After suffering an injury caused by another party’s negligence or intentional actions, it is critical that you secure the services of an experienced attorney. Finding the right attorney is essential when pursuing compensation from the party responsible for your damages. One of the best ways of ensuring you find the best attorney for you is by asking the right questions.
At Vaughan & Vaughan, we have been representing injury victims in civil lawsuits for over 100 years. We have the experience needed to help ensure you recover the compensation you need and deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our personal injury lawyers and find out if we are a fit to represent you.
Get Recommendations from Friends or Family
If you have a friend or family member who previously required the services of a personal injury lawyer, speaking with them can be a good place to start. They can tell you about their experience working with the attorney and whether or not they would recommend them for your case.
Search Online
Another great place to start is by searching the internet. You can find attorneys in your area and read the reviews from clients they represented. These reviews should give you a picture of whether an attorney’s clients are generally satisfied with their services.
Ask Questions During a Free Consultation
Once you have some options for who to hire to handle your personal injury claim, you begin speaking with attorneys. Most personal injury lawyers offer free, no-obligation consultations to potential clients. During these consultations, you will have the opportunity to ask questions of the lawyer.
These questions can give you a good idea about whether the attorney and you are a good match. Some questions that can help you make your decision include:
- How many years have you been practicing personal injury law?
- What is your success record at trial?
- How do you charge your clients?
- What will my role be?
- Can I reach out to a previous client?
How Many Years Have You Been Practicing Personal Injury Law?
Hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer can be critical for ensuring you recover the compensation you need and deserve in your case. You want to make sure that the attorney representing you has a long history of handling personal injury cases like yours.
Every personal injury case is different, so it is important to ensure that not only does your attorney have a long history of handling personal injury cases but that they have specifically handled cases similar to your own.
What Is Your Success Record at Trial?
Many personal injury attorneys can negotiate an out-of-court settlement for their clients but lack the experience or skill set needed to win a case at trial. Although the majority of personal injury cases are resolved through settlements, it is still critical that you secure the services of an attorney with a proven track record of winning big in court.
There is always the possibility that you won’t be able to come to terms with the liable party on a settlement deal, necessitating a court appearance. In this case, you want to ensure your lawyer is prepared and willing to take your case to trial.
How do You Charge Your Clients?
Another crucial thing to be clear about before you hire an attorney is how their fee structure works. Most personal injury lawyers charge their clients on a contingency fee basis. What this means is that they only collect payment if they successfully recover compensation on behalf of their clients.
If the attorney is successful in recovering compensation, they will be paid a percentage of the money collected by the injury victim. However, this percentage can vary from one lawyer to the next and may differ depending on whether the case settles or is resolved through a trial. Additionally, your lawyer may charge for costs accrued in building your case.
You need to be sure that you fully understand how much you will have to pay your attorney, both in the event of a victory or a defeat.
What Will My Role Be?
You also need to ensure that you and your lawyer are on the same page regarding the role you will play in proceedings. Some injury victims want to be hands-on and attend all events related to their case, while others would rather sit back and not have to worry about their case as their attorney handles everything.
Whichever method you choose, it is critical that you make sure your attorney is supportive of the arrangement. Getting started on a case and finding out that you and your lawyer have different ideas about how to proceed is a recipe for disaster.
Can I Reach Out to a Previous Client?
While you will likely be able to find reviews of an attorney on the internet and often on their own website, these reviews will likely only paint a partial picture of what working with an attorney is like.
Talking directly with a lawyer’s prior client can give you a better understanding of what to expect from the perspective of another person in your shoes.
Reach Out to an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Near You Today
When hiring a personal injury lawyer to help you recover damages, it is essential that you compare and contrast. Schedule free consultations with a few attorneys in your area and ask them questions to determine who would best represent your interests. At Vaughan & Vaughan, our legal team is ready and waiting to get started on your case.
Contact us today by phone or through our website to schedule your free case review with a member of our legal team.
