If you’re considering employing a personal injury lawyer, you’ve by now noticed that the sector is extremely crowded. With so many lawyers to choose from, it may be tough to decide who to employ. In this post, we’ll go through the types of questions you should ask to identify the best fit for both you and the personal injury case.
Table of Contents
- 1 1. What are the fees for your services?
- 2 2. What Is Your Level of Knowledge and Experience?
- 3 3. How Frequently Do Your Cases Go to Trial?
- 4 4. What Problems or Challenges Do You See in My Case?
- 5 5. How Will You Keep Me Informed About the Status of My Claim?
- 6 6. Do You Have Any References or Testimonials from Former Customers That I Might Look at?
1. What are the fees for your services?
The majority of personal injury attorneys work on a contingency charge basis. That is, you will not be required to pay anything except and until you obtain financial compensation in your claim for damages.
You incur no legal costs up ahead under a contingency fee arrangement. Instead, after the case is settled, your personal injury attorney will take a preset portion of the compensation you are awarded.
You should double-check and inquire about the proportion. In most situations, it will fall anywhere between 20% and 40%.
2. What Is Your Level of Knowledge and Experience?
One of your primary considerations should be selecting an experienced lawyer with several years of legal expertise in situations similar to yours.
You can consider your lawyer’s legal expertise in the same manner that you consider your doctor’s. Whenever you have an issue with your foot, for example, you’re more inclined to seek the advice of a foot expert than a general practitioner. While a generalist will definitely have a fundamental understanding of what bothers you, a specialist will provide you with the finest assistance available.
Be straightforward when speaking with a personal accident lawyer. Inquire about their expertise dealing with personal accident or malpractice cases similar to yours. While you’re at it, inquire about their success rate.
3. How Frequently Do Your Cases Go to Trial?
Just because a lawyer has worked on cases similar to yours does not make them a great lawyer. You want somebody who has tried and won comparable cases. Preferably, many times.
Suppose a lawyer can provide you with a list of case outcomes that are comparable to yours. In that scenario, you’ll recognize they have the knowledge to deal with complicated legal challenges and know the sorts of settlements they’ve successfully obtained for previous clients.
The majority of lawsuits are negotiated before they go to court. Nonetheless, you should ensure that your attorney has appropriate jury trial expertise if the matter is taken to court. Most laypersons never consider asking this question. This is a frequent myth that all attorneys understand how to argue a case in court. This is clearly not true. So, when making your inquiries, figure out whether or not they can file a case in court.
4. What Problems or Challenges Do You See in My Case?
Every personal injury case will have challenges and obstacles that are specific to the situation. An expert lawyer would be able to quickly point them out to you.
If the attorney assures you that your lawsuit will go smoothly without hiccups, this should raise a significant red flag. Nothing in life is ever simple or uncomplicated. The law system is quite complex, and a lawyer with a proven track record of effectively resolving various claims will be honest with you on this.
In summary, an excellent personal injury lawyer will be honest and transparent with you with the concerns and challenges of your case before recommending a feasible solution.
5. How Will You Keep Me Informed About the Status of My Claim?
Will someone be accessible to answer your phone calls? Perhaps the lawyer, a secretary, or a paralegal?
Communication is the foundation of every relationship and is critical in a personal accident lawsuit. Some customers want to be engaged every step along the way, while some are OK with receiving periodic updates on the status of their case. Everyone is unique.
Whichever option you choose, you should get clarification from your lawyer on your participation in the proceedings and what is required of you. Whether you’d like to be more involved in the proceedings and have regular meetings and phone conversations, or you wish to sit in the background, you have to consider what your relationship could look like if you worked together.
6. Do You Have Any References or Testimonials from Former Customers That I Might Look at?
You should be interested in reviewing prior clients’ experiences, just as you want to confirm past trial success and case relevance.
Most lawyers will have public client testimonials on their website, and if they don’t, you should ask. For example, Glotzer & Leib personal injury attorneys advertise on their homepage a perfect ranking on Avvo, one of the leading attorney review websites, and several client testimonials. If you have to dig and search for customer reviews, consider that a red flag.
When looking for legal counsel, it’s preferable to find somebody people like dealing with. You could be facing a challenging physical and emotional period, so finding a lawyer with appropriate interpersonal skills could mean all the difference.
If your accident is significant enough to necessitate the services of a personal injury attorney, you must get it right. Find somebody you can rely on to bring you the justice you deserve.
Medical appointments and expenses, discomfort, and a shift in your “normal” already have thrown your life and routine into disarray. Knowing the appropriate questions to ask a potential lawyer, on the other hand, will assist in streamlining the procedure.
