8 Necessary Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney

Every year, over 400,000 Americans file personal injury claims.

Accidents will happen; this is an unfortunate reality of life. You find yourself staring at a bleak future of uncertainties, wondering when or worse whether you’ll ever go back to normalcy.

In a bid to make sense and come to terms with all these, you may need to bring legal action against the negligent party. However, personal injury cases tend to be incredibly complex. To ensure you get fair representation, you might consider hiring a personal injury attorney.

With millions of attorneys out there, it can be tricky to find one who’s the best fit for your case. Lucky for you, here are eight important questions to ask before hiring a lawyer.

1. What Are Your Rates and Charges?

This is a critical question that you should never fail to ask. The amount it’s going to cost you to mount a personal injury case will have a huge bearing on the choice of attorney you make. This will avoid confrontations later on.

It’s worth noting that most attorneys operate personal injury cases on a contingency. This means that you don’t have to pay even a single dime before the case is concluded, and you’ve received monetary compensation for your injuries. The attorney will then get a percentage of the amount you receive.

However, there’s no set percentage that the attorney will take. The contingency fee will vary in percentage depending on a number of factors. From the firm to the stage of proceedings when the case gets settled.

When hiring a lawyer, ensure you get clarification on the expected percentage to pay, should the case go your way.

2. How Long Have You Been Practicing Personal Injury Law?

The length of time the potential attorney has been in service is an important factor to consider. Nothing prepares an attorney to handle your case better than extensive hands-on experience.

It’s only through experience that the attorney will encounter some serious challenges that would derail your case. This gives them an opportunity to develop strategies to overcome these issues and give you a better chance to a better outcome.

Ensure you ask these questions before you hire an attorney. Ideally, the best lawyer for you will have several years in service under their belt. Don’t settle for less. Visit 800goldlaw.com today for the best personal injury lawyers in Florida.

3. What Types of Personal Injury Cases Do You Normally Handle?

Personal injury is a rather broad field. Many attorneys will choose to specialize in one or two types of personal injury cases. This way, they get to become experts in the chosen areas of specialization and gain much experience and success.

You don’t want to end up with a great lawyer with little to no experience and expertise in your type of personal injury case. Make sure you ask this question to ascertain without a doubt that they have experience and won many cases like yours.

4. Can I See Previous Clients’ Testimonials?

Nothing gives you more confidence than knowing that there’s an extensive list of former satisfied clients. You’ll be thinking if these other clients were satisfied, odds are you too will be satisfied. Don’t fail to ask for this list of previous clients.

If possible, get into contact with a few of the previous clients. This will give you more insights into the prospective attorney and what you should expect.

5. What Is Your Caseload Like?

The best lawyer will always be in high demand. The truth is, with exceptional services, your potential lawyer will always have more cases on his plate. To avoid your case being just another number, don’t fail to ask this question.

You don’t want to end up with a great attorney who, on the other hand, has a vast caseload to give your case the attention it needs. Opt for an attorney that has enough time to handle your case with the seriousness it deserves.

6. Do You Go to Trial, and if So, What Is Your Success Rate?

The best attorney will have trial experience. Not all cases will go to trial, and some attorneys have made it their mission to settle their cases and never set foot in a courtroom.

Depending on your injuries’ complexity and severity, your case may or may not go to trial. However, since you can’t tell what’s going to happen, it’s best you be prepared. Go with an attorney who’s got enough experience trying such cases. You don’t want to get caught in surprise and unprepared should it go to trial.

7. Who’ll Handle My Case?

This is a very important question that you should never fail to ask. Sure, you might have a sit down with the senior partners during interviews and consultation. However, this doesn’t mean that they’ll be the ones handling your case.

Asking this question will give you a chance to get to meet and interact with the lawyer who’ll be handling your case. It’s in your best interest to create a good relationship with the attorney taking your case. You never know when you have an urgent question, and you don’t know who to ask.

8. What’s the Estimated Timeline?

Personal injury cases can be overly time-consuming. This warrants asking the estimated timeline. Having been in the industry for a while, the lawyer can be able to give you an estimated timeline.

Giving you the timeline will help you prepare mentally and physically for the case. You don’t want to go expecting the case to end in a few days, only for it to protract on for longer. The best attorney will work with you to ensure the case is settled as fast as possible.

Get a Fair Outcome With the Best Personal Injury Attorney

Learn the above-discussed attorney questions and use them on your quest to get the best personal injury attorney. They’ll help you improve your odds to a fair outcome. All the best.

For more practical legal advice and tips, please see more of our other blog posts.