Finding a skilled and competent lawyer can be intimidating and it’s not something to take lightly. You may encounter conflicting opinions and suggestions from different sources. However, there are some objective questions you can ask before hiring an attorney to know that they are qualified to handle your case.
For instance, you should find an attorney who has experience handling and winning cases similar to yours. You should also find out how long they’ve been in practice and how much your case is worth. In this article, we’ll discuss some important questions you need to ask a personal injury lawyer before hiring them for your case. You should feel confident that the attorney will get the best possible results for your case.
Here are some questions you should ask your personal injury lawyer before hiring them to feel confident they can get you the best possible results for your case.
Understand What Areas of Law They Specialize In
You’ll want an attorney that has experience in the area of law your case needs help in. you wouldn’t hire an electrician to fix your plumbing issues, likewise, a personal injury lawyer handles specific types of civil cases. Thus, you should hire the right type of attorney for your case. Personal injury lawyers have specialized experience, including negotiations with insurance companies.
Ask Them for an Honest Assessment of Any Issues or Difficulties With Your Case
Every personal injury case is unique and will present different challenges than the next one. While some may be quick and easy to resolve, others might take much longer and even need to go to trial. It all depends on the individual circumstances of your case.
For this reason, it’s a good idea to hire an attorney about any potential issues they see with your case. An honest and experienced attorney can offer you professional insight and give you honest feedback regarding any obstacles that could affect your case. Tampa laws can get complex so it takes a skilled and knowledgeable attorney to successfully handle your case. by fendi
Make Sure They Can Handle Your Case
You should have follow up questions for your attorney, such as whether or not they can give your case sufficient attention. You can also ask them how many active cases they are currently handling and if they are involved in a trial case at the moment, or if they expect to be soon. If so, would that impact their ability to give your case the attention and individuals catering it deserves?
Some law firms will accept a new client event though they already have a full caseload and overestimate their abilities and resources. But it’s not fair to the client when resources and attorneys get stretched thin. You should ask your attorney if they can really dedicate the time and energy to your case.
Who Will Be Working On My Case?
If you choose an attorney based on the size of their firm, there are a few important considerations to keep in mind. For instance, larger firms may have greater resources and a more extensive network of staff, including paralegal, record specialists, and other key members who will be reviewing and working on your case. But as a client, you want to know that the best and most experienced attorneys are working on your case. You never want to feel like you’re just another number or a case file.
This is why it’s important to be clear and understand who will be working on your case and who you need to contact if you have any questions through your case. In most cases, your first point of contact will not be directly with the attorney but with a paralegal or their legal assistant. Oftentimes clients are surprised or bothered that they don’t communicate directly with the attorney, but this is a common practice with larger law firms. Whoever your main point of contact is should be extremely familiar with your case and be able to answer and questions you have.
What Are Your Fees? Do I Still Pay if We Don’t Win?
Almost all personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee agreement, which means they take a percentage of your financial compensation. That also means they only take a fee if they are able to recover money on your behalf. The percentage can range between 33%-41%, depending on the type of case and the amount of work it requires.
Once you win your case, the attorney fees get deducted from your award money and paid to your attorney. However, if you lose the case, you aren’t required to pay anything with a contingency fee agreement. There’s also still a possibility that you’ll have to pay for additional expenses related to your case, such as court filing costs, obtaining medical records, and other expenses that were necessary to gather evidence.
Be sure to read all the fine print and go through your contractual agreement in detail so you understand exactly what to expect. The contrast should explicitly outline the exact fee structure, what costs you are responsible for covering. Make sure you understand the contract fully before signing it and you understand all the terms of agreement.
What’s a Fair and Accurate Value for My Claim?
There’s no set formula for determining the value of a claim. This is where your attorney’s experience in handling different types of cases will be very helpful. If they’ve handled cases in the past similar to yours, they will know approximately how much your case is worth.
That said, every case is unique and has very different conditions that require a personalized approach and will have its own value. The people involved in the matter can make a difference in the value of your case, including your attorney. Different attorneys may assess your case differently and offer differing values.
Whatever type of case you have, an attorney cannot guarantee a dollar amount for your claim value. What they can do is provide legal counsel to help you fight for the maximum amount possible.
What Is the Projected Timeline for My Case?
Your attorney should be able to give you a pretty clear timeline for the major milestones of your case. Your attorney should be able to give you a pretty clear timeline for the major chapters of your case. For Instance, since all legal matters are governed by rules, each party has a time limit to perform certain actions, including filing a personal injury claim, submitting discovery requests, and limited time to respond to such requests.
An attorney who has been practicing law for long enough will be able to provide you with an accurate time frame for how long it will take to resolve your case.
Do We Need to Go to Court for My Case?
Going to court will drag out your case and require more time and resources. While most personal injury cases are settled outside of court, great personal injury lawyers prepare for every case as if they are going to trial.
While our story may be able to resell your case through negotiations with insurance companies, make sure they have experience presenting casein court before a judge and a jury. Another good feature is if your attorney is family with the local courthouse and inner working of the legal system, which reflects expertise and experience as well as connections.
What Separates Your Legal Firm From Others?
One firm might be the perfect fit for your case but not for the next person’s. Clients will choose attorneys with different motivations such as personal preference, personalities, or having similar values and perspectives as the firm. When you hire an attorney to protect your legal rights, you are entrusting them with a great task.
In addition, you’ll need to disclose very personal information about your life, your family, your health, and your finances. Choosing an attorney who is compassionate and fights for your rights with passion and vigor will help you get the best outcome possible for your case.
What Do You Expect From Me?
It can also be helpful to make your case move along efficiently if you understand what your role is. You can ask your attorney how you’ll be kept informed about the progression of your case and who you need to contact if you have any questions.
Every attorney has their own style and handles cases in their own way. Before you agree to work with a Tampa personal injury attorney, make sure you understand how much they expect you to be involved during your case proceeding. If you don’t communicate this and have different expectations, it can make the process difficult for both of you.
Contact a Tampa Personal Injury Attorney Today
If you are looking into hiring a Tampa personal injury attorney, don’t forget to ask the above questions. They should be willing to answer all of your questions and can help you navigate the legal process seamlessly. Most importantly, they will help you recover the compensation you need to recover physically, psychologically, and financially after an accident.
We Are a Tier 1 Law Firm in Tampa
Our firm has been providing legal services for over 60 years in Florida. We have a successful track record and are passionate about helping innocent injury victims. As a nationally ranked firm by US News and World Reports, we are a Tier 1 law firm, one of the highest ranks available in the legal profession. Our attorneys are dedicated and committed to providing only the most exquisite legal representation to every client.
Contact us today for a free initial consultation. And remember, you only pay us if we win your case.
