What Should I Ask Before Hiring A Personal Injury Lawyer?

What Should I Ask Before Hiring A Personal Injury Lawyer?
Whenever you decide to hire anyone to provide a service to you, you always want to make sure you ask the right questions before hiring that person or company. Following a personal injury accident, many people consider hiring legal representation. Before hiring an attorney for an accident, though, it is always best to ask certain questions of a prospective attorney that you are considering hiring. The following are some considerations to keep in mind when you are considering hiring a particular attorney. The answers to the following questions can really help one gauge whether or not a particular Boston personal injury attorney is the right fit.

It is important to ask about the experience level of the attorney. You want to know how long the attorney has been practicing law and whether or not he or she has handled cases just like your own. For example, if you were injured in a car accident and suffered a broken leg or any type of broken bone, you want to make sure that attorney has handled a motor vehicle accident case with the same or very similar injuries that you sustained in your accident.
You also want to ask the attorney about his or her philosophy regarding litigation. That is very important because there are many attorneys that are reluctant to file lawsuits for their clients. The reason for that is, lawsuits can be very time-consuming for the attorney and the attorney’s office, so frequently attorneys shy away from litigation. Keep in mind that if an attorney is reluctant to pursue litigation for your case, should it require it, it may be a red flag that that attorney is not the right attorney for your case.
Next, ask the attorney about his or her fees. Nearly every single personal injury lawyer in America handles injury claims on a contingency fee basis. That means that the attorney is only paid if the case is successfully settled or if a plaintiff’s jury verdict is obtained at trial. Generally, a fee is 33.3%. However, for some types of cases, such as slip-and-fall accidents and other premises liability claims, the attorney may charge more, perhaps 37% or even up to 40%. It is very important to ask the attorney the amount of the fee percentage that he or she will be charging for your particular case.
It is very important to ask the attorney whether or not he or she has been faced with any disciplinary charges. This information can be obtained online; however, it is always good to just talk with the lawyer that you’re considering hiring and ask whether or not he or she has been faced with any type of reprimands, suspensions, or any other similar types of punishments stemming from any disciplinary actions.
You also want to ask the attorney who will be working on your case. Don’t assume it will be the attorney solely handling your case. Many, if not all attorneys, utilize legal assistants as well as paralegals to handle injury claims. You want to know exactly who will be assisting with your case. While there are other pertinent questions that may apply to your case, the preceding were some of the more important points that you want to inquire about with any attorney that you’re considering hiring, including workers’ compensation accidents.
If you or someone you know needs the assistance of a personal injury attorney in Massachusetts, please call the Earley Law Group Injury Lawyers today for your free consultation at 617-444-7777. As well, be sure to check out our free consumer guide series titled, The Truth Series, which was written to help you make the best possible legal decisions for your particular case.