Any personal injury can quickly throw you off course. Whether you’re suffering from a car accident or a slip and fall, there is nothing you can do to prepare for them. If you happen to be seriously injured in a crash, you can end up incurring expensive medical costs, lose wages from your work, and be forced to deal with the insurance company. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every year, 30.8 million people visit an emergency room for personal injuries. If you’ve been injured due to an accident, you should consult with a qualified attorney about your case. Here are five essential questions to ask when searching for an attorney.

Are You Able to Handle my Case?

A good lawyer will know their limits. They understand that they can only devote so much of their energy, expertise, and time to their work. The right attorneys believe in the people and the cases they represent and won’t try to sign up clients when they know that they won’t be able to dedicate all their time and attention that the case deserves. Make sure that they have the time and energy to become familiar with your situation.

Have You Litigated a Case Like Mine Before?

An attorney’s experience and expertise are essential when it comes to your case. You wouldn’t hire a plumber to fix a problem with your electricity, and you should trust anyone other than one of the top car accident lawyers to handle your car accident case. It is crucial that the attorney you choose has years of experience working on cases like yours.

What Areas of Law do You Specialize In?

You want to ensure that you find a lawyer who primarily specializes in personal injury law. If your case ends up going to court, you want to have someone on your side who is very familiar with personal injury law. They should be familiar with common defense tactics used by employers and companies, how to negotiate in ways that are specific to your needs, and how to deftly navigate other complex litigation procedures.

What is Your Fee?

Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee agreement. This means that you will only pay them their fees if they can obtain monetary compensation for your case. High-quality lawyers will generally charge a 40 percent contingency fee based on the settlement, but in some situations can be reduced. However, The Balance warns that a higher price does not always equate to a more qualified lawyer.

Who Will be Handling my Case?

When dealing with larger firms, you may not be speaking with the person who will be handling your case, or who brings it to court. Additionally, because lawyers specialize in different areas regarding the process, it is common for cases to pass through several hands over the course of its life. This makes it essential to know who is handling your case, when, and for what reason.

Good attorneys can be difficult to find, so it is vital that you ask the right questions before making your choice. You want to be sure that you find the right attorney who will represent you faithfully, fairly, and honestly.