Questions You Should Ask Your Personal Injury Lawyer Before Hiring Him

Hiring a personal injury attorney is a very personal decision. These questions are simply meant to be a general guide. As you progress with your search you may find other questions that need to be answered.

1. In which practice of law do you specialize? This is an important question to ask because you want to find an attorney who specializes in personal injury cases not other areas of the law.

2. Have you ever dealt with cases like mine and if so what results were you able to obtain? Do not be shy in asking your potential injury lawyer about the results they have obtained in other cases. Results are what matter and if they have been successful in dealing with cases like yours this is a good sign.

3. Will you be the only personal injury lawyer working the case? You want to know who you are dealing with. You want to know if you are hiring the lawyer you are actually interviewing or if they are going to give your case to somebody else on the staff.

4. How long do you think it will take for the case to be settled? If the injury lawyer is experienced they should be able to give you a rough estimate on how long your types of cases take to be settled.

5. Do you work on a contingency fee basis? A contingency fee is when the lawyer is only paid when he gets a favorable settlement for you. Typically no fees are charged the client unless the attorney obtains a settlement in your favor.l This is crucial. Attorney fees can be expensive. If they are going to charge you up front fees you need to be very clear on the terms.

6. What role can I play in making my case better or helping make your job easier? Remember you are on the same side as your personal injury lawyer. Your goals are the same, to obtain the best settlement in your favor. Find out everything you can do to make your team work better.

7. How will you keep me informed about the progress of my case? Of course injury lawyer's time is valuable. You want to respect their time. It is best to work out the methods and frequency of communication in advance so that there are no misunderstandings from either side.

8. If I call your office how long will it take to get back to me? Again get the communication details and expectations out of the way up front. This will avoid any misunderstandings.

9. If you are not available or on vacation who should I speak with about my case? Attorneys generally do not work completely alone. Get to know who their assistants are in case your attorney is not available.

10. How often do you actually go to trial? Some lawyers are good a getting settlements. Others prefer to go to trial. Get a feel for how your attorney works.

11. What if I do not want to settle but you do? Will you still represent me in court?

12,. What if I like the offer but you think I can get more? Will you respect my wishes or will you insist on going to trial?

13. Have your ever been disciplined or suspended for ethics violations? If so can you please explain the details?

14. What is your educational background and what do you do to keep up with the latest developments in your field?

These questions are just a guideline to get you started with your search for the right personal injury attorney. If questions come to mind jot them down and add them to the questions we have already given you.