After being a victim in an accident, it may be wise to seek out the professional opinion of a Personal Injury Attorney. When deciding what attorney is the right fit for you, there are a few questions that you should ask.
- What areas of law do you specialize in?
It is very apparent that you would not want your eye doctor to perform surgery on your knee because that is not the field that they specialize in. Even though they are both professionals in the medical field their strengths lie in different areas. This same concept goes for choosing an attorney to represent you. There are many different types of law and it is important to choose someone that specializes in what your case pertains to.
- What exactly is my case worth?
Your lawyer may not know exactly how much your case is worth, but they can often times give you a pretty good estimate. You may also receive a range in which the attorney thinks your case might fall into. Even though you may not receive an exact amount, there is no harm in asking.
- How long does the attorney think it will take to have the case resolved?
This is an important question to ask. Having a time frame in which different parts of your case will take place may allow you to have a better understanding on when you will receive your settlement. It is also important to know how long your daily life may be disrupted. Between legal meetings and doctor visits, a large chunk of your time may become dedicated to your case.
- How many other cases has the attorney tried that are similar to yours?
Every case is unique, but some cases may have similar characteristics to yours. The attorney may specialize in personal injury law, but how successful has he or she been with cases similar to yours. It is important to remember that an attorney’s past cases are not guarantees on how your case will go.
- What is the attorneys contingency fee?
Vast majority of Personal Injury attorneys work off of a contingency basis. This means that you do not pay anything, but he or she receives a certain amount from your settlement. For example, here at The Witt Law Firm, Mr. Witt works off of a contingency basis. Once a settlement has been reached and court has been avoided, then he takes 1/3 of the settlement, but if we had to go to trial then he takes 40%. It’s important to understand what your attorney’s contingency fees are.