Five Important Questions to Ask a Personal Injury Attorney
We call it an accident because we cannot predict it. And these accidents leave the victim in a shattered state both physically and mentally. If you have been into an accident because of someone else’s fault and do not know what to do next, just breathe in and call up a personal injury attorney. Since you already have heaps of things to look after like medications, recovery, an attorney is there to take care of all the hassles like dealing with the insurance company, medical bills, lost wages, claims to name a few.
But then again you must be asking yourself a question that how do I know this is the right personal injury attorney for my case? Well, your question is valid and that is why you need to ask these five important questions to the shortlisted attorneys that you might consider working with. Follow these questions and you will find your way out.
1 What is your specialization in the field of personal injury?
Personal injury is a very niche field and you do not want an attorney who has not handled the cases like yours. For instance, if you have been into a slip and fall accident in a grocery store, then you need an attorney who specializes or who has worked on a handful of slip and fall cases. Therefore, this should be the first question that you might want to ask your potential personal injury attorney.
2 How much time it will take to get the outcome of the case?
It is obvious that you do not have all the time in this world to devote to this case. You have other things to look after as well. Thus, you would need an attorney who could be able to wrap up the case in your favor as quickly as possible. There will be investigations, legal proceedings, court dates, and many other things that would affect the time of the trial. Therefore, it is difficult for the attorney to give you the duration of how long the case would go on. However, he or she might give you an estimate after studying your case and from the past experience about how much time it might take.
3 Do you work on a contingency basis?
The majority of the personal injury attorneys will not charge for the case until they win the case. This is called working on a contingency basis. This means that if you win the case, then a percentage of the claim or settlement goes to the attorney in the form of a fee. Therefore, you must ask this question before making any decisions as many attorneys also charge on an hourly basis and you would end up emptying your bank account.
4 What is your win percentage?
You do not want to hire a personal injury attorney who has not won cases in his or her career. If you talk to an experienced attorney, he or she might be able to provide you with the statistical data of his cases and the track record of the specific cases of your type.
5 Can you provide any reviews and testimonials of the past clients?
It is always recommended to check the reputation of the attorney before hiring. Since you will be sharing all the confidential details with the attorney, you want that person to be completely trustful. Thus, before reaching any decision, make sure that you are asking about their client testimonials. By reading the reviews and talking to the past clients, you will have an idea of how it is like to work with that attorney and how much time did it take to wrap up their case and how were they treated throughout the court trials. Once you know what the clients are talking about, you will surely know what you need to do next.
Therefore, before you hire any personal injury attorney, make sure to ask these five important questions and increase your chances of finding the most qualified attorney that suits your case. Also, if you have any other relevant questions to ask the attorney, go ahead and ask without any hesitation. Weigh your options carefully and make the right choice.