6 Important Questions to Ask a Personal Injury Lawyer

Published on: 19 July 2018 Last Updated on: 22 June 2021

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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Most Common Misdemeanors You Could Be Accused Of

If you’ve been charged with a misdemeanor crime, you need to be proactive in your criminal defense. Your arrest is only the beginning of the criminal justice process. You should contact a criminal defense lawyer who has experience with your type of case. There are several things you need to know when facing misdemeanor charges. Here are Most Common Misdemeanors You Could Be Accused Of: 1. Consequences of a Misdemeanor Conviction: Misdemeanor charges range from improper smoking to attempting to escape from jail. Misdemeanor convictions are fairly common in Michigan. The state courts see thousands of cases going through courts annually. There are three types of misdemeanors to look out for: 93-day misdemeanors 1-year misdemeanors High court misdemeanors These time periods refer to the maximum jail sentence that you can serve. High court misdemeanors are more serious crimes and are punishable by a prison term of up to two years. While less serious than felony charges, all misdemeanors are considered crimes, and a conviction can result in jail, fines, and a criminal record. Michigan legal help like the Law Office of Rathi & Associates for legal needs when facing Michigan misdemeanor court. If you are facing misdemeanor charges then a misdemeanor lawyer will help you avoid the worst of any incoming punishments. 2. Misdemeanor Property Crimes: Property crimes are offenses that involve the appropriation or destruction of physical items, but can also involve thefts of services or intellectual properties. Like most jurisdictions, state law determines whether a property crime will be classified as a misdemeanor or felony based on the dollar amount and extenuating circumstances around the crime. Some of the more common misdemeanor property crimes include: Petty (or petit) theft under $200 Petty theft under $1,000 Vandalism with under $200 in damage Vandalism with under $1,000 in damage Public urination Trespassing 3. Misdemeanor Crimes Against Persons: Crimes against persons can involve touching or striking a person against their will, creating disturbances and other offenses that affect individuals and groups of individuals. As is the case with property crimes, a crime against a person can be either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the circumstances surrounding the crime and the severity of the offense. Some of the more common misdemeanor crimes against persons include the following: Assault and battery Domestic assault Misdemeanor stalking Disorderly conduct Resisting arrest Prostitution These are the common crimes committed against a person. If you’ve been charged with any of these crimes, you may have to face punishment, including imprisonment, fines, probation, and loss of civil rights. In some cases, you may also be required to pay restitution to the victim. However, the specific consequences may vary depending on the severity of the charges, the state in which the crime was committed, and the accused’s prior criminal record. For example, if you’ve been accused of domestic violence charges, regardless of your location, it’s important to work with an attorney who can guide you in protecting your rights and interests. 4. Misdemeanors Traffic Crimes and DUI: Driving Under the Influence is usually a misdemeanor unless there are extenuating circumstances like multiple DUI prior offenses, drug possession, or an accident involving injuries. There are also some non-alcohol-related traffic violations that are classified as misdemeanors. 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Possession of marijuana in any amount is a misdemeanor, but other activities related to the drug, such as selling it to others, can constitute a felony. In certain states, a person can legally carry up to 2.5 ounces of medical marijuana with a valid prescription. Conclusion Being accused of a misdemeanor can be frustrating and stressful. Therefore, to mitigate the impact of a potential misdemeanor charge on your life, keep the above information in mind and seek legal counsel if necessary. Read Also: Protect Your Rights Today With Domestic Violence Lawyers 6 Reasons to Contact a Lawyer before an Arrest in Knoxville

Three Practical Tips And Techniques For New Trial Lawyers

The trial lawyers that are new to the art should have a few tips that will make it easier for them to make the best choices while they are in the courtroom. There are many people who would like to use the tips because they think that they need to get some information that will guide them through their trials. You will feel as though you have a chance to guide the case on your terms when you are just starting out. If you can guide the case, you have better chances of winning. 1. Only Ask Questions You Know The Answers To: You need to start reading as much as you can at places like https://www.lawsonlegal.com.au/ because you need to know how to ask questions during the trial. You should only ask questions that you know the answers to. You need to be sure that you have asked questions that will give people a chance to talk, and you must allow them the chance to talk. Someone who is asking questions that are very open-ended can get some revealing answers. You might have people musing on the stand, and they might give away things that you did not know. 2. Share Everything: Evidence in the case needs to be shared during discovery. You will be penalized by the court, and that evidence might not be admitted into the case. This means that you will have a much better chance of winning because you are also getting all the information from the other side. You have to be willing to investigate everything that you are using, and you can create a profile for the case that will bring you a win. Someone who is sharing their information is following the law while also getting back information they need. 3. Never Badger A Witness: You will never get anywhere when you badger witnesses. They will not give you any information, and they will not respond the way that they do in the movies. This means that you need to be as calm as possible. You might be very upset, and you need to be sure that you have calmed yourself before you start talking. The people who are questioning in court need to have a list of things to ask, and they need to do so in a way that gets people to answer in kind. You never want to force the witnesses to hide things that you need to find out later on. Conclusion: The court case that you go through should be handled by someone who knows all the rules of the court. You can learn them right now by studying this list. You also need to be sure that you have calmed yourself so that you are not badgering witnesses. Share everything you find in the case with the other side, make a profile for the case, and be certain that you have never asked questions you do not know the answer to in open court. Read Also: What You Need To Know To Win Your Slip & Fall Case 9 Money Tips For Millennial Injury Lawyers In Los Angeles Under What Circumstances Can You Bring A Claim Against An Employer?

How Big Is The Problem Of Medical Malpractice In Miami?

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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