Filing a personal injury claim should be something you’re considering if you’ve been injured because of another person’s negligence. But you may want to talk to a lawyer who can review your case before rushing into the claim process. You’ll work very closely with your lawyer, so you should feel comfortable around them and consider them as a trusted advisor.
It’s essential to have an idea of what critical questions to ask while you’re in the process of hiring a personal injury lawyer to initiate the claims process and manage your personal injury case. Below are some questions you should be asking potential personal injury lawyers before hiring one:
1. What Specific Personal Injury Law Area Do You Practice?
There are various practice areas in personal injury law. While most personal injury attorneys are skilled in these areas, not all of them may be familiar with the specific case type you have. It’s essential to note that some lawyers exclusively focus on certain personal injury law areas. You don’t want to be hiring a workplace accident lawyer to manage an auto accident claim or vice versa. That being said, when speaking to an attorney, it’s important to clarify the type of personal injury law they’re most experienced in.
2. How Many Cases With My Type Of Injury Have You Handled?
How much of the attorney’s practice is dedicated to your type of injury and how long they’ve been practicing such an area of personal injury law are important pieces of information to find out from prospective lawyers. Be specific with your questioning and make sure that the personal injury attorney talks about cases similar to yours. Ask how many cases with your type of injury they’ve handled in the past.
Note that just because a lawyer has experience handling dog bite-related injuries doesn’t mean they’re also experienced with workplace injuries. Don’t be afraid to schedule a consultation with another attorney if you aren’t comfortable with your initial prospect’s experience. Don’t stop until you find someone who fits your needs.
Be specific with your questioning and make sure that the personal injury attorney talks about cases similar to yours.
3. What Are The Fees You Require?
With most personal injury lawyers, you won’t have to pay a fee unless you successfully recover money damages in the lawsuit. That’s because they usually work on a contingency fee basis. The attorney will take a percentage of your award if you recover money damages. If you ask experts when to hire a personal injury lawyer, the answer you’ll usually get is to do it immediately after the accident. After all, you won’t pay until your lawsuit becomes successful.
After the case, between 25% and 40% is typically the percentage that a personal injury lawyer gets. Of course, some attorneys may charge a lower or higher fee. Be wary of those who charge much lower than the standard contingency fee as they may not be really qualified to handle your case. Don’t forget that it’s still essential to understand the attorney’s qualifications before hiring them. Avoid unfairly high fees, too.
4. Who Will Be Responsible For Case-Related Costs If I Lose?
Case-related costs may be added to the contingency fee by some personal injury lawyers. It’s important to ask if you’ll be responsible for these “out-of-pocket" costs in the event of an unsuccessful lawsuit.
5. Can You Tell Me About Your Success History?
If a personal injury attorney hasn’t won the personal injury cases they’ve taken on, their vast experience in the specific law area that’s relevant to your case doesn’t matter. Don’t hesitate to ask your prospective personal injury lawyer about their success rate. It may seem indelicate, but it’s one way to see if the attorney you’ll hire has achieved particularly notable case results. The success they’ve experienced from these cases provides knowledge that they can also apply to the situation you’re currently in. After all, you want a top lawyer since it’s your future that’s on the line.
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6. How Much Time Will You Be Devoting To My Case?
Ask potential personal injury attorney about how much time they can devote to your case at the moment. It’s not a secret that many lawyers take on multiple cases at once, signing up additional clients even if they’re already sitting on your case. Ask when your lawsuit will be filed and let them know that it’s important to get the ball rolling right away.
7. What’s The Worth Of My Case?
Just like asking how long the case will take, it’s also important to ask about your case’s worth. An experienced lawyer will be able to provide a good idea of the worth of your case despite the fact that a settlement is never guaranteed. Of course, their answer will be based on their previous experience.
By considering factors, such as discovery, liability, and medical expenses, the attorney should also be able to elucidate why a certain amount is what they believe to be your case’s worth. Some personal injury lawyers make estimates that are too good to be true for the situation you’re in—be wary of them.
The Takeaway
Choosing an attorney is an important decision. That’s why it’s necessary to make an informed one. A beneficial and satisfying relationship with your personal injury lawyer can be achieved by weighing your options carefully after asking the questions listed above.
