Are you aware that 20-50 million people suffer from non-fatal car accident injuries? With that many people being injured on the road, the odds are against you.
If you find yourself in this predicament, you’re going to need to hire a personal injury lawyer. With your head spinning post-accident, what are the questions to ask a lawyer when you two meet?
On your behalf, we have constructed some of the best questions to ask a lawyer. Read on to learn what to do and ask post-accident.
Questions to Ask a Lawyer
You want to make sure you are comfortable and see them as a trusted advisor. It’s in your best interest to speak with two attorneys before you make a final decision.
What Are Your Fees and How Are They Structured?
One of the first questions to ask a lawyer in an interview will be fees and fee structure. You will find most personal injury lawyers will work on a contingency fee basis. Unless you recover money damages in the lawsuit, you won’t have to pay a fee.
A personal injury lawyer will take anywhere between 25-40% of the recovered money damages.
Should I Pursue the Case?
Wondering if you should pursue the case is a common question when speaking with a personal injury attorney. You want to hire a trustworthy attorney, one that isn’t pushing you to trial.
A review of the case, available options, and guidance ought to be free of charge. You want to ensure it is a win-win scenario for you and your lawyer in terms of compensation for injuries and damages.
What Damages Can You Claim?
What are the damages you can claim when involved in an accident? You ought to receive compensation for all of them. Things like medical bills, property damages, lost income, and out-of-pocket expenses are questions to ask a lawyer.
Concerns such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and physical impairment are non-tangible losses to bring up to your attorney as well.
How Long Will It Take to Resolve the Case?
The complexity of your case will determine the duration. You can expect a timeframe of anywhere between a month to several months for a car accident case to be settled. If a case happens to be more complex, expect a year+.
Who Will Handle My Case?
When thinking of questions to ask when hiring a lawyer, “who will handle my case?” is a crucial one. You’ll want to know if senior partners or less-experienced attorneys will handle your case. In the event of the latter, be sure to ask whose responsibility it is for supervision.
Before a representation agreement is signed, you will see some injury law firms have their senior partners represented for potential clients. Once it is signed, you may not see them again. Be sure to bring these documents with you when meeting an auto accident attorney as well.
Will My Case Go to Trial?
This is one of the best questions to ask a lawyer. Treat any lawyer who informs you that the case will settle as a red flag. You want to hire an attorney with expectations of the case being tried before a jury.
The goal is to have enough evidence upon entering settlement negotiations.
Pursue a Personal Injury Lawyer
God forbid you ever suffer from a car accident, you now have a list of questions to ask a lawyer. We hope you learned something while reading our guide. It is our pleasure to serve you in this way.
For many more guides involving the law, be on the lookout for our blog posts. Stay safe!
