Searching for a personal injury lawyer is a critical task. After an accident, you might be in considerable pain. However, you certainly need to begin looking for the right personal injury attorney to represent you in settlement talks and litigation. There are tight deadlines to meet to protect your rights, and your attorney will need to jump in and begin preserving evidence.
Below, our Alabama personal injury attorneys highlight some questions you should ask a lawyer. Schedule your free consultation with The Harris Firm if you’d like to talk about your case with someone from our team.
How Much of Your Practice is Devoted to Personal Injury Law?
Personal injury law is its own specialty. Personal injury law is not like criminal law or divorce law. It has its own legal rules, which can change regularly with court decisions. Lawyers who practice the most in personal injury law will know whether you have a strong case and what evidence you need to win a settlement. They can also properly value your injuries.
What Evidence Do I Need to Win?
This is an important consideration. You might have evidence in your possession which the lawyer will need to see. Similarly, you might need to document things for use in your case, such as where you are feeling pain each day. Evidence like this can help bolster a claim.
How Much Do You Think My Case is Worth?
A lawyer can provide an estimate. Take it with a grain of salt. The lawyer probably needs to do a more intensive investigation to come up with a precise amount, but a lawyer can speak generally in a consultation.
What Are the Strengths and Weaknesses of My Case?
A lawyer can also discuss what other evidence you will need to bring a successful claim. For example, there might be confusion about which vehicle struck the other. In that case, the lawyer might say you should search for surveillance video or review witness testimony to piece together what happened. A lawyer has an incentive to be honest with you, because we don’t get paid unless we win your case.
How Do You Communicate with Your Clients?
Communication is central to the attorney-client relationship. In some firms, a paralegal or case manager is your point of contact. They will answer all questions and be the person who picks up the phone if you call. In other firms, the lawyer will have regular contact with you.
Also figure out how often the lawyer will keep you updated. Nobody likes sitting at home with no idea about what is happening (if anything) with their case.
How Do You Charge for Your Services?
A lawyer should have no problem talking about their fee structure. We use contingency fee agreements:
- You don’t owe any upfront legal fees.
- We will only get paid if we win your case, either in a settlement or at trial.
- We agree to take a percentage of any settlement or court award.
Speak with a Personal Injury Lawyer Today
The Harris Firm is happy to answer any questions from accident victims. Call us today at (205) 578-6470 to schedule your one-on-one consultation with our office.