what questions should i ask a personal injury lawyer

A few of the questions you should ask your personal injury attorney include the following:

• Are you able to handle my case?
• Have you litigated a case similar to mine before?
• What is your assessment of my case?
• In what areas of law do you specialize?
• What is your contingency fee?
• How much am I expected to participate?
• Will I have to pay an advanced cost if we lose?

Full Answer

How soon should I contact a personal injury lawyer?

Apr 15, 2021 · Ask questions about what your lawyer can do for you and your case. Insurance claims. Lawsuits. Choose an attorney you like and trust. Oresky & Associates, PLLC. When searching for a personal injury lawyer, you should ask questions about their experience, services, and results. You only have one chance to recover and finding the right lawyer can make a big …

What should you look for in a personal injury lawyer?

Ask your personal injury lawyer how much of his or her current caseload is made up of personal injury lawsuits. You’ll want to work with someone who spends most of his or her time working on these types of cases and has developed an expertise in this area of the law.

Why should I hire a personal injury lawyer?

There are no right or wrong questions to ask a personal injury lawyer. If you have a question about a potential case, you should ask. You can only benefit from the information you learn. You could ask questions, such as: Do I have a strong enough case to file a lawsuit? How do I prove who was responsible for my injury?

Who is the best personal injury lawyer?

Important questions to ask a personal injury lawyer3 min read 1. What will be the cost of hiring an attorney? 2. Do you think I have a good chance in this case? If yes, then why? 3. Can you tell me the weaknesses in my case? 4. Do you have any history of handling cases like mine? 5. How many cases are you handling at one time? 6.

What questions should you ask your lawyer?

Questions you might ask your lawyerDo I have a problem that can be resolved by law?What legal risks am I facing?What documents do I need to support my case?Do I need statements from witnesses?What are my options for resolving the dispute out of court?How can I settle the case?More items...

How do I prepare for a personal injury case?

6 Tips for Preparing for a Personal Injury LawsuitTip #1: Speak to a Lawyer Immediately. ... Tip #2: Head to Your Doctor for Evaluation and Treatment. ... Tip #3: Collect All Evidence. ... Tip #4: Do Not Talk About Your Injuries or Case on Social Media. ... Tip #5: Know When to Take a Settlement. ... Tip #6: Stay in Touch with Your Attorney.More items...•Apr 30, 2021

What percentage do most personal injury lawyers take?

Unlike many other lawsuits, attorneys in personal injury cases are most often paid through a contingency fee agreement. If you're asking what percentage do lawyers take for personal injury services, the answer is they usually receive 33-55% of the award as payment fees.May 17, 2021

What are the stages of a personal injury claim?

There are three pretrial phases: The Compliant and Answer Phase, the Discovery Phase, and the Motions Phase. The complaint is usually filed in the county where your injury occured. This document details your allegations regarding your injury and the extent of your damages.

What is the process of a personal injury claim?

On the surface the stages of a personal injury claim seem fairly straightforward, lodge your claim, try to agree a settlement, and go to court if necessary.Oct 5, 2021

When an attorney's fee is a percentage of the recovery?

In a contingent fee arrangement, the lawyer agrees to accept a fixed percentage (often one-third to 40 percent) of the recovery, which is the amount finally paid to the client. If you win the case, the lawyer's fee comes out of the money awarded to you.Dec 3, 2020

How much do lawyers make per case?

Their clients do not pay them anything until the lawyer wins the case or it settles. This means that the lawyers earn a percentage of the settlement or the judgment awarded by the court. This fee ranges from 33% to 50% of the proceeds from the case, plus any legal expenses incurred.Mar 30, 2020

What are the two ways of recovering damages in a civil case?

Generally, there are two types of damages: compensatory and punitive. (The term "damages" typically includes both categories, but the term, "actual damages" is synonymous with compensatory damages, and excludes punitive damages.)

What to ask before deciding if a case is worth it?

Before deciding if a case is worth it, you should ask for the attorney’s opinion about your case. Because every case is different, beware of any attorney that guarantees a specific settlement or verdict amount. Rather, they should be able to provide you with information about damages you can pursue. They should also be able to give you examples of their firm’s case results.

How long can you sue for a personal injury in New York?

If we cannot resolve your personal injury case with an insurance settlement, we can assist you with a lawsuit. In New York, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury suit is three years, according to NY CPLR § 214-C. Under N.Y. Est. Powers & Trusts Law § 5-4.1 you have two years to file suit for the wrongful death of a loved one. There are shorter limitations for cases involving governmental entities as well as extensions based upon infancy or incapacity.

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.

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.

Why do people settle out of court?

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

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.

Can a personal injury attorney work on your case?

You most likely want to know if the personal injury attorney has any similar experience in his or her past that will help you win your case. Some people only want experienced attorneys. Others are okay with allowing new attorneys to work on their case. It’s up to you, but you should be able to make the choice yourself.

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.

1. Why Do You Think I Have a Good Case?

This gives you insight into your potential attorney’s level of comfort and optimism about your case. It assures you that potential attorneys understand the details of your case and know what tactics to use to ensure success.

2. What Are the Weaknesses of My Case?

Both you and your attorney should understand the potential weaknesses that your case involves to ensure that anything that could damage your case is avoided.

4. How Many Successful Verdicts Have You Won in Court?

You should never hire an attorney that doesn’t have a history of successful, settled cases to back them up.

5. How Will You Keep Me Updated on the Progress of My Case?

Communication is vital in every court case, and being on the same page as your potential attorney is vitally important. It would help if you discussed what types of communication you can expect and how frequently you will be updated on the progress of your case.

7. Who at the Firm Will Be My Main Contact?

Knowing who to contact with your questions and concerns is extremely helpful during a personal injury case. Will you be in touch with your lawyer? Or do they have a secretary who you’ll contact with your questions?

8. Can You Give Me Examples of Your Recent Successes?

How an attorney describes their cases will offer you some insight into their process as well as confidence in their own capabilities.

9. How Long Do You Think It Will Take to Resolve My Case?

While every case is individual and unique, asking your attorney for a rough estimate of the timeframe will help you begin forming realistic expectations of the upcoming months.

What is a personal injury lawyer?

After an accident, your personal injury lawyer will be your advocate and representative throughout the process of securing compensation for your injuries and other losses. You want to make sure this is someone you trust, someone who has a track record of success, and someone with whom you can communicate openly and honestly.

Who is Hank Stout?

Stout is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law and has been actively trying cases for over fifteen years. In recognition of his accomplishments and results, he has been selected by Thompson Reuters as a Super Lawyer since 2014 (a distinction given to less than 1% of the lawyers in the state of Texas) and has been selected as Lead Counsel. To learn more, read Hank's full bio here.

Do you want an attorney who has never been in trouble?

Obviously, you want an attorney who has never gotten into any trouble. Ask your personal injury lawyer whether he or she has ever been subject to disciplinary proceedings by the State Bar of Texas.

What to do if you have been injured in an accident?

If you’ve been injured in an accident, you probably have many questions going through your head as you try to manage the accident’s impact on your life. You’re dealing with medical expenses, insurance issues, physical rehabilitation, and effects on your work and home life.

What is the legal equivalent of a general practitioner?

Some lawyers are the legal equivalent of general practitioners. They work with all kinds of cases, from divorces to traffic tickets. That might be good business for them, but it’s not always great for their clients.

Can an attorney predict the length of a case?

While no attorney will be able to predict with 100% accuracy when all the legal proceedings will be completed, it’s not unreasonable to ask approximately how long your case will take . Much of this depends on what the insurance company does or how opposing counsel defends their client.

Do most accidents go to trial?

The majority of accident cases do not go to trial. And frankly, many of them don’t even require a lawsuit, as they can be resolved by working within the personal injury insurance claims process.