7 Important Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer

Whether you want to be heavily involved in your case or not, getting clarity from your attorney on your role is essential. An attorney should also be able to provide an approximate time frame for your case to resolve.

Do You Have Experience with My Type of Case?

The more experience an attorney has with your type of case, the more likely they will successfully handle your lawsuit. This is a crucial question to ask before hiring an attorney.

Personal injury cases are complex and require extensive resources, including accident reconstructionists, investigators, and medical and financial experts. Ask an attorney how many similar cases they have handled and what the results were.

You also want to ensure the lawyer is prepared to take your case to trial. While most personal injury cases are settled out of court, you want to ensure your attorney has the skills and knowledge to take your case to trial successfully.

Do You Have Trial Experience?

A personal injury attorney’s experience is crucial, but it is equally important to understand whether or not they are prepared to take a case through trial. You want to ensure that your lawyer can handle a case through trial and that they aren’t just going to give in to lowball settlement offers from insurance companies.

If an attorney has little trial experience, it may be because they are so good at settling claims that they never have to go to court. Generally, insurance companies know that personal injury lawyers in the Philadelphia area with extensive trial experience will fight for their clients and won’t settle for less than what they deserve.

How Much Do You Charge?

Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, meaning they get paid a percentage of the final award or settlement. This is a typical arrangement for many types of legal cases and is usually a good thing.

You should find out how much your case will cost from the beginning so that you can budget accordingly. While you cannot expect your lawyer to tell you precisely what the case will be worth, they should have a general idea and be able to explain how they came up with that estimate.

What Issues Do You See with My Case?

During the consultation, you should ask your potential injury attorney what issues they see with your case. While most personal injury cases are settled without going to trial, your lawyer should be able to identify any foreseeable difficulties.

In addition, you should also find out whether the attorney will be handling your case or if it will be passed off to a paralegal team. This will help you determine whether or not you’ll be able to communicate with the lawyer frequently. Some clients want to be involved every step of the way, while others prefer only to receive periodic updates.

How Will My Case Be Handled?

It’s important to ask a potential injury attorney how they intend to handle your case. You want to ensure they have the time and resources to get you the full settlement you deserve.

You will also want to know how they plan to update you throughout the process. Some attorneys prefer to communicate via email or phone, while others may meet with their clients face-to-face. It would help if you also determined whether you will work directly with a senior attorney or an associate.

What Are Your Fees for the Initial Consultation?

It’s essential to ask about fees for the initial consultation. Some attorneys charge a flat fee for this meeting, while others may charge an hourly rate.

It would help to discuss how the attorney will keep you updated on the case’s progress. Some people prefer a hands-on approach and want their lawyers to call them daily. In contrast, others prefer to be less involved and only have occasional meetings with their attorney or paralegal.

You should also ask about any potential fee increase if the case goes to trial or arbitration. Personal injury lawyers generally structure their changes based on contingency, so this should be no surprise.

How Long Will My Case Take?

Although each case is unique, a lawyer should be able to give you an estimate of how long it will take to prosecute your claim. You also want to know whether you will work directly with the attorney handling your case or if they will delegate tasks to a less-experienced associate.

Moreover, determine how frequently the lawyer will update you on your claim. Depending on your preferences, you may want to be updated frequently via phone or email, while others prefer occasional updates from their lawyer.