You were recently injured, you are in pain, and you are not bringing in any income because you can not work. You need to hire a lawyer, but you are not sure how you should make your decision. Lawyer commercials and advertisements are all over the place, on your television, on social media, on billboards, etc.
Choosing the best personal injury lawyer to represent your case can seem like a difficult and tiring task. With so many laws firms available in Minnesota, it is important to know the right questions to ask your personal injury lawyer so you can find the right lawyer for you. You may have already made a list of personal injury lawyers you would like to interview, and all the lawyers have stated they will offer a free consultation.
While the main focus of a consultation is for your situation and the circumstances of your potential case to be evaluated, the consultation will be a good time for you to ask questions. As you prepare to have a consultation with a personal injury lawyer who could possibly represent you, you may be asking yourself, “What questions should I ask the personal injury lawyer?”
The following are the top questions we are asked regarding personal injury cases. Asking these questions and others will allow you to determine if the personal injury lawyer has the qualifications and resources to pursue your case. You can also use the answers to determine if the personal injury lawyer will have your best interests in mind.
Why Do I Need A Personal Injury Lawyer?
If you have been injured in any type of accident(especially one that was caused by the negligence of someone else), you will be advised to seek the assistance of a personal injury lawyer. A personal injury lawyer will help you get the compensation you deserve and are entitled to.
There is also a chance you will have injuries you are not aware of or there may be additional problems that you may not have never thought to have checked. Personal injury lawyers know the rules when it comes to pain, suffering, loss of income, and more.
What Are Your Fees?
Many personal injury lawyers will work on a contingency fee basis. What does this mean? This means the personal injury lawyer will not have to be paid unless money is recovered from your lawsuit. If you recover financial damages from your lawsuit, your personal injury will take a percentage of the money that has been awarded to you.
Some personal injury lawyers will claim there are no legal fees, but they will fail to tell you about the cost of postage or copying/faxing documents. Many personal injury lawyers will not charge fees for these, but it is important to have a clear understanding of the charges you could incur over time.
Have You Taken On A Case Like Mine?
It is important not to assume that the personal injury lawyer you are considering is familiar with your type of case. We recommend that you ask any potential personal injury lawyer about his/her experience handling cases similar to yours and the outcome.
If you were injured in a car accident, you may not want to place your hands in the case of a personal injury lawyer who has mostly represented clients who were injured in a slip and fall accidents.
When Will My Case Be Filed?
Many lawyers will handle so many cases that they cannot remember which client belongs to which case. It is important to get a clear understanding of the amount of time a lawyer can dedicate to your case. If a potential lawyer is not able to provide you an answer or is honest about not knowing how much time can be dedicated to your case, it would be wise to consider moving on to someone else who can get your case filed quickly.
What Will I Have To Do During The Case?
Before agreeing to hire a lawyer, we encourage you to find out what he or she will expect from you. Will your lawyer want you to be heavily involved or will the lawyer take on the bulk of the work? You will need to be on the same page as your lawyer so you will not be caught off guard or feel as if you are being left in the dark.
Choosing a personal injury lawyer is not a decision that should be taken lightly. We want you to make an informed decision. If you are still weighing your options and would like to set up a consultation with our team, please do not hesitate to contact Swor & Gatto today.