Winning a personal injury case is almost never easy, but it will always be more difficult if you try to go it alone. Finding the right personal injury attorney will greatly improve the chances that you receive the compensation you deserve, as long as you choose a reputable attorney. Here are five questions you should ask when you are interviewing a personal injury lawyer.
Has the Attorney Won Similar Cases?
No matter how talented your attorney is, there is never a guarantee that you will win your personal injury claim. However, you can be sure that you will have the best possible chance if the attorney you are interviewing has a good track record with cases that are similar to yours. You should ask the attorney whether previous cases were brought to trial or if a settlement was negotiated, and you can even get a second opinion by contacting previous clients. This will provide excellent insight into how qualified the attorney is to handle your case.
How Does the Attorney Get Paid?
A contingency fee model is one of the most common methods that personal injury attorneys use for accepting payments. Clients are protected from paying out of pocket because the attorney will receive a portion of the compensation if the client wins, but will not receive payment if the client loses. The key detail to pay attention to is how much of your payout the attorney will receive, as this can vary significantly between different attorneys.
What Is the Value of Your Case?
You shouldn't expect your lawyer to be able to tell you exactly what your case is worth, but any personal injury attorney worth their salt can provide a reasonable estimate. Having an idea of how much compensation you'll receive will help you determine if pursuing the case is even worth the time that must be invested and the cost of hiring the attorney.
Asking for a value estimate will tell you as much about the attorney you are considering as it will about your case. If the attorney is reluctant to provide any estimate, it is likely that they are not confident about the strength of your case and their capability to win the case for you. Conversely, promises of extremely high payouts may not be realistic estimates of the value of your case.
Will the Attorney Be Directly Involved?
The attorney that you interview is not always the attorney that ends up handling your case. Some firms will allow their lawyers with the most promising credentials to handle interviews, and then pass off the cases to junior attorneys. You should always request to perform your interview with the attorney that will be directly handling your case. After the interview, you will have peace of mind that you can trust the attorney who will have the biggest impact on securing your compensation.
When Will the Suit Be Filed?
If your attorney truly has your best interests in mind, he or she will file your claim as soon as possible. Unfortunately, some attorneys will take on more work than they can handle, which could mean that your case is held off for months or even years. In addition to missing the statute of limitations deadline, waiting too long to file may mean that you could lose important documents that you need to win your case and forget essential details about your accident.
Being prepared for the first interview is the best way to find a personal injury attorney with the experience that you need to win your claim. Ask these important questions to every attorney that you consider so you can be confident that your case is in good hands.
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