6 Important Questions to Ask a Personal Injury Lawyer

19 July 2018

The worst has happened. You got injured on the job, or your spouse hurt you in a fight.

Something happened to you while you were at the dentist, or you had a severe reaction to a latte.

Regardless, health care is expensive. There’s a chance that you’re not able to cover the bill.

You start wondering if there’s some other way to pay for your medical expenses. You talk to your company or ask for compensation. But no one is willing to do anything.

If this sounds like you or someone you love, it’s time to consider legal action. You can contact a personal injury lawyer who will help you get what you deserve.

But before you hire anyone, check out our six questions to ask a personal injury lawyer.

Why Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?

Sometimes we get hurt, and it’s because of our own stupidity. But there are times when the blame rests on another party. This can be an individual, a company, or even a doctor. When this happens, it’s time to hire a personal injury lawyer.

There are many different kinds of lawyers who can help you. Choosing the right one depends on the personal injury questions you have.

Most personal injury lawyers can handle a car crash case. But what happens if there are many parties involved or if there is severe damage? You’ll need a lawyer with more experience in your type of case.

If a doctor injured you, then hire a lawyer with experience in medical malpractice. At least they need to know about medical procedures and misdiagnoses.

If you got hurt by a piece of machinery, then look for a lawyer with a background in corporate and negligence law.

Do some research into the nature of your case. That way you’ll be able to find the right personal injury lawyer for your needs.

What Information Do I Need Before I Talk to a Personal Injury Lawyer?

Keep in mind that scheduling a consultation with a lawyer is not the same as hiring them. You’re asking them in-depth questions about their background and career. You’d do the same for any contractor or real estate agent.

But before you sit down with a lawyer, it will help you to have a few things prepared.

First, you’ll need to record the details of your case. Write down everything that’s related to what happened. Describe the events in the order they happened, and be as detailed as possible.

If you need help, think of the 4 W’s. Who was involved? Where did the accident happen? When did it take place? What were you doing? In fact, what was everyone doing?

Try to be as factual as possible. If you lie, it will come out in court. Then you’ll be in trouble.

Gather any evidence you can. This includes things like:

Police reports, tickets, arrest information, and toxicology results
Eye-witness reports
Photographs and videos
Bills, receipts, medical records, and any diagnoses

Getting all this information in one folder will help you and the personal injury lawyer.

6 Questions to Ask a Personal Injury Lawyer

Hiring a lawyer is as personal as hiring a doctor or a therapist. It’s an expensive service, and you want to make sure you have the right lawyer for you. So check out our six questions to ask a personal injury lawyer before you hire them.

1. Have You Taken a Case Like Mine Before?

This is one of the most important questions to ask an attorney before hiring them. You want to make sure your case is in good hands, so don’t be afraid to ask about their experience.

Your lawyer should have years of experience working with cases like yours. It’s also important that they have experience winning cases, or making successful settlements.

Ask them for a reference list of all their cases. They should also have endorsements from past clients.

If your internal radar goes off, you can look up an attorney’s disciplinary records online. Some states need a lawyer’s bar number to do this. But other states like Georgia will list the lawyer’s name.

2. What is Your Opinion of My Case?

In other words, does this personal injury attorney think you’ll win?

This is one of the more dubious questions to ask a personal injury lawyer, but it’s an essential one. Their answer will help you make your decision about whether to hire this attorney.

You want them to give you an honest answer, of course. No decent lawyer wants to waste their time on a hopeless case, even if you are paying them.

They should give you an objective opinion about whether you’ll win your case based on the evidence you’ve given them.

That said, ask this question with an open mind. It’s easy for the victim of an accident to think they deserve compensation. If a personal injury lawyer is telling you it won’t happen, there might be some merit in that.

3. Will My Case Go to Trial?

Only 4%-5% of personal injury cases go to trial. That means there’s a good chance your case will settle out of court.

But no matter what the odds, a good personal injury lawyer will prepare to go to trial. In fact, it’s a red flag if the lawyer starts talking about settling out of court from the get-go.

Trials can be long and expensive for you. But if you have to go to court you want a lawyer who’s experienced. Ask them about their record in court, and whether the case won by a judge or jury.

Your lawyer should also be able to give you a timeline of how long a court proceeding takes.

While each case is unique, an experienced lawyer knows how things go at the local courthouse.

Regardless of whether you go to court, you need to talk with your lawyer about your level of involvement. Some people want to be at every meeting and deposition, but most lawyers won’t allow it. It’s often best for you to stay on the sidelines and trust your lawyer.

4. What are Your Fees?

This is another important question to ask an attorney. If you can’t afford this lawyer, then you’ll need to look for someone else.

A typical personal injury lawyer earns money based on contingency fees. That means you won’t pay any fees unless you win money damages in the lawsuit.

Once you do win the case, the personal injury lawyer will take a percentage of the money. This can range from 25% – 40% of anything you win from the lawsuit.

While this is a great incentive for your lawyer to win your case, it might not be the only bill. There are other costs you should ask about, like case-related costs. These are also known as “out of pocket” fees. Ask your lawyer about these fees, and who will pay them in case you lose.

Do not work with a personal injury lawyer who charges by the hour. These kinds of payment plans can get expensive in personal injury cases.

5. How Much is My Case Worth?

An experienced personal injury lawyer should give you an estimate on how much your case is worth. They’ll base this estimate on cases they’ve already won or worked on.

Most personal injury lawyers won’t give you a hard number to work with, but instead give you some kind of range. They need to explain how the different factors in your case will affect the bottom line.

You can also ask them point-blank whether they’ll make more for you than their competitors.

After all, this isn’t only about getting justice for you. It’s also about who’s going to pay your medical bills.

Money is always hard to talk about, but you have to do it. You can discover more about discussing your case worth by doing some research. Make sure that you factor in the lawyer’s contingency fee when you talk about how much you can make.

6. Who is Handling My Case?

This question is vital if you’re working with a large law firm. This is because that lawyer you spent all that time getting to know? He might not be the one representing you in court.

This might help you because you’ll have a larger team working on your case. Lawyers all specialize in different things. If your case is a complicated one, there’s a good chance it’ll get passed around the firm.

But that’s why it’s important to know who is handling your case, and why. You want to know who you need to contact in each situation. You should also ask about the track record of every lawyer on your case.

If your lawyer has less experience than the one you spoke to, ask about who is supervising them. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or voice your concerns.

Want More Tips About Hiring a Lawyer?

We have lots of informative blog posts on our site about the legal field. If you want to know about questions to ask a personal injury lawyer or other legal tips, check out our blog.

We also have articles on everything else you can imagine. From social media to entertainment to real estate, we have you covered. Take a look at our site for more great posts.

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Ariana Smith

I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.

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How Are Auto Accident Compensations Calculated? – 5 Things To Note

Auto accident cases are disastrous in nature. You never know what types of compensation you have to bear. Auto accident compensations can make your life easier once you know the exact amount you can claim from the other party due to whom you are suffering. Proper planning can help you to achieve your goals appropriately. Here you need to make sure that you do not make the wrong calculation as it is a matter of your survival, and this compensation amount can save your life. On What Factors Auto Accident Cases Calculations Are Conducted? There are several factors depending on which auto accident compensations are calculated. First, ensure that you do not make the wrong calculation of compensation for auto accident cases. 1. Medical Expenses The medical expenses resulting from the accident are one of the significant factors of calculation that you need to make for your auto accident compensation case. Here there are several factors of calculations you need to take care of while calculating the medical expenses of your auto accident cases:- What is the cost of your treatment? What amount of money do you have to invest for your surgeries? Doctors visit costs. Ambulance ride expenses after the accident. Daily costs involved in your medical treatment after the accident. These are some of the core issues you need to avoid your car accident cases. In addition, it will help you to meet the medical-related costs in the best possible ways. If you are not confident enough with your calculation, seek help from an attorney. How can an attorney help you? Click here to learn more. 2. Lost Wages The amount of money you lose is another issue you need to take care of while calculating lost wages for your auto accident compensation. In case of the lost wages, there are series of calculations you need to make for meeting the need of your auto accident wages:- Unpaid leaves from work. Loss of incentives. Bonuses. Loss of family income. Take care of all these factors while calculating the compensation money for your auto car accident claim. 3. Suffering & Pain Pain and suffering are the common causes of auto car accident cases. Some pain and suffering are temporary, while others are permanent. The pain that lasts longer has a long-term impact on your body. For this, you may have to invest money later. In addition, you must calculate the future medical bills that you will suffer from the auto car accident. It also forms a part of your auto car accident claim. It is one of the most difficult types of damage that one must calculate while you suffer from severe pain and suffering. Proper planning here holds the key to help you in getting rid of this situation as quickly as possible. 4. Amount Of Emotional Distress Emotional damages and mental trauma are very severe in car accident injuries that you cannot avoid. Seeking treatment of licensed mental health professionals can work well in your favor. In addition, documentation of the car accident damage can make your calculation accurate. If you have documented the extent of mental trauma and emotional distress you suffered from the auto car accident. In that case, it can also come under the purview of the car accident injuries calculation. 5. Chances Of Property Damages You can also calculate the property damage caused due to the car accident. The fair market value of your car is also totaled depending on which you can make your calculation. You have the right to claim the damage of the property that has caused havoc in your life. However, you have to make your choices depending on some rational parameters that are accepted in the eyes of the law. Auto Accident Cases Calculations Requirements Whenever you have faced auto car accident cases, you must consider the mentioned factors to make your calculations perfect. You must not make your choices in the wrong way. Proper planning holds the key that can make things possible in your favor. Read Also: Personal Injury Attorneys Denver Why Do Businesses Need Lawyer's Advice? 5 Types of Damages You Can Claim After a Car Accident

Advantages Of Hiring A Truck Accident Attorney

There are many reasons that truck driving accidents happen, and all can be very dangerous. As a driver in a passenger car, you must be very careful around truck drivers because they can’t always see you and where you are. It is also very difficult for them to stop quickly, even when they are watching closely. If you are a truck driver or a driver of a passenger car, you know that accidents between these two vehicles happen. In the event that it happens, the services of a truck accident attorney are very much needed. To rule out differences between these 2, you will need to be able to have the right type of attorney to do the job correctly. What To Know Because big rigs and other commercial trucks can be larger and more difficult to drive, there are things that can happen that don’t happen with passenger cars. They need more room to turn, smaller roads are hard to manipulate, and they are more difficult to stop quickly. Because of these things, they are more likely to have accidents if they are not careful. Learn here about the difficulties that can happen with big rigs: https://www.consumerreports.org/car-safety/the-hidden-dangers-of-big-trucks/. There are other things that can cause accidents with these big trucks, and they could be caused by the truck driver or the driver of the passenger cars. Big Rigs Inadequate Training – Sometimes the truck driver hasn’t had all the training that they need and that can cause accidents. They haven’t learned all the driving techniques, safety techniques, and defensive driving. If they haven’t learned all this, they are more likely to not be able to drive safely. Fatigue or Exhaustion – Truck drivers have tough schedules set forth by trucking companies and they are expected to be places quickly to make the company money. Sometimes this causes the truck driver to have to drive for too many hours at a time. Some trucking companies even expect the drivers to speed to get to places in time, as well as get fewer hours of sleep. They even pay their drivers more money if they can make more deliveries in shorter amounts of time. Passenger Car Drivers Sometimes the accident is caused by the passenger cars because they don’t realize how big the truck really is. They also don’t realize that trucks don’t operate the same as passenger cars and that this can cause difficulties. See here for some defensive driver hints when you are dealing with big rigs. You can learn how to be more careful around them. Disabled Vehicles – Sometimes passenger vehicles become disabled and must go to the side of the road. If the cars don’t get completely off the road, it can cause problems for other vehicles on the road. This can be especially bad for truck drivers who have vehicles that are bigger and harder to drive. If a passenger car is only partially off the road, a truck driver can easily hit it. Blind Spots – Truck drivers have bigger blind spots than passenger cars and sometimes passenger cars drive in those spots. If that happens, the truck driver can’t see them and they may make moves that can cause an accident. Driving Between Big Rigs – Sometimes passenger cars get into a hurry and decide that the best place for them to be is between two big rigs. This can be very dangerous because it makes it difficult for the truck drivers to see them and if there is a reason to stop suddenly, the passenger car will get caught between the rigs. Fast Maneuvers – Cars will sometimes make fast maneuvers like changing lanes quickly in front of the trucks. This means that truck drivers can’t stop in time to avoid accidents. The smaller cars don’t realize that these big rigs can’t stop quickly. Moving into Traffic – Passenger cars don’t always accelerate quickly enough to move into traffic from the shoulder or from the on-ramps. If they move in front of a big rig, this could cause problems and the car could get hit. Right Turns – Car drivers don’t always realize that big trucks need more room to make right turns and they move into the space that the truck driver needs to turn in. If the truck driver doesn’t see the car in time, this could cause an accident. Passing too Close - If a passenger car gets too close to a big rig while trying to pass them. They don’t expect the turbulence or crosswinds that happen and they can get blown off the road or into oncoming traffic. Left Turns – If the car is making a left turn in front of the big rig and don’t realize how fast they are going, it can cause an accident. They forget that the big rigs can’t stop quickly, and it is also difficult for them to slow down quickly. Trucks Merging – Passenger cars will often fail to speed up or slow down when trucks are merging, and they can get hit when that happens. When to Consult an Attorney You will want to consult an attorney as soon as you can after you have alerted the authorities, especially if you are injured. You need to handle things differently than if you have an accident with another car. Trucking companies can afford to make accidents and victims disappear with a little money. You have to be careful, especially if you have extensive injuries because the costs may end up being more than they are offering. You will need to consult a truck accident attorney to make sure that you are compensated for all your medical expenses, your lost wages, and your pain and suffering. There may also be other expenses that are caused by the accident and you want to be sure that you are compensated for that. Conclusion There are many reasons that accidents happen between passenger cars and big trucks. It doesn’t really matter what the cause is if you are injured and can’t work. You will want to be compensated for this, so you will want to call a truck accident attorney to help you get what you deserve. Read Also: 3 Safety Regulations That Indiana Truck Companies And Drivers Must Follow 10 Tips to Prevent Truck Accidents: The Complete Guide for Truck Drivers A Set Of The Best Exercises For Truck Drivers

UAE Insurance Authority Sets New Regulations for Insurance Broking

The UAE Insurance Authority has rolled out new draft regulations for insurance brokerage and online transactions. This draft has 13 chapters and 38 articles that explain insurance broking like governance, registration and licensing, the insurance broker and insurance company roles to the broker, insurance broker’s roles, solvency, mergers, financial reports and disclosures, supervisions, dispute settlements, and penalties. Who is an Insurance Broker? The new draft law defines an insurance broker as a juridical individual who intervenes in insurance or reinsurance activities between the insurance/reinsurance proposer and an insurance/reinsurance company and receives a commission from the insurance/reinsurance company. The provisions of the new draft apply to distribution channels, companies, and any other insurance-related business approved by the authority. These regulations focus on shielding policyholders and guarantee that they receive value for their money by purchasing various products. The New Insurance Law Provisions The new insurance law requires an insurance broker to adhere to these regulations for electronic transactions. Criteria for Insurance Brokerage Licensing A company must be established in the United Arab Emirates and registered based on the Commercial Companies Law. The company should own a share capital of AED 3 million or more. You need to pay AED 10 million or more and register with the UAE Commercial Law if you run a branch of a financial Free Zone or a Foreign Company. You can consult a law firm in Dubai to help you with these procedures. It is mandatory to submit an unconditional Letter of Guarantee from a bank; this is paid on demand to the Insurance Authority chairman board of directors. This can be fully or partially liquidated to guarantee the broker’s settlement of transactions and obligations. You must obtain an insurance policy to cover your profession at a value of AED 2 million for UAE companies and a minimum of AED 3 million for a financial Free Zone or a Foreign Company branch in the UAE. You must appoint the administrative and technical staff continually. You need convenient headquarters, software, and technical systems for your profession. It is also mandatory to have an internal control system to govern applications of laws, regulations, resolutions, and circulars in adherence to the Insurance Authority regulations. The next step is to submit the agreement between you and the bank, pay the full fees, and comply with any extra regulations. The Insurance Authority approves or rejects the application within 20 working days. Technical and Administrative Staff The technical staff of an insurance broker has specific regulations. It is a requirement to appoint at least 1 General Manager, Internal Auditor, Operation Manager, and 1 qualified worker for each type of insurance. Below are the qualifications for the appointment of technical and administrative staff; A natural individual enjoying full capacity An individual of good conduct; never been sentenced for freedom restricting punishment in a moral decadency crime without rehabilitation. Pays his commercial debts even if not declared bankruptcy. You need to notify the Insurance Authority of appointments, transfers, terminations, or modifications within 60 days. Roles of the Insurance Broker You must make internal by-laws and submit a copy to the Insurance Authority Dubai offices within 3 months after obtaining a license. You must review and update the internal control system continually; this ensures that you have proper laws, regulations, resolutions, and circulars. It is necessary to design an Operations Guide for periodical updates, risk management, and review it according to the rules. Create a professional code of conduct for the staff and supervise and plan their duties according to the Insurance Authority (AI). Collaborate with the internal controller to enable employees to perform their tasks and report any violations to the authority. You can only dismiss the internal controller by the board of management or board of directors’ decision; this happens if you notify the internal controller and IA of the dismissal at least 30 working days before the dismissal. Penalties The IA developed penalties so that insurance brokers do not violate the instructions, regulations, laws, and circulars. If you violate any laws, you receive a warning that compels you to remove the infringement and ensure this does not happen in the future. The IA might suspend you from practicing for a maximum period of 1 year. The Insurance Authority cancels licenses in the following incidences; Violating any license conditions Gross breach of your obligations Failure to renew your license (delay paying fines or failure to pay renewal fees) A final bank declaration associating you with bankruptcy The dissolution and liquidation of your practice Failure to practice your licensed profession within 6 months after obtaining the license If you obtained your license through false information. The insurance sector in the United Arab Emirates is expected to rise; this is why the Insurance Authority issued new regulations to govern insurance brokerage. Brokers have to adhere to set regulations or face penalties. Technical and administrative staff also has to meet various qualifications. This allows brokers to have a set of laws to refer to. Read Also: Insurance- Need of the time 5 Top Tips to Help You Hire The Perfect Attorney

6 Important Questions to Ask a Personal Injury Lawyer

Why Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?

What Information Do I Need Before I Talk to a Personal Injury Lawyer?

6 Questions to Ask a Personal Injury Lawyer