3 Key Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney

Picture this. You’re walking home after work when a car runs a red light and hits you out of nowhere. Your life is changed in an instant.

You’re in pain. You can’t work. The doctors say that it’ll take months to recover. So naturally, you’ve decided to hire a personal injury attorney.

Or maybe that’s not you. Maybe you fell on an icy sidewalk or were involved in a car accident that left you unable to walk.

But while googling phrases like “lawyer near me” can certainly book you a few consultations, there’s a lot that goes into hiring a lawyer. Are you unsure of what to ask an attorney? Are you overwhelmed at the thought of putting together a shortlist? Read on to see our list of attorney-vetting consultation questions.

1. Have You Handled Cases Like Mine Before?

Imagine you’re placing a bet on a race between two drivers. One driver has driven through this particular route hundreds of times. And the other one has never driven before period — never mind the route. Given these facts, you’d be crazy not to put your money on Driver A, right?

Believe it or not, it’s the same thing with hiring a lawyer. After all, when it comes to personal injury litigation, not all lawyers are created equal. You’ll want to hire an attorney who’s won cases that are similar to yours. You never know when that next-level expertise will give you an edge in the proceedings.

2. How Much Time Can You Spend on My Lawsuit?

If there’s one thing that all the best lawyers have in common, it’s that they’re constantly in high demand. So much so that it’s not unusual for high-powered types to be booking trials several months in advance.

However, even if you’re hiring the Michael Jordan of lawyers, that attorney still needs time to prepare your case. This is especially true if your case happens to be more complex. As such, this is arguably one of the most important attorney questions you can ask.

3. What Should I Do Next?

Although the burden of proof in civil lawsuits is lower than the criminal standard, plaintiffs still need to bring evidence forward to win cases. So naturally, you don’t want to show up to court without the right documentation. And you definitely don’t want to lose money simply because you couldn’t prove that you were harmed by the other person’s actions.

If your accident happened just a few minutes ago, you may have to consider taking some or all of these steps to reach safety. But if it’s been a few weeks since the incident and you’re not in any immediate danger, you may need to start gathering evidence for your lawsuit. Your lawyer will know what you should do to present the strongest case possible.

Hire a Personal Injury Attorney by Asking Questions

Hiring a lawyer can be complicated in the best of times. But when you’ve got a personal injury that you’re seeking compensation for, finding the right personal injury attorney can be a total game changer. The questions we’ve just provided make it possible for you to find the best personal injury lawyer in your area.

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