When hiring a personal injury lawyer, you must ask questions about your case and practice. Personal injuries can be debilitating, so you want to make sure you interview those practicing personal injury law to see if they’re the right fit. Asking the right questions can provide insights into a lawyer’s experience, practice, and capacity to handle your case. Below, Spektor Law shares ten basic questions to ask personal injury lawyer in Queens, NY.
1. How much do you charge for legal services?
A good starting point is asking about the lawyer’s fee. Most personal injury lawyers typically work on a contingency fee basis. You won’t pay anything upfront until you receive compensation or monetary damages from the liable party to your lawsuit. Once the case closes, the personal injury takes a fixed percentage of the money. Try to determine the lawyer’s rate and how much it amounts to. Often, the fee ranges between 20% to 40%. Let’s explore some of the top questions to ask an attorney during the initial consultation before you decide to hire them.
2. What’s your experience in Practicing Personal Injury Law?
One of the most challenging worries you should have is ensuring you pick an experienced lawyer who has years of practice trying similar cases to yours. You can visualize your lawyer’s legal practice with your physician or doctor. For instance, you will probably visit a hand specialist rather than a general practice physician when you have a hand issue. Although the available physician may possess the basic knowledge of what has caused your sickness, a specialist is best suited since they are highly skilled in the particular field and will provide you with the best care.
In addition, when you converse with a potential lawyer, be straightforward with your questions. For example, inquire how long they have been practicing personal injury law and do they have experience in similar cases to yours. It is also critical to ask how they have succeeded in personal injury cases.
3. Have You Practiced Similar Personal Injury Cases Before? If So, How many have proceeded to Trial?
When an attorney has experience practicing similar cases to yours, it does not spontaneously brand them a super attorney. You will need a lawyer who has successfully conducted a case like yours on trial.
Furthermore, suppose an attorney can show you examples of personal injury cases previously done. In that case, you will guarantee they have the necessary know-how and knowledge in dealing with challenging similar legal issues, which will give you more confidence in them when they represent your case.
Even though many cases are usually settled before they proceed to trials, you still need to ensure your lawyer has the necessary skills and knowledge if your case proceeds to trial. However, most people fail to make this inquiry. Most assume lawyers know about trying cases in court, which might not be the case. Hence it would be best if you asked this vital query.
4. What Concerns or Challenges do you see with my case?
Each personal injury claim usually has a wide range of concerns and challenges unique to the lawsuit. A lawyer with experience in practicing personal injury law will quickly identify the problems and challenges of your case.
It would be best if you instantly were alarmed when a lawyer points out that your case will be smooth with no concerns or challenges because cases are never straightforward. Legal systems are always complicated, and a lawyer with a high reputation for handling various cases will be open and tell you the state of your case.
5. What will be the mode of communication regarding the progress of my case?
Will you be assigned a lawyer, or is there someone that can pick up your calls? Either your lawyer or paralegal team. This is a significant question since communication is always vital to any relationship and is integral to your injury lawsuit. Clients usually have different preferences in communication; others prefer periodic updates, while others want to be involved or communicate during each step of the case.
Depending on your preference, you will require certainty from your lawyer on what responsibility is expected from you during the process. For instance, if you need a mobile role in the process, prefer numerous meetings and calls, or stay on the sidelines during the case. This will be essential in building attorney-client relations.
6. Do You Have Testimonials or Attestations from Past Clients?
Most lawyers tend to share their credentials online. You can check the details on their law firm’s site. In most cases, you will want to see the authentication of your chosen lawyer’s past issues and their former clients’ ordeals. In addition, great lawyers with experience often get referrals from other lawyers with divergent specializations.
When seeking legal help, you must choose a lawyer who gets along with people and can quickly work with you. Personal injury lawsuits are always complex and emotionally exhausting hence the need to pick an attorney with emotional intelligence that can help you endure hard times. Furthermore, asking about testimonials is crucial, but also it is essential to have a conversation with their previous clients.
7. Who will be responsible for litigation costs when I lose the case?
This is one of the most critical questions you must ask an attorney as it can impact your financial status. In every case, there is always a litigation cost. However you need to be aware the longer the case takes, the higher the litigation costs. It would help if you inquired from the lawyer about their approach regarding these costs.
Even if your case becomes successful, expenses will always be covered. These expenses may include medical records extraction costs, filing charges, and other essential costs in your case. However, some lawyers expect payment if you win or lose, while others will not charge you when you fail. Hence, it is critical to inquire about this question before hiring an attorney.
8. How long can you devote your time to my lawsuit? What is your objectivity?
When you have been through severe injury, you will want to ensure your legal delegate can manage your case with the necessary care and attention it deserves. However, in some circumstances, the first attorney you consult in a personal injury law firm may not necessarily be the one to represent and handle your case.
It is vital to inquire about who will be managing your case. Will it be a senior lawyer or some junior associates in the law firm? Afterward, it is vital to check the experience and qualifications of your assigned attorney. You will always want to feel confident with the best lawyer working on your case in the long run.
9. What is the value of a personal injury lawsuit?
It is always challenging for lawyers to evaluate personal injury case value accurately since each case is always different. When your lawyer goes through the particulars of your case, they should be able to give an estimated range on the case’s value.
In addition, you should be aware of your lawyer’s capability in trying cases in court and working out with insurance companies to impact your case value. If your lawyer is handy and prepared to take your case to trial, you will be confident in them in negotiating for the best settlement. However, if your attorney has a history of settling and never taking cases to trial, you can foresee them dropping your chance at a concession. Hiring an attorney capable of fully representing you in court is essential.
10. What Happens when my case proceeds to Trial? Will you still handle my case?
Insurance coverage firms often attempt to present the minimum monetary compensation, assuming you will grab the offer and settle. However, it is always in the interest of both parties to settle the lawsuit, but if the proposal presented by the insurance firm is not to your satisfaction, you can proceed to trial.
Your lawyer should have the ability to fight for the best compensation for your injury case. They should efficiently arbitrate with the insurance policy firm to get a reasonable settlement. In addition, when your case goes to trial, you will want to ensure the lawyer can manage it since the contingency charges might also increase.
11. What Duration Will Settlement Take?
Typically settlement consultations take long, precisely when you have gone through severe injuries and harm. Your lawyer can estimate the timeline of your lawsuit, but it is challenging to give a factual one.
There are many factors to consider, such as the court’s schedule, the defendant’s attitude and compliance to settle, and the difficulty of the case. If your lawyer has efficient knowledge and experience handling the case, they will be able to know the duration it may take to find a solution because of their experience.
12. What is required from me before and after the case?
This is an element of individual responsibility. You hired your lawyer to handle the formal aspects of the lawsuit and how best to represent you. However, your attorney may require several things from you. They include:
- Proof of money paid for medical expenses
- Documentation showing salary lost from being incapable of working.
- Proof of constant hospital visits and future medication requirements
In addition, your attorney should be able to help you retrieve hospital records, law enforcement reports, and other necessary documents. You will also need to communicate with your attorney on what is required from your side and their side since this will be critical in the outcome of your case.
13. What honors or awards have you won?
Inquiring about what honors or awards the attorneys have achieved can aid you in checking how they stand out among others in terms of knowledge and experience. Some legal firms in several states in the USA employ peer recognition and reviews to select lawyers. This shows how their associates and competition rank them and their standard of work.
Furthermore, when your attorney has years of continuous selection in these awards, it shows excellent coherence and dedication. Mostly board-certified Lawyers are highly rated as specialists in their work. An attorney’s inquiry about their achievements will enable you to identify the best lawyer to work on your injury case.
14. What areas of law do you practice?
There are various kinds of personal injury cases. You will need a lawyer with experience in conducting similar lawsuits. An attorney who has handled a similar claim as yours will quickly know and identify the evidence required to build your lawsuit and understand how to estimate the case correctly.
Looking for Personal Injury Attorney ? Contact us today
Good lawyers are always scarce. The burden of an injury and monetary loss can also be challenging to bear. Choosing the wrong lawyer or an inexperienced attorney may worsen your situation. You need to find the best lawyer to represent you effectively. By asking the right questions, you will know who is the best person to handle your case. You must ensure the lawyer you choose has your best interests. Take advantage of the initial consultation with a lawyer, which is mostly free, to access a suitable lawyer of choice.
At the Queens-based law firm of Gregory Spektor & Associates, our lawyers have years of experience and knowledge in practicing personal injury law. The quality of our representation is elevated by the quality of our extraordinary team of lawyers and support staff. Our clients know they will get high-quality representation when our firm represents them. Through our experienced lawyers, we offer free initial questions to answer all your questions. Contact Gregory Spektor & Associates at 1(888) 797-7735 to schedule a free consultation.
