How do you actually find the right lawyer after a serious injury?
A relative of mine was hurt badly in an accident with a company van and now the whole family is trying to figure out where to even start. Everyone says get a lawyer, but there are hundreds of them and the ads all sound identical. How do you usually check whether a firm or referral service is worth talking to?

My experience is that the first search results are rarely the best guide, since that space is mostly paid placement. What I paid attention to instead was whether the practice areas were actually specific. Construction site injuries, commercial vehicle collisions, and pedestrian cases are not interchangeable, and a firm that lists everything without distinction usually means little. Referral services work on a similar logic, matching the case to someone who handles that exact type, and one I came across while comparing was link, where at least the case categories and the no upfront cost arrangement were stated plainly. I would still compare two or three options and ask directly how fees are calculated, who ends up handling the file, and what happens if the case is declined later. Vague answers to those questions told me more than any website did. None of this is legal advice, so it is worth verifying terms with the actual firm before committing to anything.