Once you’ve decided to take your case to the next level, you’ll need to hire accident lawyers to start the process. However, it’s important to be informed about the lawsuit, personal injury variables, and anything else that could happen during this legal matter. Therefore, you must know what to ask your attorney.
A lawyer can conduct a personal injury case evaluation and tell you how to proceed, but if you need to learn more about personal injury law or how these matters are handled, you’ll feel lost at all times. Doing your research is a great idea, and coming up with pertinent questions for your attorney will help you be properly informed. Some legal jargon will be hard to understand, but you’ll become familiar with it as the case progresses.
Only someone with an excellent personal injury lawyer reputation can answer things adequately and keep their clients updated as much as possible. They also recommend personal injury arbitration to resolve this issue outside of court, and you must ask them if settling is a better option. Meanwhile, there are so many other things you should inquire about.
It can be difficult to know exactly what to do or say after you’ve suffered a personal injury. The most important decision you’ll make in your case, though, is finding a good attorney. Don’t just call the first person you see on a billboard. Take the time to shop around for a lawyer you can work with and trust. These starter questions will give you an idea of what to ask an attorney upon your initial meeting to get the conversation flowing.
- What types of cases have you worked before?
Personal injury claims come in all shapes and sizes. Some are common — like the 300,000 injuries and 1,000 deaths at construction sites that occur every year — and some less so, like the 7,000 annual injuries that happen as a result of accidents at amusement parks. If you can find an attorney who has worked a case similar to yours in the past, they’ll be well positioned to help you out of your situation. Just make sure you also learn about the results of that past case, too, and find out if the client was satisfied with their legal representation. - Do you think my case will go to trial?
This is an important question to ask, as it could determine the length of the claims process and perhaps your eventual settlement. Only 4 to 5% of personal injury cases in the United States ever go to trial — the rest get settled out of court. A long trial process could result in high court fees, but if it succeeds, it could mean a much larger settlement. Remember, too, that your lawyer only gets a cut out of whatever your settlement earns — so it’s in their best interest to win, too. - How often can I meet with you about my case?
Most people don’t think about the lines of communication when wondering what to ask an attorney. Of course they’ll meet with you the first time to try to get your business, but what happens after that? Will you be working with another person in the firm? Will you be able to contact them directly in case of an emergency? How the lawyer responds to this question could reveal a great deal about their personal compatibility and commitment to your case.