What Should I Look for When Choosing a Personal Injury Lawyer in Alabama?

A lot of people who’ve been in an accident don’t know where to start when it comes to finding a lawyer. The ads are everywhere (TV, billboards, social media) and most of them say roughly the same things. David Greene, founding attorney at Greene & Phillips Injury Lawyers in Mobile, Alabama, recently joined Studio 10 to talk through what actually matters when you’re trying to make that decision.

Don’t Just Call. Sit Down.

Calling a law firm off an ad isn’t necessarily wrong, but it shouldn’t be the end of the process. You need to sit down with the attorney who will actually be handling your case, not a paralegal, not an intake specialist. Ask them directly: have you handled this type of case before? Have you taken it to trial?

That last question matters more than most people realize. A lawyer who has never tried your type of case in court has less leverage when negotiating with an insurance company. The insurer knows whether the attorney on the other side is someone they’ll see in a courtroom or not. The attorneys at Greene & Phillips have tried thousands of cases and appear in court regularly across Alabama. That’s the kind of track record that affects outcomes before a trial ever begins.

Does It Matter Whether a Firm Specializes?

Think of it like real estate. A realtor can technically handle residential homes, commercial properties, and land deals, but you’d probably want someone who focuses on the type of transaction you’re involved in. Personal injury law works the same way. Some firms handle everything from DUIs to wills to probate matters. Greene & Phillips focuses exclusively on personal injury, product liability, wrongful death, and workers’ compensation. That’s it. Nearly 28 years doing exactly that.

Firms that focus on one area know the specific deadlines, the relevant case law, the common defense tactics, and which facts move the needle. A general practice firm may be perfectly capable, but the depth of experience in your specific type of case tends to be different.

What If My Accident Doesn’t Seem Serious Enough?

People sometimes hesitate to call because they think their accident isn’t serious enough to be worth an attorney’s time. That hesitation can be costly.

Soft tissue injuries that seem minor in the days after a car wreck sometimes develop into something much more serious. The problem is that if you’ve already settled with the insurance company by the time you realize that, you may have no options left. A conversation with an attorney early on doesn’t lock you into anything, but it does give you information before you make decisions you can’t undo.

Every case that comes through Greene & Phillips is treated as important, because it is. It’s your problem, it’s affecting your life, and it deserves real attention regardless of how the initial damage looks.

Is What I Tell My Lawyer Confidential?

Yes. Attorney-client privilege means your lawyer cannot share what you tell them, and that protection applies from the very first conversation.

A lot of people carry the weight of what happened to them for a long time before they talk to anyone. There’s stress around the accident itself, around medical bills, around dealing with insurance adjusters who keep calling. Sitting down with a Greene & Phillips attorney and putting all of that on the table with someone who is legally prohibited from sharing what you tell them is something people consistently say made them feel better, even before any legal work started.

That conversation is protected. What you say stays there.

What Questions Should I Ask a Personal Injury Lawyer Before Hiring Them?

You’re interviewing them as much as they’re evaluating your case. A few questions worth asking:

• Have you handled cases involving this specific type of accident or injury?
• Have you taken cases like mine to trial, and what were the results?
• Who will be my primary contact, and how often will I hear from you?
• How long do cases like mine typically take to resolve?

If an attorney can’t or won’t answer those questions clearly, that tells you something.

How Long Does a Personal Injury Case in Alabama Take?

It depends on the case. Some resolve in 60 to 90 days. Others, particularly those involving serious injuries, disputed liability, or litigation, can take several years. That’s a real relationship, and you should feel comfortable with the person you’re working with.

The atmosphere at Greene & Phillips is intentionally relaxed. There’s no pressure, no unnecessary formality. David Greene’s dog, Judge, is usually in the office. You can talk about what happened, ask whatever you need to ask, and leave with a clear sense of what comes next.

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About the Author

David Greene is the founding attorney of Greene & Phillips Injury Lawyers, a personal injury firm with offices in Mobile and Birmingham, Alabama. He has been practicing personal injury, wrongful death, and product liability law in Alabama for nearly 28 years and has tried thousands of cases. Greene & Phillips handles only personal injury matters and takes no fee unless you recover.

Call or text (251)300-2000 or come by the office any time. You can also reach us at our contact page.