What Questions Should You Ask a Personal Injury Lawyer?

If you have been injured in an accident, you are undoubtedly dealing with a lot of pain, multiple medical appointments and hours of time lost from work. If you have not contacted your insurance company yet, you may want to talk to a personal injury attorney first. If you have filed a claim with your insurance company and they have made you a settlement offer, you should absolutely talk to an attorney to make sure that the offer is fair. Chances are the company will try to offer you less than your injuries are actually worth.

A consultation with a personal injury lawyer is generally free, and a trained attorney will know how to negotiate with an insurance company. They will also know whether or not the settlement offer is acceptable. There are a few questions you should ask your attorney when you have your consultation. 

1. Have you ever taken a case that is similar to mine?

There are some cases that personal injury attorneys see all the time. It is usually fairly easy to determine who has caused a rear-end accident or who is at fault when someone is hit when one car ran into another when making a left turn. However, some accidents are not so cut and dried.

For example, let's say you spilled coffee on yourself that you purchased at a restaurant and you sustained second-degree burns. The restaurant may be liable if the coffee was hotter than that served by other restaurants of its kind. However, you may be responsible for taking off the lid and spilling it on yourself.

Some personal injury cases are unique and complex. You want to find out if your lawyer knows how to research and argue your case. Press them for details and any examples that they give you.

2. How many clients are you currently handling? How many staff members do you have?

It is important to find out if the attorney you are consulting with will have the time to devote to your case. Is the firm a small one-person office or do they have multiple attorneys? How many legal assistants and paralegals do they have? Getting compensated for your injuries is very important, and you should make sure that every effort will be put into researching all the details of your case and keeping in contact with the insurance company every step of the way.

3.  May I have the names of past clients so that I can check your references? 

The best way to know if any business is worth patronizing is to ask people who have already patronized it, and law firms are no exception. If an attorney cannot give you any professional references, you should be very suspicious of them, especially if they have been in business for a while. 

4. How often can I expect to hear from you?

Your attorney should keep you apprised of everything that is going on with your case every step of the way. You should also be able to call in and talk to your attorney or a legal assistant when you have questions. Certainly, the law firm you choose will have business hours, but you should never feel that your questions are burdensome or that your case is not important.

5. How much will you charge me?

Although most personal injury attorneys will charge you on a contingency basis, some will charge you for case-related cost in the event that you lose. Be sure to ask if your attorney will charge you anything if you lose. If they charge a contingency fee, make sure that that fee is not excessive. Most lawyers will charge between 25 and 40%.

Your case deserves the best lawyer possible. You can get more information here.

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