reason they get more involved with their case as they often put themselves at risk. This makes them thoroughly investigate the case before taking it. If the case is weak and cannot be won, they might not accept it.
Gather Evidence related to Case
Gathering evidence is the most important step to fight legal disputes. A lawyer can help you gather proper documents, police reports, and evidence. They even help you track down the right witnesses for statements.
Negotiate with Insurance Company
Personal injury lawyer’s main job is to help clients achieve the best possible settlement, for that they negotiate with the insurance companies to assure you get maximum compensation.