4 Questions Before Hiring Your Personal Injury Lawyer
If you are thinking of hiring a personal injury lawyer, you may have already scheduled an initial consultation. The first meeting with the attorney gives you the opportunity to ask questions and decide if you would like to hire him or her. Here are a few questions to ask:
If my case goes to court, and I lose, will I be responsible for court costs?
You may be responsible for additional charges if your case goes to court. These fees can be significant, and they are usually paid by the client. You may not notice the full impact of the fees if you win the case. However, if you lose, you may be responsible for these costs. Make sure that your personal injury attorney agrees to not hold you responsible for any fees, even if you don't win your case.
How soon will my lawsuit be filed?
If your prospective attorney has mentioned that a lawsuit will be the best route for your case, be sure to ask for a specific filing time frame. An attorney can wait over a year to file a lawsuit, as long as the statute of limitations has not expired. However, you may want to move forward with your case sooner. Ask if your case will be filed within the next three weeks. If a lawyer is too busy to attend to your case, you may want to consider another injury attorney.
How much compensation have cases like mine received in the past?
Of course, your lawyer will not know the exact amount that the other party will pay. However, based on his or her experience, the attorney should be able to give you the range that other cases similar to yours have received in the past. If you have an idea of what your payout may be, you are less likely to be disappointed by the actual figure.
What percentage is your contingency fee?
Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis; they accept a portion of your settlement as their compensation. The amount that they receive is based on a preset percentage. During your initial consultation, the attorney should be able to verify the percentage. Nevertheless, the contingency fee is negotiable, so be sure to discuss it if you are uncomfortable with the amount. Many injury lawyers charge about 33 percent.
If you are considering injury compensation, contact a qualified personal injury attorney today. The answers that your prospective attorney offers can help you decide if he or she should handle your case. Click here for more information.