Unfortunately, accidents happen from time to time, and sometimes it might not even be your fault. If this is the case, as you probably already know, you are entitled to recover compensation. However, this process requires you to have a personal injury lawyer who is going to represent you.
When it comes to hiring one, you should definitely do research in order to find the best one. Let’s be honest, when on the hunt for any kind of merchandise or service we usually think, a lot, about which one to choose, and employing this type of lawyer should be no different. If you are from Perth, Foyle Legal is probably going to be on your list of potential companies.
You know what you should do, right? Find local companies, check out their references, connect with their previous clients, and so on. But, there are some essential questions that you should ask all the potential lawyers. Since these are the only way to learn important facts about the way they conduct their business and go with the right choice, these are going to be the main focus of our article.
1. How much money can I get?
Naturally, this is the thing that you are most curious about which is why it should definitely be the first one of the list of questions. Clearly, they cannot give you a precise answer, but upon reviewing all the facts of your case, they should be able to provide you with an approximate amount of money.
In order to ensure that their prediction is correct, you should discuss this question with multiple lawyers. If one of them hits you with an unrealistic prediction, and they cannot fully and in great detail explain it to you, you should think twice about hiring them. Do not allow yourself to be taken by an illusion that you will get rich although you know that there is no way that you can get that much money.
2. What is your fee?
Even though most personal injury lawyers work on so-called contingency fee meaning that you have to pay them only if you win, this is still an important question to ask. Usually, this will be from 25% to 40% of the money you get.
Yes, most people would like to spend as little money as they can, but you should definitely not choose an attorney simply because their services aren’t going to cost a lot. The reason why they are so cheap might be because they are not qualified or have never done this type of case before. This brings us to the next question.
In addition, some attorneys charge “out-of-cost” fees which in reality are numerous additional costs. Again, this is not something that they all do, so make sure to inquire about them.
3. Have you worked on any similar cases?
You do not want to employ someone who has never worked on similar cases because it means that they might not have a lot of experience, right? This is completely understandable which is why this question should be on your list. Although they are personal injury lawyers, maybe they only have experience with car accidents meaning that may not be the best choice.
It is of crucial importance to be completely comfortable and confident with your choice, so if you believe this to be enough reason to continue your search, then that’s what you should do.
4. Who is going to work on my case?
To some people, it might sound odd, but usually, personal injury lawyers collaborate with other associates meaning that they will not handle every single aspect of your case. This is especially true if you opt for a company where multiple attorneys work.
Normally they work with a legal secretary that is going to assist them in preparations for your case. If you want to hire a senior attorney, you can expect them to work with a junior partner that is also going to work on some aspects of your case.
Again, this is something that not all people feel comfortable with, so you should think whether or not you are okay with it. Because of this, you should never skip this question, but also you have to know who you are going to communicate with and who is going to provide you with all the information you need at any moment.
5. How long will the entire process take?
This is another thing that interests you, but just like the previous question about the amount of money, a personal injury lawyer cannot give you a precise answer. Depending on numerous factors, it can take anywhere from six months to a year or two.
One of the most important qualities that you should look for in an attorney is that they are willing to go that extra mile to complete your case as soon as possible. Even though you do not have to pay them unless they win your case, you still don’t want it to drag on for months and months, right?
6. How much court experience you have?
So, you probably watch on TV civil cases getting resolved in a courthouse, but the reality is different. Generally speaking, this type of cases rarely goes to court. However, you cannot predict the future, so there may be some reason why this could happen.
Nevertheless, you want someone who is going to treat your case as if they expect it to go to court meaning that they have to work carefully on every aspect of it. Furthermore, you want to be on the safe side, so you should definitely go with someone who has already been in front of a jury. Besides possessing a certain set of skills, one has to have this kind of experience in order to win the case.
It doesn’t matter how slim the chances of going to court are, you should always go with an attorney you believe can ensure that you get your compensation, even when faced with defendant and jury.
