- Personal Injury Archive
If you intend to pursue a compensation claim for an injury caused by another person, you need a personal injury lawyer. Personal injury lawyers are legal professionals who specialize in injury cases. These cases emanate from automobile accidents, medical malpractice cases, premises liability, defective products, etc.
When hiring a personal injury lawyer, it is crucial to establish that they have the required expertise and knowledge needed to win your case. One way to find this out is by asking questions. These questions should be put forth at your very first meeting with the attorney before hiring their services.
In this article, our Atlanta personal injury lawyers at the Bethune Law Firm look at questions injury victims should ask before hiring an attorney. If you are the victim of an accident, our lawyers will give you excellent legal advice and represent you during the claims process. So, contact us today.
Top Six Questions to Ask a Personal Injury Lawyer
Asking questions is part of the due diligence you must carry out before hiring a lawyer. This way, you ensure you’ve crossed every “t” and dotted every “i.” Below are six questions we recommend you ask before asking a lawyer to represent you.
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Have You Handled This Type of Case Before?
As mentioned earlier, there are different types of personal injury cases. So, just because an attorney advertises themselves as a personal injury lawyer doesn’t mean they’ve handled your kind of case before. For example, their expertise might be limited to auto accidents and medical malpractice.
If your case is that of a dog bite or a slip and fall, then the lawyer might be unable to help you. Thus, find out the type of personal injury cases they handle. Experience is crucial when pursuing a claim, so don’t gloss over this question.
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How Much Time Will You Devote to My Case?
There’s nothing wrong with a lawyer having a heavy caseload. It means they are active and have the experience and knowledge you need. However, if their workload keeps them from devoting “adequate” time to your case, then they may not be the right fit for you. You need a personal injury lawyer who will have time for your claim to ensure its early conclusion. If your lawyer keeps moving meeting dates or court dates, your case may go on forever.
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How Long Do You Expect This Case to Last?
No two cases are the same, so every case has a different timeline. But generally, personal injury cases take between weeks, months, or years to conclude. Of course, several factors like the parties’ willingness to settle may affect a case’s duration. However, your lawyer should be able to tell you when they expect to conclude your case. If they don’t meet the expected deadline, they should also tell you why.
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How Much Is This Case Worth?
The fact you’re filing an injury claim means that you suffered some financial losses due to the injury sustained. Hence, you deserve some compensation, and it’s wise to have a number in mind ahead of time. A personal injury attorney is the best person to tell you how much your claim is worth.
Their vast experience gives them insight into the estimated worth of every case based on the facts and receipts of money spent thus far. In addition, lawyers work with financial experts who can calculate the value of the claim. Note that just because your lawyer gives you an estimated amount doesn’t mean that’s what you’ll get. You could get more or less, so keep an open mind.
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Do You Have Trial Experience?
Although most personal injury claims settle out of court, there are times the case goes to trial. This is common where both parties fail to agree and where the victim wants punitive damages. So, you need to know if the lawyer has trial experience and how well they fared in those cases.
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What Fees and Expenses Do You Charge?
You should always settle the issue of lawyers’ fees and expenses before hiring. Indeed, personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, but they might also need you to pay for other costs like filing fees and serving court processes. So, you need to agree on the expenses you’ll pay for and include them in the contingency fee agreement. A contingency fee means that you do not pay the lawyer unless they win.
Get Help From Experienced Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyers!
At the Bethune Law Firm, our personal injury lawyers are available to answer all your questions. Getting you justice is what we’re about, and you can trust us to secure the maximum compensation. So, call us today to schedule a free case review.
