12 Questions to ask a Personal Injury Lawyer

If you have been involved in a personal injury accident you are likely still shaken up. Having that experience can leave you (and your body) in shock. Whether it’s from a car accident or a slip and fall accident, you aren’t prepared. If you are injured in your personal injury accident, it is likely you have incurred several costs. These costs can range from medical bills, lost wages from your job, property damage, etc. You are left to fight with the insurance company to get the compensation you deserve. If you are looking to file a claim for compensation from an insurance company you should consult with a qualified personal injury lawyer that has proven success with personal injury cases.

If you’ve suffered injuries due to an accident or someone else’s negligence, you should always consult with a lawyer. But how can you find a respectable, knowledgeable and proven law firm who will fight for what you deserve? Here are some of the most important questions you can ask a personal injury lawyer when researching legal representation.

Do You Have The Time to Devote To My Case?

Many Los Angeles personal injury lawyers take on too many cases at once and will sit on your case while they take on additional clients. Ask potential lawyers about how much time they have to devote to your case. Stress that it is important to you to get the ball rolling on your case right away.

When Will My Case Be Filed?

A good personal injury lawyer will know that when it comes to filing a personal injury case, you don’t have a lot of time. Depending on what state you live in, your statute of limitations place a certain amount of time claims to be filed. Depending on how quickly you have contacted a personal injury lawyer you won’t want to sit on your case for long before making decisions and filing claims with the insurance company.

Have You Litigated a Case Like Mine Before?

When researching and consulting with a personal injury lawyer, it is important to task about their experience. Ask them about cases similar to yours that they have litigated before. Were they successful? Expertise and experience in the personal injury scope of law are important. You wouldn’t hire a plumber to fix an electrical problem, right? You also wouldn’t want to hire a trust attorney that dabbles in personal injury law to handle your personal injury case. It’s very important that your lawyer has years of experience of working on cases like yours. Additionally, you’ll want to make sure your lawyer has a good success rate. While winning cases is not the only indicator that is important, a strong winning record can indicate they are a tough, dedicated, and successful personal injury lawyer.

How Long Will It Take to Resolve My Personal Injury Case?

Ask personal injury attorneys about how long it might take to resolve your case. Keep in mind many factors will influence how long it takes for a case to be complete, but your potential personal injury lawyers should be able to give you a rough estimate. Additionally, you will want to understand quicker is not always better. Your lawyer should commit to resolve your case as quickly as possible. But, make sure they don’t work so quickly by settling on the first offer from the insurance company.

How Much Compensation Will I Receive From My Personal Injury Case?

Personal injury lawyers should have a good idea of what your case may be worth. At the very least, an experienced attorney should be able to provide a spectrum and explain how various factors such as discovery, liability, and preexisting medical issues might impact a settlement offer or verdict. Do your research and use your best judgment in evaluating a potential lawyer’s claims.

What Is Your Contingency Fee?

Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee agreement. A contingency fee is a fee that you pay only if your lawyer is able to to obtain compensation for your injury. This fee varies from firm to firm. Contingency fees are a great system because the more your lawyer wins for your case, the more they will get paid. It gives them incentive to get the maximum compensation for your case. Be weary of law firms who advertise that they can do your case “on the cheap.” You generally get what you pay for.

If You Lose, Do I Pay Any Fees or Costs?

Personal injury firms generally advance the costs on their cases. These costs include things like filing fees, medical record retrieval fees, witness costs, etc. 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. Before hiring a personal injury lawyer always make sure that you fully understand their terms and conditions before signing.

How Likely Is It That My Case Will Go To Trial?

Be wary of any lawyers who tell you early on that your case is going to settle. Although, it is true that a large majority of personal injury cases settle before going to trial. Your personal injury lawyer should be prepared to go to litigate the case and take to trial if necessary. This will help ensure that you receive the fairest settlement possible. If your case ultimately goes to trial, you want to make sure that your personal injury attorney has won cases in trial before.

Who Will Handle My Personal Injury Claim?

Many law firms are compiled of several personal injury lawyers with varying experience. It is important when you are hiring a firm that you know who at the law firm will handle the various aspects of your case. Ask who will be your main point of contact and who you can expect to speak with when you have questions about your case.

What Level of Participation Will I Have In My Case?

Before hiring a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, make sure you understand your role in the lawsuit and what will be expected of you. Make sure that you and your personal injury lawyer are on the same page about what your level of participation will be. Many clients want to let their lawyers handle the case and remain on the sidelines.

What Does My Personal Injury Lawyer Need From Me?

When hiring a personal injury lawyer you will want to know what they need from you to move forward. This means that they will need various things from you. For example, your attorney will need ways to prove pain and suffering. Personal injury lawyers will also need detailed information regarding costs already incurred. Things like paid for medical bills, the wages you may have lost, etc. Additionally, details like witness statements, medical records, documentation or doctor visits, required treatments, etc. Your attorney should be able to assist in retrieving medical records, police reports, and any other documents. Having an open line of communication with your lawyer about what is your responsibility and what is theirs is great to have. Your attorney should be there to help you, but you will be required to provide some things to get the claim going.

As a Personal Injury Lawyer, Do You Have Any References?

Don’t hesitate to ask potential personal injury lawyers for references. Hopefully, the attorney will be able to provide you with contact information for at least one satisfied former client. Lawyers can claim to be highly rated, but talking to past references can be helpful. Google or Yelp reviews from real clients can also give you a look into past experiences.

Choosing a Highly Rated Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyer

At B|B Law Group, our goal is simple: preserve and protect the legal rights of the people of Southern California. Our award winning team of attorneys are experienced in the fields of personal injury, employment and habitability law, and it is our mission to provide our clients with the best legal representation.

If we don’t win, you don’t pay

If your case isn’t successful, you have our guarantee that you won’t have to pay for anything. No hidden fees, costs or conditions — that’s our promise.