- January 7, 2020
- Posted by: Robert Katz
- Category: Car Accidents, Fall and Slip
If you have been injured in an auto accident, slipped and fallen on an icy parking lot, or been bitten by a neighbor’s dog, you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit to receive compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. Thus, you will need to hire a lawyer who specializes in personal injury cases. To make sure you hire the best attorney, here are seven important questions you should always ask at your first meeting.
What is Your Fee Structure?
In most situations, personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you will not be charged any fees unless you win your case and receive financial compensation. Should this happen, your attorney will typically collect 25-40 percent of the amount awarded to you.
Have You Handled Similar Cases?
Before you hire an attorney, we advise you make sure they have experience handling cases like yours. Otherwise, you may find yourself on the losing end of a lawsuit.
Can You Negotiate a Settlement?
Since most personal injury cases are settled out-of-court, it is important your attorney have experience negotiating settlements with insurance companies and lawyers for the defendant. In doing so, you can get maximum compensation for your damages.
Will You Handle My Case?
In some situations, just because you hire an attorney does not mean they will spend much time on your case. Very often, many details of cases are handled by junior associates at a firm or even paralegals, so we suggest you always make sure you know who exactly will be in charge of your case.
What Will be My Role in the Case?
Depending on the complexities of your case, you may or may not play a significant role in the case proceedings. For example, some lawyers will have clients attend depositions and other meetings, while other attorneys will prefer their clients stay in the background.
What is Your Track Record of Success?
Before hiring a personal injury lawyer to handle your case, make sure they can provide verifiable information of having a track record of success handling similar cases. For example, don’t be afraid to ask for references from past clients. If the attorney cannot give you a satisfactory answer to this question, look elsewhere.
What is My Case Worth?
While a Delaware County person injury lawyer should not be able to give you an exact figure as to your case’s worth, they should be able to give you a reasonable estimate based on past experience. Should an attorney quote you an amount that sounds completely outrageous, be wary. Like we say, if it sounds too good to be true, chances are it is.