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When you search online for a personal injury attorney in Redding, California, you might assume the law firms appearing at the top of your search results are local. That isn't necessarily the case.
Many of the firms advertising for personal injury cases in Northern California are based hundreds of miles away—or even outside the state. While online advertising can make these firms appear local, where your attorney is actually located can matter when you're dealing with a serious injury.
At Arthofer & Tonkin Law Offices, we believe strongly in hiring a personal injury attorney who is part of the community they serve. In fact, partner Griff Tonkin puts it simply: even if you don't hire our firm, consider hiring a good personal injury lawyer who is genuinely local to Northern California.
THE ATTORNEY AT THE TOP OF GOOGLE MAY NOT BE LOCAL
Search for a personal injury attorney online and you'll likely see several advertisements before reaching the traditional search results. Among them are Google's Local Services Ads, commonly called LSAs.
Despite the word "local," appearing in these results does not necessarily mean a law firm has attorneys located in your community.
Someone searching for a Redding personal injury lawyer may see firms based in Sacramento, the Bay Area, Los Angeles, or elsewhere competing for their attention. From a search results page, it isn't always obvious how far away the attorneys handling those cases actually are.
Before choosing a law firm, take the time to find out where the attorneys are located, who will actually be handling your case, and whether you'll have meaningful access to them throughout the process.
WHEN YOU'RE SERIOUSLY INJURED, BEING LOCAL MATTERS
If you've suffered a serious injury, meeting with an attorney may not be as simple as driving to an office.
You could still be hospitalized, recovering at home, or staying in a rehabilitation facility. In those situations, having an attorney nearby can make a meaningful difference.
Attorneys at Arthofer & Tonkin regularly make hospital visits, home visits, and visits to rehabilitation facilities when a client's injuries make traveling difficult. For someone facing a significant injury and a long recovery, having an attorney willing and able to show up in person can be an important part of the attorney-client relationship.
Your lawyer should understand what you're going through, know the facts of your case, and be involved from the beginning—not simply receive information after it has been passed through several layers of staff.
YOU SHOULD KNOW WHO IS ACTUALLY HANDLING YOUR CASE
One of the most important questions to ask before hiring a personal injury law firm is simple: Who will actually be handling my case?
At some high-volume firms, clients may communicate primarily with intake representatives, assistants, case coordinators, settlement negotiators, call centers, or automated systems rather than directly with an attorney.
Personal injury cases are personal. They can involve serious physical injuries, lost income, medical treatment, uncertainty about the future, and major changes to someone's everyday life. You deserve to understand who is responsible for your case and who you can speak with when you have questions.
At Arthofer & Tonkin, clients have access to experienced attorneys and real members of the local team. Griff Tonkin, Ken Arthofer, Carrie Williams, and the firm's staff work directly with clients throughout their cases.
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE CAN HELP BUILD A STRONGER CASE
Hiring locally isn't only about convenience or personal service. It can also matter when investigating and developing the facts of a personal injury claim.
A local personal injury attorney may already be familiar with the courts, judges, medical providers, businesses, roadways, intersections, and other details specific to the area where an injury occurred.
That knowledge can become especially valuable when evidence needs to be located quickly.
For example, an investigation may require identifying nearby businesses with security cameras, determining whether a school or neighboring property may have captured video, locating witnesses, documenting an accident scene, or understanding where additional evidence may exist.
Our attorneys don't believe in handling cases entirely from behind a desk. When necessary, we go into the community, investigate the scene, look for evidence, speak with witnesses, and develop the facts needed to understand what happened.
PERSONAL INJURY CASES SHOULDN'T BE AN ASSEMBLY LINE
Large advertising budgets can generate a tremendous number of cases. But the law firm with the most advertisements isn't automatically the firm that will provide the most personal attention.
Before hiring an attorney, consider asking:
- Where is the attorney who will handle my case located?
- Will I be able to speak directly with a licensed attorney?
- Who will be my primary point of contact?
- Does the firm regularly handle personal injury cases in my area?
- Will someone from the firm personally investigate the accident when necessary?
- Can the attorney meet with me if my injuries prevent me from traveling?
The answers can tell you a great deal about the kind of representation you can expect after signing a contract.
HIRING A LOCAL PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY IN REDDING
If you've been injured because of someone else's negligence, choosing an attorney is an important decision. Don't assume that every firm appearing in a search for a "Redding personal injury attorney" is actually located in or connected to the Redding community.
Do your research. Find out who will handle your case. Ask whether you'll have direct access to an attorney. And consider the value of working with someone who knows the community where your injury occurred and can be there when you need them.
Arthofer & Tonkin Law Offices is a personal injury law firm located in Redding, California. Our attorneys have decades of experience representing injured people, and we believe personal injury clients deserve experienced, hands-on legal representation.
If you or someone you love has been injured in Redding, Shasta County, or the surrounding Northern California area, contact Arthofer & Tonkin Law Offices to discuss your situation. We offer free consultations with no obligation, and we welcome the opportunity to speak with you.
