Any type of personal injury could potentially throw you off course. Whether it’s motor vehicle accidents or an unexpected fall due to hazardous conditions, you can’t necessarily prepare for these injuries or the impact it will have in your life. They can potentially make you lose wages, incur high medical bills, and put you in the frustrating and at times intimidating spot of having to fight against penny-pinching insurance companies. If you’re injured due to another person’s negligence, you should always consult a personal injury lawyer to help you recover the cost of your injury and any related damages for that incident.

This might require that you find the attorney or law firm that you can trust to be best suited to fight for you against these insurance sharks.

Here are seven crucial questions you should ask before hiring a personal injury lawyer.

1. What Types of Personal Injury Cases Have You Dealt With Before?

This question will help you judge whether the lawyer has experience handling cases similar to yours. Personal injury is a broad term that covers various accidents. Examples include slip and falls, wrongful death, medical malpractice, car accidents,  and truck accidents.

You’ll want to hire an attorney that has dealt with and won settlements in cases like yours. So, if your case involves wrongful death, you’ll want an experienced and successful wrongful death attorney. Such an attorney will have the skills necessary to build a strong case.

Ask the lawyer to give you a list of case results for cases similar to yours. The list will assure you that they have expertise in dealing with your injury case.

2. What Are the Chances That My Case Will Go To Trial?

Your attorney can’t be 100% sure that your case will go to trial. However, the lawyer should expect and be prepared that your case will make it to the courtroom. The attorney should also give you an estimate of the time it’ll take before your case is tried in court.

Expecting the case to go to trial will help the lawyer prepare by gathering as much information as possible to build a strong case.

As such, you should be wary of lawyers who promise to settle your case out of court. This may be an indication that the attorney is not well-equipped to defend you in a court trial.

3. What Are Your Charges?

Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means that the lawyer will not charge you any fees unless they win your case. If they win, the lawyer will take a percentage of the settlement as payment. The industry average for the contingency fee is about 33% of the settlement amount.

So, you must get clarity on the lawyer’s billing method. The information on fees will help you hire a lawyer who charges reasonable prices that don’t strain your budget.

4. How Will You Update Me on My Case Progress?

The best personal injury lawyer will be available to talk to you whenever necessary. So, you need to find out whether someone will be available to pick up your calls.

Effective communication will be vital in building a solid personal injury case. You may want to be involved in every step of the case. Alternatively, you may be comfortable with occasional updates about the case.

Whichever option you choose, your personal injury lawyer should always be available to communicate. It will be the only way to get clarity on your role in the case.

5. Where Can I Find Reviews and Testimonials From Previous Clients?

Past case results might not be enough to convince you that an attorney is qualified to handle your case. As such, you can ask for further evidence in the form of client testimonials.

Many personal injury lawyers will have clients’ reviews and testimonials published on their websites. The reviews may also be from other attorneys specializing in different areas. If you can’t find the testimonials, don’t shy away from asking.

Your goal is to choose someone that guarantees you a seamless experience during the trial. So, the testimonials will help you determine if an attorney is the right fit.

If possible, ask if you can speak to past clients. You’ll get their opinion about the attorney you’re planning to work with. You’ll know about their professionalism and personality before making your final decision.

6. Are You Able to Devote Much Time to My Case?

If you‘ve suffered a life-changing injury at work, you’ll want a workers’ compensation lawyer who will give your case enough attention.

The senior attorney you initially spoke to may be too busy to handle your case. You should ask whether the law firm has other experienced lawyers who will devote much time to your lawsuit.  You can ask about the lawyers’ experience, qualifications, and if the senior attorney will supervise them.

Your ultimate goal is to have peace of mind that an experienced lawyer is handling your case. If you want legal help from a specific attorney, you should clarify that.

7. What Will Happen if I Lose the Case?

This will be a crucial question because the answer will affect your financial well-being.

If your case is settled in court, there are litigation costs. The costs will increase if your case goes on for a long time. As such, you need to ask your personal injury lawyer about their policy on these costs.

Even if you lose the case, there’ll be some apparent costs. Examples include fees for retrieving medical records and for clerical activities. Some attorneys will charge you for these costs, while others won’t.

So, ensure that you ask your attorney about the out-of-pocket costs, whether you win or lose. You’d want an attorney who won’t make you break the bank to pay these fees.

Hire a Reliable Personal Injury Lawyer

Hiring the right personal injury lawyer will ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve after an injury. All attorneys are not the same, and your goal should be to find one that can successfully tip the settlement negotiations in your favor. Asking the above questions will help you pick the best personal injury attorney.

At Savin Bursk Law, we have a team of dedicated and experienced personal injury attorneys who will work with you to ensure that your case is successful. Contact us today to speak with a qualified lawyer about your personal injury.