What to Look for When Choosing a Personal Injury Lawyer
What to Look for When Choosing a Personal Injury Lawyer
With more than 50 years of experience in personal injury trial law, Attorney Rocky Walton has devoted his practice exclusively to injury cases since 1975. Board-certified in personal injury trial law since 1994, Rocky is widely recognized as a trusted advocate for victims.
Over the decades, many clients have turned to us after feeling dissatisfied with other attorneys. Time and again, they’ve chosen to terminate prior representation and hire us—knowing they would receive superior client service and stronger results.
Because of this, we want to educate the public on what to look for when choosing a personal injury lawyer. Making the right decision at the start of your case can make all the difference in how smoothly the process goes, the quality of communication you receive, and ultimately, the outcome of your claim.
1. Experience and Track Record
Not all attorneys handle personal injury cases daily. Look for a lawyer with years of experience specifically in personal injury trial law. If they practice it exclusively, that’s even better. Ask about their record of settlements and verdicts, and whether they have successfully taken cases to trial.
Attorney Rocky Walton has exclusively handled personal injury trial law since 1975 and has represented thousands of clients, achieving substantial settlements and verdicts. Unlike many attorneys who rarely step into a courtroom, Rocky has tried nearly a hundred cases throughout his career.
2. Board Certification and Specialization
Certification matters. In Texas, for example, board certification in personal injury trial law is a distinction held by less than 2% of attorneys. It demonstrates dedication, knowledge, and proven expertise.
Attorney Rocky Walton has been continuous board-certified in personal injury trial law since 1994 and continuously pursues continuing legal education courses to maintain his certification and stay up to date with changes in the law.
3. Client-Centered Service
An attorney should treat you as more than just a case file. Pay attention to how they listen, explain your options, and respond to your questions during the consultation. Poor communication early on is often a red flag.
Rocky Walton and his team are committed to delivering top-tier client service grounded in integrity, compassion, and professionalism. He leads a staff of long-tenured, caring employees who share his dedication to helping clients. Together, they make it a priority to keep clients and referring attorneys consistently informed and supported throughout every stage of the case.
Trust is the foundation of the attorney–client relationship. Rocky and his team are always honest with their clients, providing both the good and the bad news to set clear expectations.
4. Transparency About Fees
For nearly 50 years, Rocky Walton Injury Lawyers has charged the same fair attorney fee, even as many other firms have steadily increased theirs. Rocky Walton’s fee is one-third (⅓) of the total recovery plus case expenses during pre-litigation. If a lawsuit becomes necessary, the fee increases modestly to 40%.
At Rocky Walton Injury Lawyers, we offer 100% free consultations and handle all cases on a contingency fee basis — meaning clients pay no attorney fees unless we win. Our firm is proud to have two board-certified personal injury trial law attorneys, a distinction that sets us apart in the DFW area.
By comparison, many DFW attorneys who are not board-certified charge 40% pre-litigation and 45–50% for litigation and appeals. Our longstanding commitment is to provide clients with exceptional representation at fair, transparent fees.
Additionally, Rocky does not borrow money to fund client case expenses, unlike many attorneys who pass interest costs on to their clients.
5. Reputation and Reviews
Check online reviews, testimonials, and ratings from prior clients. Word-of-mouth referrals can also give you valuable insight into the attorney’s professionalism and success.
Rocky is well known in Texas for his strong community presence and leadership. He was elected at-large and served two terms on the Arlington City Council from 1990 to 1994. He was the commissioner for the Arlington Planning and Zoning Commission for seven years.
He is a former director of the Arlington Bar Association, and the Arlington YMCA. He holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating possible for legal ability and ethics, and is a proud member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Arlington Bar Association, Tarrant County Bar Association, Tarrant County Trial Lawyers Association, Dallas County Texas Trial Lawyers Association, American Association for Justice, Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys, and more.
Rocky Walton Injury Lawyers has earned more than 115 five-star Google Reviews from clients and referring attorneys. The firm’s reputation for excellence is further reflected in the trust of over 150 attorneys who confidently refer cases to Rocky. Known as a “well-oiled machine,” the firm is consistently praised for outstanding client communication, treating clients like family, and the exceptional quality of its work. Importantly, Rocky Walton has never been disciplined by the State Bar of Texas.
6. Resources
Successful personal injury cases often require investigators and expert witnesses to prove liability and damages. Ask about the resources your attorney can bring to your case.
At Rocky Walton Injury Lawyers, we take an aggressive, proactive approach from the very start. Our investigator immediately visits the scene to capture professional photographs and videos, obtain witness statements, and secure open records from government entities. When needed, we retain top liability experts — including accident reconstructionists, seat belt experts, premises liability experts (friction testing and building/construction code-compliance), construction experts, fireworks experts, dram shop experts, security experts, and others — to establish fault early in the case.
We also thoroughly evaluate both past and future damages. This includes obtaining medical narratives and opinions through physician depositions, vocational rehabilitation assessments, disability opinions, economists, life care planners, reasonable billing experts, toxicologists, life expectancy, and more — ensuring every aspect of our clients’ losses is fully documented and supported.
Additional Questions to Ask Before Hiring
1. How many years have you been continuously board-certified as a specialist in personal injury trial law?
2. How many personal injury jury trials have you tried?
3. How many times have you been disciplined by the State Bar of Texas?
4. Are you and your staff always honest with your clients?
5. Do you borrow money for client expenses? If so, do you pass those costs along to clients?
6. Have you ever been elected to serve in public office? Please provide details.
7. Have you ever been elected to a professional office? Please provide details.
Contact Us
Whether you are seeking representation for a new case or considering transferring an ongoing case from another law firm, we welcome the opportunity to review your situation and discuss how we can help. Contact Rocky Walton Injury Lawyers today to schedule your free consultation and learn how our team can fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.