Questions to ask at a personal injury consultation can include:
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You may prefer to enlist an attorney who has tried cases like yours. A great follow-up question to ask a personal injury lawyer is how many successful verdicts they have won in court. How many successful verdicts have you won in court?
Asking attorneys questions will help you know if they have the qualifications, experience, and resources to pursue your case. This will also help you determine if your personalities are a good fit and if you feel that the attorney will always have your best interests in mind.
You finally make a list of a few attorneys you would like to interview. All of them say on their website that they “offer a free consultation. ” Although the primary focus of the consultation is for the attorney to evaluate your situation and determine if you have a good case, you should take this time to ask some questions of your own.
Questions to Ask Your Lawyer During a Consultation1) What kind of experience do you have with similar cases?2) What would be your strategy for my case?3) Are there any alternatives to going to court?4) What are my possible outcomes?5) Who will actually handle my case?6) What is my role in my case?More items...
Five Questions You Should Ask:Will you be the attorney personally handling my case?Will you take the case all the way to trial if necessary?What results have you obtained in the past for cases like mine?Can I call or email you directly with questions I have about my case?More items...
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What Questions do Lawyers Ask Their Clients?What is your case about? A lawyer will want to know every single detail of your case. ... What do you hope to accomplish? ... How do you want us to communicate? ... Why did you choose me? ... Are you comfortable with my rates?
0:135:25How to ask questions like a lawyer - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe first secret is that what we're doing we're not really asking questions what we're doing isMoreThe first secret is that what we're doing we're not really asking questions what we're doing is making statements. That sound like questions and those are statements that the witness.
Give positive, definite answers when at all possible. Avoid saying, “I think”, “I believe”, or “In my opinion” if you can answer positively. If you do know, then say so. You can be positive about important things which you would naturally remember.
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Asking attorneys questions will help you know if they have the qualifications, experience, and resources to pursue your case. This will also help you determine if your personalities are a good fit and if you feel that the attorney will always have your best interests in mind.
When hiring a law firm, it is important to ask questions. Make a list of your top curiosities about legal matters, and also ask the attorney to give you any general advice that normally is given to people in your situation. Remember that law professionals are accustomed to receiving questions of all types, so do not hesitate to ask whatever is on your mind. The attorney knows that the more informed you are, the more thorough of a job the firm can perform on your behalf.
Keep in mind that New York has a statute of limitations of 3 years after a personal injury incident takes place.
Do you think the insurance company will settle my case? Insurance companies make low-ball offers in the hope that the person injured will take the money and run even before there can be an accounting of all of their damages. You do not want this to happen to you. Personal injury attorneys who are experienced in negotiating with insurance companies will, of course, not be able to give you a definite answer, but should be able to give you some insight into how this process will work.
At this evaluation stage, the attorney will not be able to give you even an estimated dollar amount of your damages but should be able to tell you if you are legally entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain, and suffering, and possibly other categories depending on your individual case.
If a fair, reasonable offer is negotiated prior to trial, it’s possible that a personal injury case could be settled without a jury trial; however, if no amount can be agreed upon by both parties a jury trial may be inevitable.
An exact figure usually cannot be given upfront, due to unknowns such as liability, discovery, and medical evidence.
One of the questions to ask a divorce attorney on the first visit is about how you will communicate throughout your case. Being able to communicate regularly with your attorney is essential to a successful case. An attorney should let you know how long you may wait for a response, which can spare you from feeling frustrated later on.
Another question to ask a divorce lawyer at the first meeting is about how much experience they have. Does this attorney specialize in divorce cases? You deserve a lawyer who understands the legal process for divorce in your state and has experience successfully handling these cases.
Before you decide to work with an attorney, you should understand their fee structure so you can determine whether you can afford to hire them. Costs may include a retainer fee and an hourly rate, along with other possible fees.
While no attorney can make guarantees about how long a case will take, an attorney experienced in divorce cases will have an idea of how long cases similar to yours took. Several factors influence how long a divorce can take, such as:
An attorney can advise you on what type of communication you should have with your spouse about the divorce. While you will need to discuss the divorce with your spouse, you do not need to discuss with your spouse what your attorney told you or what you said to your attorney.
Testimonials and reviews from former clients can help you determine whether you want to work with an attorney. You may be able to find these on the attorney’s website or on other websites where consumers share reviews.
Depending on your spouse’s personality type, they may try to increase the cost of the divorce and make the process more difficult for you. A divorce attorney has experience with various personality types and can advise you on common patterns of behavior. A high-conflict divorce can cost significantly more than an amicable divorce.
Most personal injury lawyers work based on a contingency fee agreement. This means that you only pay legal fees if they’re able to obtain monetary compensation for your injury.#N#Contingency fees by high-quality attorneys are generally 40% of the settlement, but can sometimes be reduced in certain situations. Be sure to read your retainer documents thoroughly before hiring your attorney. And, be weary of law firms who advertise that they can do your case “on the cheap.” You generally get what you pay for.
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.
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.
That means sometimes the law itself, or the particulars of your case, may make a court case impossible (or perhaps very unlikely or difficult). This is why having an expert–who is also objective and unbiased–is very important. 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 headaches and frustration.
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. 7.
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.
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. Your lawyer should also have a general time frame of how long it will take before your case is actually tried in court.