If you suffered severe injuries because of someone else’s fault, you might need to access the services of a personal injury lawyer to get the compensation you are due.

However, those who have never sought the help of a personal injury lawyer will be surprised at just how many options they have at their disposal. Understandably, you want to make sure that you are picking the right professional for the job. Thus, let’s see together some of the most important questions to ask before you hire a personal injury lawyer.

1. Have You Handled Cases Like Mine in the Past?

The fact is that just because a person is an attorney does not mean that they have the experience in handling cases such as yours. The practice of law is a large field with many categories and sub-categories.

However, you will likely meet many attorneys who have handled a wide variety of some of the most common negligence or personal injury cases. Those would include cases involving car accidents, defective products, animal bites, slips, and falls and defamation lawsuits, to name just a few.

A subset of questions from this line of inquiry needs to focus on that attorney’s experience with similar cases in the state where you want to file a claim or initiate a lawsuit.

Let’s put things into a broader perspective. First, laws differ from one state to the next. Thus, even if personal injury and negligence follow the same concepts throughout the country, each state has its provisions.

For this reason, the best thing you could do for your case is to hire an attorney from the state where your injury occurred. In other words, you need a law firm that can fight in a personal injury lawsuit knowing that state’s laws by heart. For instance, if you are from New York but you suffered a personal injury while visiting Lafayette, it would be best to get help from a personal injury attorney based in Lafayette instead of New York City. Of course, nobody says you cannot hire lawyers from the city you live in, but they will need more time to prepare and learn the intricacies of another state’s laws.

2. Do You Have References or Reviews I Can Read?

When meeting with a personal attorney, you’re likely to notice that most are going to be very confident in their ability to win your case. However, it is never a good idea to take their word at face value.

Always ask if they have any references or reviews from past clients you could read. For instance, those in the Keystone State may want to read these reviews of attorneys in Pennsylvania to determine their credibility before getting down to business. It goes the same for all states.

Reputable attorneys will not make a secret out of the cases they won and the settlements they reached for their clients, so ask for numbers, press mentions, and other records regarding their reputation and expertise.

3. Who Is Going to Do the Work?

Contrary to popular belief, the attorney you hire will not be the one doing 100% of the work on your case. Because law firms are usually handling a large number of clients, personal injury attorneys will hire additional help in the form of junior associates, securities, and paralegal professionals.

You want to ensure that the attorney is doing the bulk of the work and not leaving your entire case to someone you’ve never met. If your attorney leads a team of specialists in your case, it would be best if you would meet them.

4. What is the Fee for Taking on the Case?

In a win-win situation, an attorney will promise to take on your case free of charge, but they will charge a fee if any money is awarded to you. Most attorneys will set a fee at about up to 33% of your award. It is important to discuss this before hiring them to avoid any disputes if you receive money.

5. Who’s Paying the Court Fees?

If you happen to win your case, you will have to pay the accumulated court fees. These usually include items such as:

• Court filing fees
• Information-gathering expenses
• Administrative fees
• Expert witness fees

If you are paying these fees “off the top,” it means that they will come out of your awarded money. However, if those fees are paid after your attorney received their fees, they will likely see a bigger payday.

6. Do You Have Courtroom Experience?

Contrary to popular belief, not all claims and cases are going to go before a judge and jury. Also, contrary to popular beliefs, not all lawyers have courtroom experience. Some are fierce settlement closers, but not all of them can handle everything a trial entails.

Because attorneys and clients want to minimize fees, settling out of court is usually the best option. You have seen enough legal dramas on TV to know that most personal injury claims reach settlements before anyone considers the idea of a lawsuit. The practice unburdens an already burdened legal system, and it works out for all parties involved. However, you want to have peace of mind that if it does go to court, your attorney has the experience to take it to the next level and win.

7. What Happens if You Don’t Reach Your Desired Settlement or Verdict? 

You know the drill: if lawyers cannot agree on a settlement, they go to court. If a jury finds the defendant not guilty, the plaintiff receives no compensation. The attorneys will most likely talk about appeals. In courtroom dramas, everything begins and ends within a 45-minutes episode. Real-life lawsuits can take years. Have your attorney explain step-by-step what happens if you refuse a settlement or get an unfavorable verdict. Ask about risks and counteracting measures. Don’t hire the lawyer that promises you 100% satisfaction, but one who is honest about your chances.

Conclusion

As you can see, the data above strengthens the idea that you have several questions to ask personal injury attorneys before hiring them. Moreover, you should ask all these questions and more before you make up your mind. Choose the right professional for your particular case and ensure that your attorney is straightforward and honest when making claims.

Author:

With a law degree under his belt and years of experience, Mark Scott set off to make the law more accessible to all. He decided to help people lost in the maze of legal terminology to find their way. Mark writes clear and concise pieces and gives simple advice that is easy to follow. On account of positive feedback from readers, he decided to dedicate more of his time to this goal and became a legal columnist. In his writings, Mark covers a wide array of topics, like how to seek legal counsel, or how to deal with different procedures. Furthermore, he directs his readers toward other trustworthy resources for more in-depth information.