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If you, or a loved one, have been injured due to the negligence of another individual or company, you most likely have numerous questions about hiring a personal injury lawyer. Your injuries that happened as a result of another individual’s negligence will require you to hire an attorney. This will ensure you receive the highest level of compensation from the responsible party. The amount should cover your injuries, pain, suffering and damages. Before hiring an attorney, you should consider the following:
Level of Experience
While nearly any personal injury attorney will offer a free initial consultation to evaluate the case, experience matters. A skilled personal injury attorney will be one that dedicates the majority of their practice to personal injury law. They will have handled a variety of cases much like yours and will be able to properly represent you throughout the process.
Types of Personal Injury Cases
You need to understand that there are different types of personal injury cases. Some attorneys specialize in medical malpractice where a doctor, nurse or other healthcare provider neglected to provide the best healthcare. Some attorneys specialize in wrongful death, hurt on the job injuries, vehicle accidents, and others. Choose one that specializes in your type of negligent action.
A Lawsuit Is Not Mandatory
Many of the cases involving personal injury never need to go to trial. In fact, some cases do not involve a lawsuit at all. A skilled personal injury attorney might be able to negotiate directly with the insurance company that holds the policy for the defendant. The attorney might be able to settle the case without ever needing to file a personal injury lawsuit. This option of settling is often less expensive and faster.
What Are the Fees?
Before hiring a personal injury lawyer, it is important to understand the attorney fees involved in your case. In all likelihood, the attorney will work on a contingency fee basis, where they will accept payment only after you receive your compensation at trial, or through a settlement. The lawyer will typically charge a percentage of the total settlement. In the event that a settlement cannot be reached or compensation awarded at trial, the attorney would receive no fees for his or her work.
What Expenses Are Involved?
Even though the attorney will accept a contingency fee paid out of the settlement, that amount will only cover the attorney’s time. Any other individual working on the case will likely be paid as an expense charged to you. In addition, the non-attorney time costs involved in filing documents, taking depositions and interviews will be part of the expenses involved in the case. Be sure you understand all of the expenses and fees involved in the case before ever signing a contract with the attorney.
Some Cases Take Time
The complexity of a personal injury case often requires an extensive amount of time to complete. When considering a personal injury attorney to hire, it is important to understand how long he or she believes the case might take. An experienced attorney should be able to provide a realistic estimate. Avoid any attorney that promises fast cash or a quick settlement. In addition, if the lawyer is offering a guaranteed result it is important to look elsewhere for a more experienced attorney. A straightforward attorney will provide an honest opinion on the value of the case based on the evidence.
