If you have been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, you need an experienced personal injury attorney on your side, but finding the right attorney for your case requires careful consideration. Fortunately, there are some basic questions to ask potential personal injury attorneys that can help you cut to the chase and find the right attorney for you and your case.
Do You Specialize in Personal Injury Claims?
Personal injury cases are a highly specific area of the law, and you do not want an attorney who dabbles in the practice. Ask questions about your prospective attorney’s experience handling cases like yours. If his or her responses inspire confidence, it may be a sign that you have found a good fit. The attorney’s website should also give you a good idea about his or her level of personal injury experience.
Do I Have Grounds for a Claim?
Talk to your prospective attorney about your specific circumstances and enquire as to whether he or she thinks you have a claim or not. If the attorney is not interested in your case, is neutral on the matter, or tells you that you do not have a case, it is not necessarily the end of the line. You can always obtain a second opinion – and should. If you were seriously injured by someone else’s negligence, you owe it to yourself to fight for your legal rights. The right personal injury attorney for you will do all of the following:
- Carefully listen to the specifics of your claim.
- Analyze the information from his or her professional perspective.
- Provide you with an idea of how your case is likely to proceed and what your potential prospects are.
- Honestly discuss any weaknesses or potential problems with your claim.
You are looking for a personal injury attorney who is engaged and on board with your specific case and with whom you are comfortable working.
Will You Actually Be Working on My Case?
Some firms are more like personal injury mills, and you may not even meet with the attorney you initially interview with ever again. Ask about who will be directing your case – the attorney before you, a paralegal, an assistant, or someone else? If the attorney will be passing your case on to someone whose experience and skill level are unknown to you and whom you have not met, it is probably not a great match. Your personal injury attorney should provide you with the kind of personal attention your case deserves – do not settle for less.