Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer
When you’re looking for a personal injury lawyer, it becomes apparent quickly that not all lawyers are the same. If you’ve never hired an attorney before, you might feel lost in your options. How do you know who to choose? What questions do you ask? Many questions are probably on your mind. How much money can you get? What percentage does a personal injury lawyer take? None of these are bad questions. In fact, here are some questions that you should have before hiring a lawyer.
Who Will Do the Work on Your Case?
In many cases, the lawyer will not handle every single aspect of your case. They may have a paralegal or a secretary that assists him or her in the preparation of legal documents and other letters. If you have a senior attorney, he or she may have an associate that does a lot of the work. Often, your attorney will handle the most complicated aspects of a case.
What Percentage Does the Attorney Take?
Most personal injury lawyers work under a contingency fee. This means that the lawyer won’t see any money unless you obtain a recovery. The standard charge is about 33 percent of your recovery. While this number might be subject to a variety of different factors, it is what you can expect. No matter how much you win or how little, expect there to be about a 33 percent fee. Keep in mind that you may still have to negotiate you and your lawyer will handle other fees before or after a case. For instance, sometimes you will pay these fees upfront, other times; you may end up paying them at the end, on top of the contingency fee. If you lose a case, some lawyers will absorb the costs.
Does Specialty Matter?
Personal injury is a large category. There are a number of different types of cases under the umbrella. In some instances, it helps to choose a lawyer that has experience in your case. For instance, here are some of the different kinds of cases:
Assault and battery
Products liability
Defamation
Medical malpractice
Animal bites
Slip and fall
Car accidents
Where some attorneys may specialize in one area, there are lawyers who specialize in several. Experience, however, always matters. When you go searching for a personal injury lawyer, you want to make sure that you have the best possible choice. If you have more questions about your lawyer or a case, you should never be afraid to ask your attorney or potential attorneys. The more questions you have answered from the beginning, the more likely you are to understand the process.