Anyone hurt in an accident and considering a personal injury lawsuit should vet the attorney they intend to hire in order to ensure they get the best attorney in their area, such as Kooi Law in Indianapolis. Doing so will ensure you get the best settlement or verdict.
Below is more information about how you should vet your personal injury attorney and what questions to ask before hiring one.
Level of Experience in Your Type of Case
First, ask the attorney what their level of experience is in your type of personal injury case. There are all kinds of personal injury cases out there, from car accidents to animal bites to slip-and-fall to product liability.
If you were hurt in a car accident, you want to hire an attorney who knows car accident personal injury cases inside and out. You can find this at firms such as George T. Bochanis Law Offices and Strom & Associates. It also helps if your attorney has handled injuries like yours. If you ruptured discs in your back in the car accident and required surgery, the case value is higher than if you did not have surgery. Your attorney should be experienced in negotiating a higher settlement if you had back surgery. If you feel like you can sue a hospital for medical negligence then your attorney will push you to claim.
Who Will Work on My Case?
Many large personal injury firms advertise with their senior partner’s name and image. That big name helps to pull in a lot of clients. But the attorney handling your case may be someone else. That can work out fine; many top attorneys have excellent junior associates working for them. However, you should know going into the case who will be handling your lawsuit. If you’re in Texas, you might want to consider getting the lawyers over on this website on your case after you’ve sustained an injury – https://lawtx.com/. It could lead to you getting some compensation.
On the other hand, if a junior attorney handles the case, you might have lower legal fees.
How Much Do You Cost?
Most personal injury attorneys working for plaintiffs operate with a contingency fee arrangement like car accident lawyer Pittsburgh PA. You do not pay unless they reach a settlement or favourable verdict. Most attorneys in this field charge 33 percent of whatever money you receive. However, some attorneys may charge up to 40 percent if the case goes all the way through a trial to verdict.
Who Pays the Costs?
Another significant issue is how out-of-pocket expenses are handled during the case. Most personal injury attorneys will front the out-of-pocket costs in the case. But it is essential to know if the legal expenses are paid off at the top of your settlement or after your attorney is paid his fee. If the legal costs are paid before the personal injury attorney is paid, you pay less to the attorney.
Another matter is who pays the legal costs if you lose. The answer depends on the contract that the attorney uses. Be sure you understand the contract’s fee structure and who pays for what and under what circumstances.
How Much Courtroom Experience Does the Attorney Have?
Most personal injury lawsuits do not go to trial. So even a skilled and experienced lawyer may not go to trial often. In any case, you do not want an attorney who has little courtroom experience. If the case goes that long, you want a tough attorney who can convince the jury.
Also, it helps to have an attorney with courtroom experience to pressure the insurance company to settle. If the insurance adjuster knows your attorney is good in the courtroom, they may be more likely to offer a better settlement.
Hiring a skilled personal injury attorney who is experienced in your type of case could be one of the most important decisions you make. Working with the right attorney can make the difference between a significant settlement and an average one. So, do your homework and choose the attorney most likely to get you the compensation you deserve.