An initial consultation with a personal injury lawyer has several purposes. You may be deciding whether or not to bring a legal claim. You’re deciding if you want a lawyer to represent you. The consultation is also your opportunity to obtain legal advice and learn about your case.
It’s important to know what questions to ask your Greenville personal injury lawyer at your initial consultation.
Bobby Jones Law outlines 12 of the most important questions to ask a personal injury lawyer.
1. Do You Typically Handle Cases Like Mine?
You need a lawyer who is experienced in your type of case. If you have a personal injury, you need a lawyer who handles civil injury claims.
This is different from a criminal defense lawyer or an attorney who handles business transactions.
Personal injury law is complex, and an experienced Greenville personal injury lawyer can handle the details that may make a critical difference in your case.
2. What Is Your Experience With Similar Injury Claims?
One way to measure a lawyer’s experience is with similar claims. Without giving away confidential information, the lawyer should be able to provide examples of cases that they’ve worked on that are similar to yours. You don’t want a lawyer who simply says they handle injury claims. Instead, you want a lawyer to talk about various cases.
3. How Does the Law Apply to My Case?
There are two reasons to ask this question. First, your consultation is the opportunity to learn about your case. Whether you hire the lawyer or not, they’ve offered to give you insight into the case. You can leave with new information to help you make decisions.
This question also helps you evaluate the lawyer’s knowledge of the law. Your case may have some unique issues that require research, but a lawyer who is qualified to handle your case should know the basics of the law that applies.
4. What Challenges Might There Be in My Case?
An important part of representing someone in a legal claim is identifying weak points in a case.
A lawyer should be able to identify things that may be especially critical. They should also be able to anticipate what the defense will say in response to the claim.
This question helps you evaluate the lawyer’s skill and gives you realistic information about your options.
5. What Fees and Costs Should I Expect?
When you hire a lawyer, you need to know exactly how they charge for services. Even if a lawyer says that there is no money needed to start a case, you need to understand how the lawyer will get paid.
Contingency fees are common in personal injury claims. A contingency fee is when the lawyer’s fee is based on the results they get for the client. The lawyer should explain what costs may be associated with litigation and how those costs will be deducted. A fee agreement should always be in writing.
6. How Long Might My Case Take To Resolve?
When you have a personal injury claim, it’s important to know how to plan and how long your case might take.
A lawyer can never be certain how long a case will take. It depends on how the defense responds, evidence, insurance, court schedule, and other factors. But a lawyer should be able to explain how the various factors may impact the case. The timeline can help you plan for the days and weeks ahead.
7. What Is My Case Potentially Worth?
Knowing what your case is worth can create realistic expectations. You need to know the truth.
The lawyer shouldn’t overstate nor downplay the case. Along with explaining what a case is potentially worth, the lawyer should give the reasons for their opinion. They should also discuss things that can maximize your case value.
8. Who Will Be Working On My Case?
Communication with your legal team is important. Sometimes, the attorney you meet first isn’t the one who will actually work on your case. You need to know your legal team and feel comfortable with them. Ask who your case leads, both attorneys and other legal professionals, will be.
9. How Involved Will I Be in the Process?
You may want to be involved in your case to a great extent or very little. Knowing what’s expected of you allows you to do everything possible to help your case.
10. How Will We Communicate Throughout My Case?
Lawyers have different ways of communicating—email, mailed paperwork, phone calls, and even text. You may have an office meeting to discuss the necessary steps in the case. Make sure that your style is a match for the attorney. Ask who you contact and how to contact them. Ask what methods of communication you can expect.
11. Is My Case Likely To Go to Trial?
It’s impossible to predict exactly what course a case will take. However, a lawyer should assess if a case is likely to go to trial. They can explain what makes a claim likely to go to trial and what you can do to build a strong case. The discussion can include your goals for the legal proceedings.
12. What Can I Do Right Now?
There may be things that you can do right now to help your case. The steps you take can make your case more efficient and ultimately increase your payment. The lawyer can guide you on what documents to gather and how to track your recovery. They can also explain what not to do while you pursue your case.
Contact an Experienced Greenville Personal Injury Lawyer
When you have an initial consultation with Bobby Jones Law, you can ask all these questions. We welcome you to contact an experienced Greenville personal injury lawyer at our law firm. We’re taking new cases now.
