If you've suffered a personal injury and have taken the brave step of seeking compensation via the civil justice system, you may feel lost when looking for a personal injury lawyer to represent you.
However, which attorney you pick to handle your case is one of the biggest determinants of compensation in a legal claim. Ultimately, you must have a good relationship with your lawyer for your claim to have the best chances of achieving maximum compensation.
Up next, we present some questions you should consider asking an injury attorney before making a selection.
A quick online search for the best personal injury lawyers is sure to produce hundreds of listings. The following questions will help you sift through the possibilities and ultimately land on the best lawyer for you.
It is vital to have a legal representative who is specialized in the type of law that covers your case. You wouldn't visit a dermatologist with a broken leg; in the same way, you can't expect a criminal lawyer to prepare an injury claim better than a seasoned personal injury lawyer.
Along this same vein, you can also research and inquire about the specific cases that the potential candidate has handled before. They may not be able to provide personal details, but you should be able to get an idea of the nature of the case. As before, you want a legal defendant who knows the specific laws that will influence your case. If they've handled similar cases in the past, it is likely that they are apt to get you the compensation you're looking for.
Any single law firm may have dozens or even hundreds of attorneys within their networks. For this reason, before moving forward with your claim it can be quite reassuring to find out exactly which professional/s will be managing your claim. This way, you will have a specific person whom you can ask specific questions about your case while it's ongoing. You also know who to call if anything comes up, which brings us to the next question...
Establishing the method and frequency of communication that is to be followed while the claim is ongoing can be critical. The attorney needs to be able to manage your expectations.
It's almost guaranteed that the attorney carrying your case will be working on other cases at the same time, so you can't expect to be able to get in touch with them at any time. Nevertheless, if you need to speak with your lawyer, there needs to be a clear and direct way for you to accomplish this, and it's important to straighten this out in private before the claim is presented.
The first question that often comes up in injury claims is "How much are your legal fees?" Most injury attorneys will work on a contingency fee basis, which is to say that they will take a percentage of the final compensation amount that is achieved. On the other hand, if no compensation is awarded, then the attorney usually does not get paid.
You should never assume that your lawyer works on contingency, nor that they will not charge additional fees even if the claim is not successful. Get clear answers on the percentage of your compensation that is to be paid out in dues, and inquire about additional fees that may be charged at the end of the legal process.
When you retain a lawyer, it is likely that you will not be asked to do much other than wait. In the end, the attorney is working for you (it's why you're paying them.) They, along with their team, should handle all aspects of the claims process that do not require your direct input.
Even with this basic understanding, it's vital to establish the role you are to play in the case so that, once more, your expectations are managed.
In summary, poor client-attorney communications can be considered the worst enemy of a successful case. By asking the questions presented on this page, you will be better armed to pick a legal representative to fight for your rights and give you the best chance of achieving justice.
Further Resources
To continue browsing our legal resources, visit the next page: Do I Need An Injury Lawyer To Be Compensated?
Blank Kim Injury Law
2000 Veirs Mill Rd a,
Rockville, MD 20851
(240) 329-3007
