Check first. Then decide.

Plain, general information for people in California thinking about hiring a personal injury lawyer: what to check, what to ask and what to get in writing. Not legal advice.

• How to check a California lawyer's license and discipline recordHow to look up a California lawyer on the State Bar's attorney search: license status, admission date, public discipline and certified specializations, and what each one means.
• Contingency fees in California: what the written agreement must sayHow "no fee unless we win" arrangements work, why California requires them in writing, and the questions to ask about the percentage and case costs before you sign.
• After a car accident in California: the records to keepA plain list of the papers, photos and contact details worth keeping after a crash in California, and what to bring to a first meeting with a lawyer.
• Uber and Lyft accidents in California: whose insurance appliesWhy the driver's app status matters after an Uber or Lyft crash, what to write down at the scene, and where to read the companies' own insurance descriptions.

Ready to look? Browse personal injury lawyers with their State Bar records and sourced details.