what questions might a lawyer ask if i hire him for a personal injury case?

One of the most important questions to ask a personal injury lawyer is how they approach fees and costs. Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis. That means they do not bill you an hourly rate that you pay as you go.

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What should you look for in a personal injury lawyer?

 · Ask the attorney how much your injury and damages are worth? The attorney may not be able to give you a hard and fast figure but they can give you an estimate. You are allowed to ask the attorney if they have been disciplined or sued? If you find out they have been, make sure you stick around long enough to find out why and what happened.

How soon should I contact a personal injury lawyer?

What Are Your Fees and Costs? One of the most important questions to ask a personal injury lawyer is how they approach fees and costs. Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis. That means they do not bill you an hourly rate that you pay as you go.

Why should I hire a personal injury lawyer?

 · When interviewing a lawyer, please put this information to good use. Share this report or link with your family and friends who need to hire a lawyer. Use the 9 questions (and answers) to properly interview all of the lawyers you are thinking about hiring in your personal injury and wrongful death case.

Why do you need to hire a personal injury lawyer?

 · Every lawyer has a different specialty. You cannot ask a real estate lawyer to represent you in a personal injury case, and can’t ask the other way around too. So, make sure you know exactly which lawyer is qualified to take up your case in case of a personal injury, insurance, premises liability, and so on. How many years of experience does ...

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 questions should lawyers ask?

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 kinds of materials should the personal injury client bring to the interview?

Evidence through images, video and objects from the scene, for injuries and of the other person's car are necessary. Any proof for repairs and receipts that show parts were ordered and materials fixed are beneficial. All of these make a clearer observation that there is a possible valid case for the lawyer.

What are some scenarios where a person might need to hire an attorney?

Business Issues. One of the most common reasons that people hire an attorney is for business issues. ... Estate Planning. Estate planning is the second most common reason that people hire an attorney. ... Family Issues. ... You've Been Charged with a Crime. ... One Person Hurts Another.

What you should know before you talk to a lawyer?

10 Things You Should Know Before Contacting a LawyerHave Your Documents Ready. ... Research the Elements of Your Case. ... Don't Call if You Just Have a Question. ... You May Not Speak to a Lawyer Right Away. ... Do Not Ask the Legal Support Staff for Advice. ... Don't Provide Too Much Information. ... Answer the Lawyer's Specific Questions.More items...•

What do you talk about at a lawyer consultation?

You'll want to get details on what kind of procedures to expect. Ask how long it will take for the entire case to be resolved. Discuss the legal strategies that will be used. Find out if your attorney will attempt to settle and if mediation or arbitration are options.

What evidence do you need for a personal injury claim?

Documents and evidence to prove liability Photographs of the accident location. Photographs of your injuries. Any written reports from where the accident took place or if the police attended. Documentation you have from any witnesses.

What is needed for a personal injury claim?

There are four main types of documents you need when making a personal injury claim: personal identification. medical evidence of your injury. proof of the cause of the accident.

What is included in a personal injury claim?

What is a personal injury claim? A personal injury claim is a legal case you can open if you've been hurt in an accident and it was someone else's fault. It's the formal process of recovering compensation from the other party, who was responsible for your injury. This will usually come from their insurance company.

What is a retainer fee?

A retainer fee is an amount of money paid upfront to secure the services of a consultant, freelancer, lawyer, or other professional. A retainer fee is most commonly paid to individual third parties that have been engaged by the payer to perform a specific action on their behalf.

How often should I hear from my attorney?

There is no set formula for how often you will hear from your attorney. However, the key to a successful attorney client relationship is communication. Whenever there is an important occurrence in your case you will be contacted or notified.

What do people want from their lawyers?

Most lawyers want to build a strong client relationship. They believe that when they are professional, logical, and offer good advice (and resolve the matter) that they have provided the elements of a good relationship. Clients see it entirely differently.

Why is it important to ask a personal injury lawyer to interview?

Although uncomfortable, it’s important to ask this to the personal injury lawyer you’re interviewing so that you know if he or she has been in trouble in the past and the reasons it’s for. You want to make sure you’re hiring someone with integrity and respect for the legal profession.

Do personal injury lawyers know if you have a case?

Usually, the personal injury lawyer will let you know after some research as to whether or not you have a case. But, feel free to ask just in case they already know the answer.

Is it hard to hire a personal injury lawyer?

Hiring a personal injury lawyer might seem difficult and confusing, but it doesn’t have to be. Lawyers go through intensive schooling and education to be able to represent clients competently. When you or a family member has been injured, hiring a lawyer might be the last thing on your mind.

What is communication in personal injury?

Communication is a huge topic of conversation between you and your future personal injury lawyer. You need to set boundaries and discuss different methods of contact so that you are both clear and comfortable moving forward.

What to do if you don't want to go to trial?

If you don’t want to go to trial, be sure to express your concerns to the personal injury lawyer you’re interviewing. Many people prefer settling out of court because it is much less stressful. 16.

Why do people settle out of court?

Many people prefer settling out of court because it is much less stressful.

Do personal injury lawyers charge out of pocket?

Some personal injury lawyers charge for case-related costs, even if they lose your case. Knowing what, if any, out of pocket costs you may have to pay is very important. It is better to know if an attorney does require you to pay these fees sooner rather than later.

What do law firms use?

Some law firms use paralegals and secretaries to do much of the legal work, including handling communications with clients like you. You may want to ask who will primarily be responsible for taking your calls and providing you advice throughout the duration of your legal claim.

What expenses do you have to pay out of pocket?

Some costs you may have to pay out of pocket should you lose include: Court filing fees. Expert witness fees. Administrative fees. Information-gathering expenses. If you choose West Law Firm to represent you, you never pay anything, including case costs and expenses, unless and until you recover compensation.

Do personal injury lawyers go to court?

Most lay people believe that all personal injury lawyers go to court and try cases on a regular basis. Nothing could be further from the truth. A significant percentage of lawyers who hold themselves out to be “trial lawyers” or “personal injury lawyers” have little or no jury trial experience. One of the first questions you should ask is whether the lawyer tries cases in court, and, if so, how often. This is an important question that many lay people never think to ask.

What happens if you are injured by someone else's negligence?

If you’ve been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, you will be facing many important decisions in the days, weeks and months following an injury. Finding the "right" lawyer to represent you is often the most critical factor in a successful recovery.

What is contingent fee in personal injury?

A “contingent” fee means that there is no attorney fee unless there is a recovery and the fee is a percentage of the amount recovered. (i.e. usually 33.33% of the amount recovered). That means that the lawyer will not charge the client a fee unless there is a recovery. Sounds simple, right? Not so fast. This is an area where personal injury victims need to be careful before they make a decision on a lawyer for their case.

What is a contingent fee?

A “contingent” fee means that there is no attorney fee unless there is a recovery and the fee is a percentage of the amount recovered. (i.e. usually 33.33% of the amount recovered). That means that the lawyer will not charge the client a fee unless there is a recovery.

What are case expenses?

Case expenses are monies paid to third parties to keep the case going: expert witness fees, court reporter fees, charges for medical records, charges for physician reports, filing fees and the many other expenses that go into a personal injury lawsuit. Case expenses are handled differently by different law firms.

Why do lawyers speak at seminars?

They are asked to speak at legal education seminars because other attorneys want to hear what they have to say. Lawyers who regularly write articles in legal publications are usually the authorities in the field and know what they are talking about. Many personal injury lawyers will list the topics of their speaking engagements or their publications on their website. If you want to know whether a lawyer teaches other lawyers about developments in personal injury law or writes articles about personal injury litigation, you should check the lawyer’s website or ask for a copy of the lawyer’s resume.

What is a general practitioner lawyer?

Some lawyers are “general practitioners” who handle many different types of legal cases, including the occasional personal injury case. If you have a serious personal injury claim, you will want a lawyer who handles personal injury cases on a day-in, day-out basis.

Will You Be the Attorney Handling My Case?

Don’t assume that the attorney you speak with at the initial meeting is the attorney who will handle your case. If you are meeting with attorneys who work in large firms, your case could be passed around. Ask upfront who will be working on your case, so there are no surprises.

What Are Your Fees and Costs?

One of the most important questions to ask a personal injury lawyer is how they approach fees and costs. Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis. That means they do not bill you an hourly rate that you pay as you go.

What Is My Case Value?

While a personal injury attorney cannot give you an absolute number that your case will settle for, they can give you an idea of what they feel your case is worth. A knowledgeable attorney can discuss factors that can impact your case’s settlement value, including liability, medical history, amount of treatment, etc.

What Is My Role in the Case?

One of your personal injury questions should also ask about what role you will play in your case. Some clients want to be completely hands-on, while others don’t want to hear anything until the at-fault party’s insurance extends an offer.

Contact a San Francisco Personal Injury Lawyer

If you were injured in a personal injury accident, you need to speak with an experienced San Francisco personal injury attorney as soon as possible.

Question No. 1: How Long Have You Been Practicing Law As A Licensed Attorney?

The attorney’s answer to this question is important and can be very revealing. It takes many years to become proficient in the legal profession.

Question No. 2: What Percentage Of Your Practice Is Devoted To Personal Injury And Wrongful Death Cases?

For the past 10-15 years of a lawyer’s practice, at least 90% of the attorney’s time should have been focused on representing personal injury clients in major catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. Why not 100%? There are two good reasons.

Question No. 3: How Many Court And Jury Trials Have You Had And What Were Your Results?

Have you had any court trials? How about jury trials? When was the last trial you had? How many of these trials involved serious catastrophic injury or wrongful death? What were the pre-trial settlement offers? What were the results and verdicts?

Question No. 4: Will I Be Interacting Directly With You Or Someone Else In Your Office?

The attorney you hire should have the time to meet with you in his or her office and talk with you over the telephone. The attorney you hire should be the attorney appearing in depositions, hearings and court on your behalf.

Question No. 6: Are You An Active Member In the Local, State And National Trial Lawyer Organizations? How About Your Local Community and Online?

Good personal injury trial attorneys share tips, tools, information, and techniques with other attorneys across the state, country and world. It’s important for your attorney to be “plugged into” these organizations so that you can benefit from the exchange of information.

Question No. 7: Can You Provide Me With The Names Of 5-10 Past Clients Who Are Willing To Share Their Experiences With Me About Your Representation And Firm?

You can sit all day in the attorney’s office and listen to the attorney tell you just how great he or she is when it comes to handling a personal injury case or taking a wrongful death case to trial. While the attorney may be very convincing, how do you really know if he or she is telling you the truth?

Question No. 8: Do You Have Testimonials From Past Clients And Other Attorneys Which I Can Take With Me And Read?

Client testimonials are an excellent way to see what people have to say about the lawyer you are meeting with. Case results and awards are important, but in our opinion, good lawyers with satisfied clients will have plenty of written client testimonials for you to take with you and review.