questions to ask when choosing a personal injury lawyer

Six Key Questions to Ask When Choosing and Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer

1. What areas of law do you handle? There are numerous types of personal injury cases. You want a personal injury lawyer...
2. Have you handled cases similar to my case? A personal injury attorney may have a basic understanding of what your...
3. What’s your assessment of my case? You want a...

Full Answer

How soon should I contact a personal injury lawyer?

Some of the compensation you may receive includes:

• Payment for a new vehicle (when needed)
• Money for all medical bills including any surgeries and prescription medications
• The cost of the ambulance ride and tow truck
• Repayment for missed time at work
• Pain and suffering

What should you look for in a personal injury lawyer?

Top 5 Personal Injury Attorneys near Morgan Hill, CA

1. (✭✭✭✭✭) Nadrich & Cohen, LLP. Exceptional 5.0 Exceptional 5.0 Absolute best experience I ever had with a lawyer. ...
2. Law Offices of Teresa Li, PC. Exceptional 5.0 Exceptional 5.0 A real sincere professional,honest. ...
3. 🏆 Compass Law Group PC (Recommended) Exceptional 5.0 Exceptional 5.0
4. Accident Injury Pro CA. ...
5. 💥 (Recommended) Murphey Law Group. ...

Why should I hire a personal injury lawyer?

Why we should hire a Lawyer

1. The law is complex. If you are not a lawyer, in some cases you may not act as a lawyer in your business in a law firm. ...
2. A lawyer cannot pay you more. What is the relationship? ...
3. Lawyers know how to challenge evidence. ...
4. Submitting incorrect documents or following incorrect procedures can ruin your case. ...

Who is the best personal injury lawyer?

Who Is the Best Personal Injury Lawyer for My Case?

• Experience in the Area of Law Relevant to Your Case. ...
• Research an Attorney or Law Firm’s Reputation. ...
• Proximity to You. ...
• Schedule a Free Initial Consultation to Discuss Your Case. ...
• Ease of Access and Open Communication. ...
• Choose a Personal Injury Lawyer Who Will Fight for You. ...

What percentage do most personal injury lawyers take?

33%As a general rule, the personal injury lawyer will receive 33% of the final settlement amount in the case. However, cases that go to trial often incur different costs. The goal of this fee structure is to minimize the client's financial risk in hiring an attorney to represent them.

What are good questions to ask lawyers?

Questions to Ask Your Lawyer During a Consultation1) What kind of experience do you have with similar cases?2) What would be your strategy for my case?3) Are there any alternatives to going to court?4) What are my possible outcomes?5) Who will actually handle my case?6) What is my role in my case?More items...•

What are 3 questions you should ask a lawyer before hiring?

Below are ten questions to ask your potential lawyer.How long have you practiced law? ... What type of cases do you generally handle? ... Who is your typical client? ... How many cases have you represented that were similar to mine?More items...•

What should I ask for in a settlement?

The following items will be factored in to a potential settlement:Past and future medical bills.Rehabilitation costs.Pain and suffering.Therapy.Lost wages and/or future income.

What is the hardest question to ask a lawyer?

12 Tough Questions to Ask a LawyerWhat's your opinion of the probate process?Under what conditions do you recommend a Living Trust?How do I protect my children from abusive relatives if something happens to me?Can I keep my kids from controlling their entire inheritance at 18?More items...•

What do you say when talking to a lawyer?

Tips for Talking to an AttorneyAlways be as honest and candid as possible about the facts of your case. ... Ask questions if you don't understand something that your attorney mentions or explains to you.Approach an attorney about your case as soon as you think you may need one.More items...•

How do I prepare for an attorney interview?

If you are interviewing virtually, all of these tips apply.Do your research. Lawyers are known for being good researchers. ... Be presentable and dress your best. ... Come prepared to ask questions. ... Be personable and show enthusiasm. ... Be genuine. ... Promptly send a thank-you note.

What's the difference between attorney and lawyer?

Attorney vs Lawyer: Comparing Definitions Lawyers are people who have gone to law school and often may have taken and passed the bar exam. Attorney has French origins, and stems from a word meaning to act on the behalf of others. The term attorney is an abbreviated form of the formal title 'attorney at law'.

How do you know if your lawyer is selling you out?

Signs of a Bad LawyerBad Communicators. Communication is normal to have questions about your case. ... Not Upfront and Honest About Billing. Your attorney needs to make money, and billing for their services is how they earn a living. ... Not Confident. ... Unprofessional. ... Not Empathetic or Compassionate to Your Needs. ... Disrespectful.

How do you ask for more money in a settlement?

Send a Detailed Demand Letter to the Insurance Company Because the insurance company will likely reply with an offer for an amount lower than what you've asked for in the demand letter, you should ask for between 25 and 100 percent more than what you would be willing to settle for.

How do lawyers negotiate settlements?

The negotiation process typically starts with your lawyer providing a written proposal for settlement to the insurance adjuster or the defendant's lawyer. The adjuster or lawyer will respond to your lawyer either in writing or over the phone.

How much should I ask for in a settlement agreement?

The rough 'rule of thumb' that is generally used to determine the value of a settlement agreement (in respect of compensation for termination of employment) is two to three months' gross salary.

Find 3-5 attorneys to approach. And then make the most of that free initial consultation

By this point, you should have in mind what you're looking for in a lawyer. View potential lawyers for your personal injury case through the filter of these questions we've prepared, which you're going to use to probe deeper in an interview later.

Call the lawyers you have selected to set up appointments

Really? Why not just submit your case details via the web form for each lawyer?

Interviewing personal injury lawyers – a checklist of questions to help you evaluate attorneys

When you set up your meeting with the attorneys who may potentially represent you, be prepared with questions to ask. Print out our interview worksheet and take it along.

1. What areas of law do you handle?

There are numerous types of personal injury cases. You want a personal injury lawyer who has experience handling cases that are similar to your case. An attorney with experience handling your type of claim will know the types of evidence to seek to develop your case and have a better sense of how to value the case properly. provide

2. Have you handled cases similar to my case?

A personal injury attorney may have a basic understanding of what your case entails. But practical experience can make a world of difference when it comes to getting full compensation for your injuries. A lawyer who has handled cases similar to yours will have a better grasp of the details and nuances that can make or break a case.

4. What participation will I have as the client?

Even though your attorney will be handling the bulk of the work related to your case, you still want to be in the loop throughout the process. Ask your prospective attorney about how they handle client communication and what their availability is if you have questions as the case is progressing.

5. What do your clients say about you?

When selecting an attorney, it’s fair to ask a personal injury lawyer for past case results and testimonials from former clients.

6. How much do you charge for personal injury cases?

If you’ve suffered major injuries in an accident, you may be unable to work and experiencing financial stress. You don’t need a legal bill on top of the medical bills you already have.

Contact a West Virginia Personal Injury Attorney Today

The West Virginia personal injury lawyers at Jividen Law Offices, PLLC, are ready to answer any questions you may have about our legal services and what to look for in an attorney. For more information, contact our office today.

1. How Long Have You Been Practicing Personal Injury Law?

Most personal injury lawyers will be happy to talk about their background in the field. You will probably see their diploma and other certificates on the wall of their office.

2. Have You Worked on Similar Cases?

This is one of the most important questions to ask a personal injury lawyer. Keep in mind, personal injury is a broad section of the law. Before you even reach out for a consultation, you need to be sure the firm handles cases for the type of injury you have.

3. How Long Will It Take to Resolve My Case?

This is a question that won’t have a clear answer – especially in the initial consultation. It’s more of a question to help gauge the personal injury lawyer’s trustworthiness.

5. How Will You Keep Me in the Loop?

This is arguably one of the most critical questions to ask a personal injury lawyer. A client-attorney relationship should be built on trust – and trust starts with good communication.

6. What Are Your Fees?

The biggest mistake people make is choosing a personal injury lawyer from cut-rate firms due to the low price tag. These firms usually don’t have their clients’ best interests in mind – or they lack the expertise needed to win cases.

7. Will We Win?

This is another one of the questions to ask a lawyer during the consultation to gauge their trustworthiness. To echo our last point, a good attorney won’t take a case unless they think they can win. However, no attorney can guarantee they will win – and no good lawyer will promise this to their client.

8. What All Do You Need from Me?

This is one of the questions to ask a personal injury lawyer to immediately get on their good side.

Can you file a personal injury lawsuit without an attorney?

When securing compensation for any injuries you may have sustained, you need to be sure you have the right personal injury lawyer representing you. Lawsuits should never be done without an attorney, as these specialists know exactly what you should do in order to win the case.

Do personal injury lawyers get paid?

Most personal injury lawyers will get paid based on contingency fees. This means that you won’t have to pay them any fees unless they win you that lawsuit. You will be told right away whether your case is on the winning or losing side. In the event that you do get your compensation, they will get a share of it as well.

Can a lawyer have no cases lined up?

Hiring a lawyer that has no cases lined up might be a problem. On the other hand, you should not go for the type that takes on too many cases at the same time. If this happens, they may sit too long on your case and focus on many other clients at once when they should be focusing on yours instead.

Do law firms have more lawyers?

A law firm usually has more lawyers, so there is a chance that they will pass your case to other available lawyers. This might not be a problem, but you should at least ensure that you know exactly who will be representing you. 6.

Can you ask questions later in a personal injury case?

Hiring a personal injury lawyer can be challenging, but as long as you ask the right questions, you should find one that is compatible with your needs. “Shoot first, ask questions later” does not work in this case, so you might want to do your research and have your questions answered.