Suffering a personal injury — whether from medical malpractice, a car accident, or a workplace injury — affects people’s lives profoundly and forever. But a qualified, experienced lawyer will fight for justice and get you the compensation you deserve to cover medical bills, lost wages, and physical and emotional pain and suffering.

To ensure you choose the right lawyer for you and your accident case, here’s a list of the five most important questions you can ask to find a trusted lawyer who will fight for you — and win.

 

What is your experience with personal injury cases like mine?

When entering into a personal injury lawsuit, you want to choose a law firm with a depth of experience handling your type of case. Experienced personal injury attorneys are:

• Able to navigate complex legal scenarios
• Skilled at finding creative paths to get you justice
• Competent in settlement negotiations to fight your case confidently
• Knowledgeable about common tactics used by insurance companies

Years of experience, number of cases, and successful case outcomes can help you establish your attorney’s level of experience and competence. Bottom line: experience on your side helps you win maximum compensation.

 

What is your track record for personal injury cases?

A qualified lawyer has experience and a high success rate of winning fair settlements for their clients. Consider asking your potential personal injury lawyer:

• How many cases they’ve won
• How many cases they’ve lost
• How many cases have been settled without trial
• How many cases have gone to trial

An experienced attorney will have testimonials from past clients for similar cases. A track record of case wins and satisfied clients is a winning combination and a good sign of a trusted law firm.

 

What is the cost of your service and how can I pay?

Many personal injury law firms work on a contingency fee basis. This means you do not pay any upfront costs; instead, your lawyer collects legal fees through a percentage of the settlement offer once you win your case.

If your potential personal injury lawyer does work on a contingency fee basis, be sure to ask what happens if your case doesn’t win. You’ll want clarity about what case-related costs you could be responsible for and how and when you would be required to pay.

If your potential lawyer does not work on a contingency fee basis, get a summary of all the legal costs and the payment schedule in writing so you know what to expect and can refer back to it.

 

What can I expect for communication with your team?

Choosing a law firm with clear, direct, and consistent communication will free up your time and energy so you can focus on your recovery. Consider discussing the following:

• What methods will they use to communicate — phone, email, text
• How often can you expect updates and communication from them
• What are their needs and expectations from you
• Will you be communicating with staff, paralegals, and/or your lawyer directly

Knowing this information upfront helps you decide if the law firm’s style suits you.

Since navigating a personal injury case can be stressful and overwhelming, you want to work with a law firm that takes the burden off your shoulders and makes the process as simple as possible by setting expectations upfront.

 

What are the strengths and weaknesses of my case?

As part of a free consultation, law firms will also do a case evaluation to determine the probability of winning your case. The strengths and weaknesses of your case give you an idea of what to expect throughout the process, the chances of winning a settlement, and the potential settlement amount.

This also allows your prospective lawyer to explain what steps they would take to overcome any weaknesses to win your case. Of course, you want a lawyer who can understand the opposing side, too, so they can make the most robust case possible to win.

 

60 Years of Experience Fighting for Personal Injury Clients

At Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler PLLC, we have a long track record of successfully bringing justice to our personal injury clients.

We are a large enough firm to access crucial resources to manage complex, nuanced cases but small enough to serve clients with personalized attorney-client relationships.

To schedule a free consultation and case review, call today at 253-242-2284 or contact our office online.