Injuries are becoming more of a problem every year. In fact, car crashes might become the fifth leading cause of death globally by 2030. Whether you were in a crash, slip and fall incident, or victim of medical malpractice, you could have a case.
Before you file your claim, it’s important to have a qualified personal injury attorney on your side. A personal injury attorney can protect your rights and fight for your best interests. They’ll help maximize your claim to cover your lost income and medical bills.
Before you hire the first lawyer you meet, read over these questions to ask a personal injury lawyer. By asking these questions, you can find the best attorney for your case.
Start your search by asking these nine key questions today!
1. Are You Experienced With My Type of Case?
There are over 135,221 personal injury lawyers in the US. The industry could grow by almost 2% every year. With so many options, you need to make sure you find the personal injury attorney qualified for your case.
There are many different segments of personal injury law an attorney can pursue. Before hiring a PI attorney, make sure they have experience with your type of case.
During your meeting, ask about their experience. Do they specialize in one form of personal injury law? How many cases have they tried that relate to your case?
It’s important not to assume the lawyer you’re speaking with is the perfect fit for your needs. For example, you could find a personal injury lawyer with a strong track record. However, they might have experience with animal bite cases when you need a car accident lawyer.
Try to find a PI attorney who specializes instead of one who chooses a broad focus. Specialties can include:
- Car accidents
- Product liability
- Premise liability
- Defamation
- Medical malpractice
- Animal bites
- Slip and fall incidents
- Assault and battery
You can even break these categories down further. For example, car accident cases can involve truck drivers, bicyclists, or motorcyclists. Medical malpractice suits can include misdiagnoses, prescription errors, or medical errors.
Choose a lawyer with the experience you need. When gauging their experience, make sure they have years practicing their specialty, too.
Otherwise, you could end up with a PI attorney who lacks the know-how you need.
2. What’s Your Success Rate?
Once you find a lawyer with the right specialty, determine their success rate. Make a list of questions to ask a personal injury lawyer about their track record over the years.
How many cases have they won that are relevant to your type of case? Were those cases recent? How many cases have they won overall?
After all, you want to make sure you go into court with a winner at your side. Choose a personal injury attorney with experience fighting for their clients. They’ll have the ability to maximize your claim.
A lawyer who doesn’t have experience fighting and winning might not help you get the compensation you deserve.
3. How Much Courtroom Experience Do You Have?
When asking these personal injury questions, make sure to determine the lawyer’s courtroom experience, too. Your lawyer should anticipate your case might go to trial, regardless of the case’s complexity. A lawyer with the proper mindset like Mr. Jesse Soffer will do everything they can to prepare you and your case for court.
If they’re not prepared, they might fail to represent you in front of a jury. You could also enter settlement negotiations without having a plan prepared.
Choosing a personal injury attorney with courtroom experience will help strengthen your case.
4. Who Will Work on My Case?
When you visit a law firm, the first person you speak with might not become your lawyer. With that in mind, it’s important to determine your point of contact ahead of time. That way, you can learn about that individual lawyer’s abilities and experience.
Who will work on your case? Are they experienced? If not, who will supervise them throughout the duration of your case?
You can find a team of personal injury lawyers prepared to build your case by following this link.
5. Are You Part of a Legal Organization?
Before choosing a personal injury attorney, you want to know they’re trained and mentally prepared. Look for a PI attorney who belongs to a national or state organization. There are many organizations for lawyers who specialize in personal injury law.
A lawyer who belongs to a group like the American Association of Justice will understand your needs. These members often conduct lobbying activities to represent consumers like you.
6. Are You Board-Certified?
You can also verify a PI attorney’s experience by looking for a board-certified civil trial lawyer.
Are they certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy? If so, they likely have the extensive courtroom experience necessary to build your case.
7. How Much Will I Win?
As you develop a list of questions to ask your personal injury lawyer, make sure to review the specifics of your case.
What outcome do they expect? How much do they expect to win?
A qualified attorney won’t have a precise answer. After all, every lawsuit is a little different. Instead, this question can help you determine which lawyer is over-promising their abilities.
This question can also help you build realistic expectations about your case.
8. Can I Speak With Your Previous Clients?
You don’t have to trust a PI attorney at their word. Instead, speak with some of their previous clients. Ask each client about their experience working with the attorney.
Did they have any issues during their case? Do they wish they chose someone else?
Speaking with a lawyer’s clients will help you learn more about their professional reputation.
9. What Fee Structure Do You Use?
Before you sign a contract, ask the lawyer about their fee structure. If they work on a contingency fee basis, they won’t get paid unless they win your case.
Make sure to ask how they track legal costs and other expenses, too.
Find the Best: 9 Questions to Ask a Personal Injury Lawyer During Interviews
Don’t head into court without the proper representation. With these questions to ask a personal injury lawyer, you can make sure to find the right attorney like https://allinjurieslaw.com/. A law office like this can help build your case and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
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