What Questions Should I Ask a Personal Injury Lawyer?

When it’s time to hire a lawyer, you probably aren’t feeling your best. The combination of stress, trauma, and pain after an injury can be overwhelming, but that’s when you most need someone with a clear head, years of experience, and a strong track record of success.

It’s important to ask the right questions to ensure your lawyer is the right pick for your unique injury claim since your financial future may be at stake. The right attorney can maximize your chances of recovering full compensation for your financial losses, plus pain and suffering. Before you prepare to hire a Seattle personal injury attorney, some carefully targeted questions can help you find out if they are the right fit to protect your future.

Do You Have Experience With This Type of Accident/Injury?

There are many ways that injuries happen, but when it’s a preventable injury that occurred due to someone else’s negligence, recklessness, or wrongdoing, they must pay for your damages through their insurance provider. Before you hire an attorney, it’s a good idea to ask them about their firm’s experience with your type of injury and the way it occurred. Personal injury claims can stem from many types of accidents including:

• Traffic accidents
• Workplace accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Defective product injuries
• Dog attacks
• Slip-and-falls

Be sure your lawyer has a strong history of experience with the appropriate area of personal injury law so they have the knowledge and resources to investigate your claim, prove liability, and craft a compelling case for your compensation.

What is Your Rate, and How Do You Collect Fees?

The best attorney is only the right one for you if you can afford their hourly rate. Thankfully, the majority of attorneys now offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee, so you pay nothing upfront and they only collect a small percentage if they win your compensation through a settlement or court award. Not only does this mean a good attorney won’t charge you upfront, but it also motivates them to work tirelessly on your behalf because a win for you is the only way they will be paid for their hard work.

Will I Have to Go to Court?

The idea of facing a judge, jury, and courtroom can be distressing when you’re trying to recover from an injury, but it’s important to get a good understanding of what to expect for your case. While the vast majority of personal injury claims settle out of court—and having a good attorney working for you is often enough to inspire insurance companies to offer an ample settlement—every case is unique. After reviewing your case, your attorney should be able to tell you what is the likelihood that your claim will settle through negotiations with the appropriate insurance company or if it may end up requiring courtroom litigation to gain the full recovery of damages you’re looking for.

Will You Handle My Case Personally?

Sometimes the lawyer you initially consult with will hand your case to a different attorney within the firm. Always ask who will handle your case and if it’s a different lawyer, be sure to request a personal meeting before making your decision.

How Will We Communicate, and How Often?

Most attorneys prefer to meet in person for at least the initial meeting, but may then choose to keep you informed through email, phone calls, or virtual meetings. Ask your attorney about how often they plan to update you on the progress of your case or consult with you on decisions, and how they prefer for you to communicate with them.

Choosing the right attorney for your personal injury claim is the best way to take a big step forward on the road to recovery.