How to Choose the Right Attorney to Represent Your Personal Injury Lawsuit
David Holmes
If you've been in an accident and are considering a lawsuit, it would be wise for you to hire an attorney to represent you and your interests in your case. Attorneys are very beneficial to you since they have surely maneuvered the legal system far more often than you have and can offer you valuable advice and services you would most likely be lost without. Take your time to find the right attorney for your personal injury case because there is not usually a rush with a personal injury claim. Most states allow six months to several years to file your claim.
There are a huge number of attorneys out there, so it can be an extremely daunting task when trying to find one that you feel will do a good job and maximize your return in your lawsuit. Keep in mind that not all attorneys are created equally. You would be unwise to just point your finger at a random entry in the Yellow Pages and ask that lawyer to represent you. You should be able to do some research online to narrow your search down to three to five attorneys. Your "top five list" should be filled with attorneys who appear to be experienced and make you feel confident that they will be able to help you with your personal injury case.
You should be prepared to interview your list of attorneys to ensure that you hire someone you feel can best help represent you in a court of law. Below are some great questions to ask, but feel free to add in your own concerns to the list. If the lawyer is good, he or she will actually be happy to know you are educating yourself and may increase your chances of them choosing to represent you.
The Questions
• Who will be representing me in my case?
You'll want to know exactly which attorney and legal staff will be representing you so you can direct your inquiries to them.
• How many years have you and your staff been practicing law?
Ideally, you want someone who has a long and established career in law representing you. It is also beneficial to ask how long the other lawyers in the firm have been practicing. The more combined experience they have, the better.
• How many cases of [insert your lawsuit type] have you and your firm represented?
What ratio of [insert your lawsuit type] to other types of cases do you handle?
--You want a lawyer and firm with a lot of experience in the area of law that is applicable to your case.
• What is the highest level of court that your firm goes to trial in? -If
your case needs to be taken to trial in a high-level court, you want to make sure that they won't drop you in the middle of it. You also need to know if they are familiar with higher levels of court.
• Has your firm ever lost a case in my
lawsuit's area of law? -If
they say no, chances are they are lying or have not been in practice long enough to have had many cases; regardless, they would most likely not be a good match.
• Can you provide me with decisions
in cases like mine that you or your firm represented? Or, can you show me a source where I can read about your cases? -Some-
times hearing it from the source is not always the best way to get the whole story. Doing some reading from an outside source will be beneficial for helping you understand how good the lawyers in their firm are.
• What do you think my case is worth?
One of the more important questions to ask is how much the attorney thinks the case is worth. If it isn't worth much, you can try another lawyer who thinks he or she can get more from it, or you can just forget about the lawsuit altogether if you don't think you will get enough out of it.
• Do you think you can get me a settlement without going to trial?
Sometimes settling is better than having a drawn-out lawsuit process. If the firm can get you cash for a settlement up front, that would eliminate the whole, lengthy lawsuit process. Just make sure an advanced cash settlement is worth it if you try to pursue this route.
• Are there any fees I must pay?
No upfront fees should be paid in most types of personal injury and
workers' compensation cases. Good lawyers will only require that you pay their fees on the condition that you win the case.
• Can I take a copy of any fee agreement with me to study? -If
you win, you will have to pay the firm their fee, so they should have a fee agreement ready to show you. Keep in mind that there is no standard type of fee agreement. Each case is unique, so they shouldn't apply a basic set of fees to every case.
• Has your firm ever worked with a lawsuit loan company, such as Global Financial Credit, that can offer me cash for my lawsuit? Getting an advance on a cash settlement can really help you out in your lawsuit. A cash advance can provide you upfront cash to help pay bills or cover other personal expenses that arise during your lawsuit.
• Do you have malpractice insurance?
All respectable and legitimate law firms and lawyers should have malpractice insurance.
• Have you or your firm represented any insurance companies?
If so, you may want to make sure they aren't going to be biased when representing you, especially if they represent you against an insurance company they have represented in the past.
• What sort of legal hurdles do you think I might have to face, and how would you help me overcome these hurdles?
With such a task ahead of you, you have to be able to trust your attorney. Remember, you need to take the time to do your homework when choosing an attorney. A little work on your part will ensure that you get the best lawyer for your particular case. If you're injured and have difficulty leaving your home, many attorneys will even make house calls for your convenience.
David Holmes joined Global Financial Credit in 2013. As Marketing Manager, David represents Global as well as five other affiliated brands. He is a native of North Carolina and attended Appalachian State University where he graduated with a double major in Marketing and Real Estate.
Contact Dcn’id Holmes at 704-448-1115 or dholmes@glofin. com.
