So, you’ve suffered an injury and are in a substantial amount of pain. You may be wondering what your next steps are, since you may be unable to work. Should you hire an attorney? If you choose to hire an attorney, this can make your life much easier as it eliminates some of your stress. Personal injury lawyers in Houston and other areas are ready to help you out.
In Houston alone, there have been more than 600,000 personal injury cases in 2016. The average medical bill cost approximately $3,022.98 in Houston and 142,000 people were mandated to pay that amount in full. But, before you hire any single lawyer, you must become fixated on hiring the best one. This guide will provide you with a list of questions to ask your attorney before hiring one.
Questions to Ask a Personal Injury Attorney
Asking the right set of questions to a personal injury attorney will help you understand more about them and whether they are experienced enough to take on your case. Here are several questions to keep in mind when interviewing a personal injury attorney:
- What are your costs? Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means you won’t owe until your case wins. A certain fee will be taken out and will go to the attorney. Since there’s no way to tell whether or not your case will win beforehand, you can ask the attorney what their percentage fees are and if there are any additional legal fees you should know about.
- Do you have a lot of experience handling cases similar to mines? Never underestimate attorneys who haven’t dealt with similar cases in large numbers, especially if other attorneys in their firm are supporting them. Even without prior experience, other attorneys may be available to provide assistance when needed. But, you want to make sure that this isn’t the very first case your attorney is dealing with. Your preference may be hiring an attorney that specifically has experience trying cases like yours.
- How many successful cases have you had in court? Sometimes personal injury cases make it to trial if a fair settlement cannot be reached. It is critical that you instill your trust in whatever attorney you choose to represent you. However, the attorney of your choice should treat every case as if they are preparing for trial.
- How often will I be updated on my case? Of course, you will not receive daily updates, but it is important to find out how often and in what manner you will be updated on your case. It is important that you are kept afloat on the progress of your case.
- How much is my case worth? In the beginning stages, your attorney will be unable to provide you with an estimate of damages. However, any attorney should be able to determine right from the start whether your case qualifies you to receive compensation. An attorney that is experienced should be able to inform you of anything obvious that stands out right away.
- How long will it take to reach a settlement? It really depends on how difficult your case is and whether your case makes it to trial. It also depends on how easy the other party is to work with.
Never be afraid to ask as many questions as you need to. This is generally routine with attorneys. The more informed you are, the better off you’ll be.
We are not lawyers and this is in no way intended to be used as legal advice . We cannot be held responsible for your results. Always do your own research and seek professional legal help.
Meg is an author at Cinnamon Hollow. She writes on a variety of topics sharing tips and ideas for daily life.