Four Questions You Must Ask Your Personal Injury Attorney
Posted Thursday, October 4, 2018 by Chris Thayer
Hiring an attorney is a big deal. You are entrusting another individual, or individuals, with seeking compensation for your injuries that have been caused by the negligence or wrongful act of another. This is not to be taken lightly. The attorney you hire should be someone with whom you are comfortable and whom you think of as a trusted advisor. Therefore, it is essential that in the initial consultation with an attorney, you ask him or her a lot of questions. An attorney will ask you questions about your case to determine a good fit, but you also should be asking questions to your attorney, such as:
*What is your experience in personal injury?* The experience that an attorney has in the area of personal injury can be a good indicator that the case has the potential for success. An experienced attorney has the confidence, knowledge, and skills to push your case forward and hopefully achieve the desired results. Although, it is important to keep in mind that regardless of the amount of experience an attorney has, there is no way to guarantee an outcome in a personal injury suit.
*How much time will you be able to devote to my case?* It is not often that you will find an attorney who is only working on one case. It is expected that attorneys are handling multiple cases at once, but you need to be sure that the attorney you hire has the necessary time to dedicate to your case. Be sure to ask about other attorneys and support staff that will be used to move your case forward. If the lead attorney is very busy, you want to be sure that other staff members will be available to make sure your case is given the attention it needs.
*How many personal injury cases have you taken to trial?* We live in a litigious society, but that does not mean that every lawsuit goes to trial. The majority of lawsuits all across America are settled before they reach the inside of a courtroom. As such, not every attorney has taken a personal injury suit all the way to trial. You want to ask about their trial experience and skills so that you can be confident that they will be able to represent you fully should the case go to trial.
*What is the representation fee?* Most personal injury suits do not involve an hourly fee that is paid to the attorney on a regular basis. The attorney and client instead enter into a contingency fee agreement. With this agreement, the attorney and client agree that the attorney will take a certain percentage of the award that is given in the case. The client is generally not responsible for any fees at the outset of the relationship. It is important to establish this agreement and know exactly what each side’s responsibilities are.
If you are seeking a personal injury attorney, the Pivotal Law Group is here for you. We know that both the attorney and the client need to feel comfortable and confident with the relationship. We are prepared to answer all of your questions and fight to get you the best award possible under the circumstances. Contact us today for a free consultation.
(image courtesy of Joe Perales)