what questions to ask you pi attorney

12 Important Questions to Ask Your Personal Injury Lawyer

1. Are you able to handle my case? Good lawyers know their limits. They can only devote so much of their expertise,...
2. Have you litigated a case like mine before? Experience and expertise are all-important when involved with anything...
3. What is your assessment of my case? As the victim, it is very easy to...

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What questions should I ask a personal injury lawyer?

Oct 18, 2017 · 12 Important Questions to Ask Your Personal Injury Lawyer 1. Are you able to handle my case? Good lawyers know their limits. They can only devote so much of their expertise,... 2. Have you litigated a case like mine before? Experience and expertise are all-important when involved with anything... 3. ...

What questions should I ask when hiring a law firm?

Asking your lawyer why they think your case is strong will help you gauge their experience and trustworthiness. You are not looking for the answer you want to hear. Instead, you are looking for an honest one. Their explanation will also show you how much thought and care they have already put into your case. 8.

Do lawyers like to do the questioning?

To that end, here are a few questions you should ask your personal injury attorney to make sure you have the right person for the job: 1. What areas of law does the attorney specialize in? Obviously, you would not go to a brain surgeon to deliver your …

What should I expect from my attorney's visit?

Questions to Ask a Personal Injury Lawyer. Securing compensation for your injuries and other losses after a serious accident can be very difficult. You may need to hire an experienced Colorado Springs personal injury lawyer to represent your interests in settlement negotiations with an insurance company. You should never file a personal injury lawsuit without first consulting …

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Is it hard to find a good lawyer?

Good lawyers can be hard to find. The stress of an injury and financial loss can be very hard to bear. Adding a bad or inexperienced lawyer to the mix will not help. Make sure to find the right lawyer who will represent you fairly, faithfully, and honestly. That will put you on solid ground during a very unstable time. You should also complete all medical treatment recommended by your doctors, because it will potentially impact the success of your case.

What should a lawyer expect from a trial?

Your lawyer should expect, and prepare for, all of their cases to go to trial. Settling out of court can make sense in many cases, but your lawyer should have the skills to take your case to trial, and win.#N#Your lawyer should also have a general time frame of how long it will take before your case is actually tried in court. Part of this requires knowing the local courthouse, but part of it also requires knowing the inner workings of the legal system in general.

Why is it important to have an expert?

Your attorney will be able to tell you what your chances are, approximately how much your case is worth financially, and if your case should be pursued. This may be one of the most important questions you can ask an experienced attorney and help you avoid additional ...

What do lawyers do?

Your lawyer is trying to defend you in a way you cannot do by yourself, and to do this effectively they will need to know you and your story.#N#Facts are one thing—the details of the incident, your medical history, documents from insurers and hospitals—but your lawyer should want to represent you, not just review records.#N#Additionally, you will need to consult with your attorney and their staff on various aspects of the case.#N#Some lawyers also handle cases differently based on their own personality. Some welcome (and even insist upon) a high level of involvement from clients. Others prefer to do much of the work themselves. Make certain you know exactly what your lawyer expects of you before committing.

What do personal injury attorneys charge for litigation?

The common saying is “we only get paid if we win for you.”#N#Out-of-pocket costs that attorneys advance include filing fees, medical records retrieval fees, and expert witness costs. Many lawyers will stipulate that these additional costs are not your responsibility if the case is lost, but others may require you to cover these costs if the case is lost.#N#Always be sure to ask this question when seeking legal counsel and make sure you fully comprehend any agreements you are asked to sign.

Can a lawyer give you time?

Court cases are part of life, and life is notoriously unpredictable. That means no lawyer can give you a definite, irrevocable amount of time. But, an experienced lawyer will know the legal system and your type of case well enough that they can give you a general time frame.

What happens if you are injured?

If you’re injured, you can incur expensive medical costs, lose wages from your job, and be forced to deal with tight-fisted insurance companies. If you’ve suffered injuries due to an accident or someone else’s negligence, you should always consult with a qualified law firm that has proven success with personal injury cases.

How long does it take to get a personal injury case resolved?

Depending on the complexity of your personal injury case and the extent of your injuries, it can take several months or even years to resolve. You’ll want to make sure that any personal injury lawyer you’re considering hiring has the time and resources to devote to your case.

Do personal injury cases settle before trial?

Most personal injury lawsuits settle before trial, so it’s also good to have an understanding of the types of settlements a personal injury lawyer has been able to secure for the client. Return to top ↑. 11.

Who is Hank Stout?

Stout is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law and has been actively trying cases for over fifteen years. In recognition of his accomplishments and results, he has been selected by Thompson Reuters as a Super Lawyer since 2014 (a distinction given to less than 1% of the lawyers in the state of Texas) and has been selected as Lead Counsel. To learn more, read Hank's full bio here.

Do personal injury attorneys charge a fee?

The vast majority of personal injury attorneys will not charge you for their services, but will take a portion from any monies you receive should you get a settlement or a positive outcome at trial. This is known as a contingency fee, where the attorney getting paid depends on (or is “contingent upon”) you getting paid.

Do insurance companies pay for personal injury cases?

Insurance companies, who usually end up paying for your injuries in a personal injury case, will often offer settlements that are much less than what you might be able to get if your case goes to a trial.

Do accidents come with forewarning?

Accidents rarely come with any forewarning, leaving most victims unprepared and unsure of how to proceed. When you or someone you know is injured, you will have a lot of uncertainty and need to make a lot of decisions very quickly.

What to know before hiring a personal injury lawyer?

Before hiring a personal injury lawyer, make sure you understand your role in the lawsuit and what will be expected of you. Some people want to be very involved in their case, attending depositions and other meetings.

Do personal injury lawyers go to trial?

Be wary of any lawyers who tell you early on that your case is going to settle. Your personal injury lawyer should expect every case to go to trial and prepare as if your case will be tried before a jury. That way, you can enter settlement negotiations with the defendant armed with as much evidence as possible.

Do personal injury lawyers charge contingency fees?

Some personal injury lawyers charge for any case-related costs they advance in addition to the contingency fee. Ask your lawyer who will be responsible for these costs (also known as “ out-of-pocket ” costs) in the event that your personal injury lawsuit is unsuccessful.

Do you have to pay a contingency fee for a personal injury case?

That means you won't have to pay anything unless you recover monetary damages in your personal injury lawsuit. In a contingency fee agreement, you pay no legal fees upfront.

What is communication in personal injury?

Communication is the cornerstone of any relationship and is an essential component of a personal injury case. Some clients want to be involved every step of the way, while others are ok with only the occasional update on their case's progress. Everyone is different.

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1. What kind of cases does this lawyer handle on a day-in, day-out basis?

Some lawyers are general practitioners who do a little of everything, including personal injury practice. Their work may include occasional medical malpractice cases or suits against drug manufacturers. But if they don't do this type of work every day, injured people who hire them are at a disadvantage.

2. How long has the lawyer been working in the field in which you need a lawyer?

By and large, lawyers who do personal injury lawsuits for injured persons charge the same fee no matter how long they have been practicing. (This is the contingency fee, a percentage of the amount recovered.) That means that for the same fee, you could get a lawyer with one or two years of experience, or a lawyer with 20 years of experience.

3. Does the lawyer try lawsuits in court, or is every case settled out of court or referred to other lawyers to try?

This is an important question that many lay people never think to ask. There is only one way to get top dollar for your case in a settlement. That is to show the insurance company that you are ready, willing and able to try the case in court. I tell clients that it's kind of like the Defense Department.

4. What is the lawyer's track record of verdicts and settlements?

The longer the lawyer's list of successful case outcomes, the better it is for the client. The insurance companies who defend personal injury and malpractice cases know who the attorneys are in your area who actually go into court to try cases and who do not.

5. Ask the lawyer, "Who will actually handle my case"?

Even if you are impressed with the lawyer you first meet, you need to ask this crucial question. Find out if the lawyer plans to actually work on your case, or give it to someone else to work on.You need to know the skill and experience of the lawyer who will actually work on the case, not just the lawyer you first see.

7. Is the lawyer a member of legal organizations that specialize in representing injured people?

Major organizations include the American Association for Justice (formerly Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA), state affiliates like Virginia, Maryland or D.C. Trial Lawyers Associations, the Etheridge Society (an organization of Virginia medical malpractice plaintiff lawyers), and the Inner Circle of Advocates.

How to feel comfortable with an attorney?

You should feel comfortable from the beginning of your attorney-client relationship that you will be able to have regular communications with your counsel. Make sure that you exchange contact information and agree on the ways that you will stay in touch.

Do attorneys have conflicts of interest?

Attorneys in every state have an ethical obligation to advise you of any conflict of interest. Still, you should ask the question. If the lawyer’s representation of prior or existing clients would limit the attorney’s ability to represent you, there is likely a conflict. For example, if you want to sue a hospital that the potential lawyer regularly ...

What is the importance of having a lawyer?

Getting a lawyer with the right legal background is essential, but it is also important to know whether your attorney has experience with the judges who will likely preside over your case. If yours is a criminal matter, it is important to know if your lawyer knows the local prosecutors. This courtroom experience can greatly enhance your lawyer’s ability to evaluate the likely outcomes in your case and give you advice that you can rely on.

What is the process of a civil case?

In civil cases, your lawyer might propose mediation , a settlement negotiation process involving a neutral third-party. Other times, arbitration might be an option. Arbitration— using a private service to adjudicate a dispute—is a less formal, less costly, and faster way of getting a decision in some civil matters.

How can a lawyer save you money?

Your lawyer can often save you money by delegating routine tasks to firm employees who charge a lower hourly rate. However, your lawyer should be involved in all key aspects and decisions of your case, or should explain to you why a colleague can handle some important part of the matter just as well.

What is contingency fee?

In cases where you are suing for monetary damages, the lawyer may represent you for a “contingency fee.”. This means the attorney gets paid a portion (typically one-third) of the amount you receive after a successful trial or settlement. Make sure you discuss expenses as well as attorney fees.