Finding a great personal injury lawyer is vital if you want to get compensated properly. Law firms are a dime a dozen, but even if they might look the same at the surface, they are very different in reality. Some truly care about the people they serve, whereas others are more worried about getting people through the door and landing a few flashy settlements. If you want to make sure that you are properly represented, here are a few questions you should ask when interviewing lawyers.
How Often do You Take Cases to Court?
To someone who has never dealt with a personal injury case, this might seem like an innocent question, but you could learn a lot about a lawyer’s philosophy by the way they answer.Some lawyers will avoid going to court like the plague, while others will only do so if they think they’re going to get a big judgment. Good personal injury lawyers have a solid reputation for representing their clients and have a track record to prove it. So, make sure that they have a history of litigation and are not just trying to get settlements as soon as possible.
What’s Your Specialty?
Personal injury lawyers can be generalists that pose as injury lawyers. You also have personal injury lawyers that have experience with a specific type of case. Some may be specialized in truck accidents, for instance. These kinds of cases have a lot of moving parts, and if you have been a victim, there are many parties that you could sue that you may not be aware of. A good lawyer will be able to help you seek damages from all the parties responsible and get maximum compensation.
What’s Your Fee Structure?
You should note that most lawyers work on contingency and will only get paid if you win. It’s still a good idea to ask what their fee structure will be. There could also be some additional costs and expenses, like hiring experts, seeking medical records, or court filing fees, for instance. Again, it is rare for lawyers to ask you to pay along the way, but it happens, so make sure you clarify everything. Also, ask what share of the settlement or judgment they will get. Typically, 30% for settlements and 40% for anything after a trial is standard, but know that this can always be negotiated.
How Can I Reach You?
This one is very important. It’s common for people in personal injury cases to have questions. You want someone who will be able to help you navigate through the procedure and keep you posted. You have to establish how, when, and how often you can speak with them.Know that you will probably not be able to reach them directly all the time because lawyers are very busy. However, you should at least have someone you can talk to who’s familiar with your case, and get a personal response from them within a reasonable time frame.
These are all crucial questions that will need to be asked to any personal injury lawyer you’re thinking of hiring. Make sure that ask any other questions that could help you find the perfect one for your case.