How We Score Personal Injury Law Firms
Every editorial score on AZ Injury Insider is calculated using the same four-factor framework, applied identically to every firm we review. This page explains each factor, its weight, and exactly how we measure it. Our goal is a scoring system any reader — or any attorney — can verify using publicly available information.
Factor 1 — Courtroom Track Record (30%)
What we measure: Publicly available indicators of trial capability: Certified Specialist designations from the State Bar of Arizona (which require demonstrated jury trial experience), years licensed in Arizona, published verdicts the firm has publicized, and the firm's own published description of its litigation practice. We treat a State Bar Certified Specialist designation as the strongest independently verifiable trial-experience signal available.
What we do NOT count: Self-reported case totals without independent verification, marketing awards purchased by the firm, or "Super Lawyer" and similar designations that are primarily peer-nomination based.
Score range: 3.5–5.0 for most active PI firms. Firms with Certified Specialist designation from the State Bar score at the high end. Firms with limited publicly available trial history score in the 3.5–4.2 range.
Factor 2 — Client Outcomes (25%)
What we measure: Publicly available outcome indicators: verified review volume and ratings on Google, Avvo, and Yelp; published recovery figures where a firm has publicized them consistently; and independent recognition from reader polls and legal publications. We do not have access to confidential settlement data.
What we do NOT count: Unverified marketing claims, "billion recovered" figures that cannot be traced to a specific time period, or reviews of uncertain authenticity.
Score range: 3.8–5.0. Firms with 500+ Google reviews and consistent high ratings score at the high end. Newer firms or firms with limited review presence score in the 3.8–4.2 range.
Factor 3 — Fee & Cost Transparency (25%)
What we measure: Whether contingency rates, case-cost handling, and lien-resolution practices are clearly disclosed in writing on intake materials and on the firm's website. Firms that publish their contingency percentage, explain what case costs the client may owe, and disclose their lien resolution practices score highest.
What we do NOT count: Verbal representations not reflected in published materials.
Score range: 4.0–5.0. Firms that publish specific contingency percentages and cost structures score 4.8–5.0. Firms that confirm contingency basis but do not publish the specific percentage score 4.0–4.5.
Factor 4 — Disciplinary & Malpractice History (20%)
What we measure: Assessed from the public sources reviewed for each profile. This does not constitute a comprehensive records search. Firms with unresolved serious public discipline that surfaces in public sources are excluded from rankings entirely.
What we do NOT count: Complaints that were dismissed or resolved without public discipline.
Score range: 4.0–5.0 for most active firms. Firms with no public discipline history score 4.5–5.0. The slight variation reflects operating history length — a firm with 30 years and no discipline scores slightly higher than a firm with 2 years and no discipline, because the longer record provides more evidence.
Local Office Presence Note
Local office presence in the specific ranked city is not a standalone scored factor, but it influences how firms are ranked relative to each other when scores are close. A firm with a staffed physical office in the ranked city is preferred over a firm claiming to serve that city from a distant location, all else being equal. This is disclosed on each city ranking page.
How Overall Scores Are Calculated
Overall Score = (Courtroom Track Record × 0.30) + (Client Outcomes × 0.25) + (Fee Transparency × 0.25) + (Disciplinary History × 0.20)
Example: A firm scoring 4.5 on courtroom, 4.3 on outcomes, 4.2 on transparency, and 4.8 on disciplinary history earns: (4.5 × 0.30) + (4.3 × 0.25) + (4.2 × 0.25) + (4.8 × 0.20) = 1.35 + 1.075 + 1.05 + 0.96 = 4.44/5
Corrections & score reviews
We publish corrections when material facts change or when we are shown that a score rests on inaccurate or incomplete information.
If you represent a firm reviewed on this site:
- Email editorial@azinjuryinsider.com with the specific factor score you believe is inaccurate and the publicly verifiable information supporting the correction (for example: a published fee schedule, a Certified Specialist designation, a published verdict, or an updated office address).
- We review correction requests promptly and respond to every substantiated request.
- Where a correction changes a factor score, we update the score, recalculate the weighted overall score, and note the correction date on the firm's profile page.
- Firms cannot pay to alter a score or ranking position, and correction requests are evaluated only on the verifiable information provided.
Reader corrections are equally welcome at the same address.
What This Means For Attorneys
If your firm is listed on AZ Injury Insider and you have questions about your score, email editorial@azinjuryinsider.com. We will provide the specific factor scores and notes for your firm. Corrections to factual errors are published promptly. Scores are re-evaluated annually. Firms may not pay to alter their score or ranking position.