Questions To Ask Personal Injury Lawyers

Hiring a personal injury lawyer can be overwhelming. The key is to remember you are the client. Here are some questions to ask personal injury lawyers you are considering.

As much as the legal profession denies it, law is an old boys network. The more experienced an attorney, the better. Ask how long the attorney has been practicing, how many trials they have had and how many they have won versus lost?

Obviously, providing quality services is also important. Make sure to ask the attorney if they have ever had a complaint lodged against them by a client. Also ask if they have ever been disciplined by the bar. The "bar" is the licensing entity in each state. Most have an online site that you can use to read up on your attorney.

Specificity is also important when choosing an attorney. It is great and all that the prospective attorney has done hundreds of trials, but has he or she tried a case covering the same subject matter as yours? Trying 100 car accident cases doesn't help a lawyer prepare for their first medical malpractice trial.

Not to be negative, but ask about malpractice insurance. People are often surprised to learn that attorneys in most states are not required to carry it. They are also not required to tell you most of the time. Ask for a clarification up front and an explanation if they are not carrying it.

As odd as it may sound, you need to also ask who is going to be working on your case. Many lawyers hire a small army of paralegals. Paralegals can do a lot of work, but they are not attorneys. Many people have been frustrated by law firms when they realize there case is essentially being handled by a paralegal instead of a lawyer.

Finally, make sure you are comfortable with your attorney. Remember, they work for you, not the other way around.

Personal Injury Lawyers - 5 Questions You Must Ask!

1) Do they have experience with your type of accident?

This is the single most important question to ask any personal injury attorney. They must have experience with your type of accident. The laws regarding victims injured in car accidents are not the same as victims injured in slip and fall accident or victims injured in a product defect accident. The insurance companies have different lawyers they use to defend themselves for each individual accident type who are experts in that field. You need an attorney who has the experience and legal knowledge to represent your type of accident. When it comes to personal injury lawyers, one size does NOT fit all.

2) How much knowledge do they have of your specific injury?

You need a personal injury lawyer with the medical knowledge to represent your specific type of injury. A broken arm is completely different than a traumatic brain injury. Your attorney must have an understanding of the short and long term effects of your injury. Insurance companies will have lawyers and medical experts trained to scrutinize your specific injury and immediate and future medical needs. You need an attorney with access to medical experts and the ability to make sense of the complicated medical terms associated with your specific injury. Try to nail down exactly what makes the lawyer you are talking to qualified to handle your case AND your injury.

3) How many times have they gone to trial?

The answer to this question is extremely important for complex legal cases involving wrongful death, paralysis, product and premises liability, and any mental or physical injury which will require long term medical care. Insurance companies will almost always take these cases to trial. They do not want to be on the hook for the expensive, life-long costs associated with these types of injuries. Your personal injury lawyer should have an acceptable trial record that lets the insurance companies and their lawyers know they are not afraid to go the distance. If the attorney you're talking to doesn't have trial experience, find one who does.

4) What is their highest verdict or judgment in a trail?

Trial experience is only valuable if it's productive. An attorney who constantly goes to trial and loses is just as bad as one who never goes to trial. Make sure your personal injury lawyer wins cases and has the legal experience and medical knowledge to make juries understand the true cost of your injuries. Remember, the expenses associated with a trial are passed on to you and the attorney's contingency fee usually goes up if a trial is necessary. Be sure they have the resources and ability to come out of the courtroom with a high verdict in your favor.

5) How long had they been practicing law before they resolved their first $1,000,000 case?

This might sound like an offbeat question, but it is extremely important when it comes to finding a qualified personal injury lawyer. Unfortunately, some attorneys are only in business to take the first settlement offer that comes along from an insurance company. The answer to this question lets you know if the lawyer you're talking to is serious about representing their clients and if they have the ability to take on and master new challenges, rather than, literally, settling for easy money from routine cases.