When it's time to find a personal injury attorney, you may be faced with several choices. How do you choose the right attorney for your case?One of the reasons that personal injury attorneys offer consultations is so that they can discuss your case and find out more. If it's something they can handle or something that they want to attempt, they’ll discuss that with you.
But as a client, you should make sure that the attorney you hire is someone you feel comfortable sharing personal details of your life with. You'll be working closely with this individual to resolve a personal injury case, so you need to make sure it's someone that you can speak to about private matters. Many people realize that they can use their free consultation to interview personal injury attorneys before selecting the one they believe will best represent them.One of the most important things you should do as a potential client is to ask the attorney your own questions. Some questions are standard, such as how long an attorney has been practicing, how many personal injury cases they've done, and even where they went to law school. But these questions will not give you a sense of what kind of attorney they are, how they practice law, and how well they will work for you.So, what question should you ask? Here are some that you should ask any attorney you’re meeting for the first time.1. Do I have a case? From a car accident to a slip and fall or medical malpractice case, this is one of the first things you should ask. The attorney will review the facts of your case and advise you accordingly.2. Do cases like mine go to trial or settle out of court? The attorney you select may advise you that your case is probably better to settle. However, the attorney should always be prepared to take your case to trial If the insurance companies won’t cooperate. If the attorney habitually settles without going to court, chances are they will advise you to settle, too.3. Do you have the bandwidth to handle my case? A smaller firm, such as a sole practitioner’s office, may not have the staff to handle a full-on accident case. You want to know if they have the time and energy to not only handle but win your case.4. What costs am I expected to pay during the case, or if we lose? This will depend on the fee arrangement that you sign. Ask, of course, before you sign anything. You may be required to pay for things like copies, court and filing fees, and expert witness fees. Some attorneys will require you to pay these additional costs, but others may not require you to cover them. Make sure to ask prior to signing anything.5. Who will be handling my case? Some lawyers will hand off cases to junior attorneys to handle. Others will give some of the work to paralegals to handle for them, such as document reviews, so they can work on other parts of your case, like depositions. You should also ask for a point of contact from whatever attorney you decide to hire.6. What is my personal injury case worth? This is probably the most common question fielded by attorneys. Everybody wants to know how much money they can count on when they receive a settlement, or a judgment if the case goes to court. The answer will depend on several things because no two cases are alike. That said, as the attorney learns the details of your case, he or she could be able to give you a ballpark figure on a potential settlement or award from a jury. However, your attorney’s ability to try cases in court and negotiate with insurers may also affect the value of your case. If your attorney is ready to take your case to court, then you know they will fight for the maximum amount of compensation they can get for you. But if the attorney commonly settles cases without taking them to court, chances are your case won’t go to court either. Make sure the attorney you select is ready and willing to take the case to court if it becomes necessary.There's nothing wrong with interviewing more than one attorney to find the best one for your personal injury case. These are just a few of the questions you should ask every attorney before you hire the best one for your case. Make a list of all your questions ahead of time and take them with you to every attorney you meet. Print a new sheet for every interview and take notes from each attorney so you can compare them to find the right one for you.
Kansas City’s Premier Personal Injury Firm
Since 1918, The Popham Law Firm has been representing people just like you in personal injury cases. We’ll be happy to review your case, let you know if you have one, and how to proceed. No two cases are alike, and we will work to maximize your settlement. Because the laws frequently change, working with us means you’ll be up to date on the current laws that apply. Contact us at (844) 243-2288 to get started.
