4 Questions To Ask Your Personal Injury Lawyer During Your Initial Consultation
Posted on: 15 November 2017
Hiring a lawyer to represent you when filing a personal injury claim can help make the process less stressful while maximizing your chance of winning a settlement. Personal injury lawyers have a deep understanding of the legal process, they know how to determine exactly what your case is worth, and they have the ability to take your case to trial if it becomes necessary. Here are five important questions to ask your personal injury attorney during your initial meeting so you know exactly what to expect throughout the claim process:
Do You Belong to Any Associations?
Find out if your personal injury lawyer belongs to any programs such as the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys or the American Institute of Legal Counsel. These associations typically offer continuing education opportunities and effective legal support to participating lawyers. This means that if your attorney is a member of any association, they likely have the education and resources needed to optimize their effectiveness while representing you. And these associations also keep lists of top lawyers in the country, which should encourage your lawyer to do their best so they can obtain a spot on the list and maintain their rating.
Do You Represent Both Plaintiffs and Defendants?
It's a good idea to gain some insight into the types of clients your personal injury lawyer services on a regular basis. If they have experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants, you can count on them to tap into their perspective of the other party and better serve your needs as necessary. For instance, your lawyer should be able to anticipate how the other party's insurance company will respond to your request for compensation depending on the amount of money you are asking for. So they'll be able to develop effective methods of working with the other party to negotiate a compensation plan that is fair and are happy with.
Is a Portfolio Available for Review?
It is also important to make sure that your personal injury lawyer has a portfolio available that you can use to determine who much expertise and experience they possess as well as how much success they've had with their cases in the past. Whether it's a website or paper portfolio, you should be able to access information such as:
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The kind of education your lawyer has participated in.
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The number of clients that have been served in the past.
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The percentage of cases that they've previously won based on their overall client count.
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The types of personal injury cases they have worked on.
Client testimonials should also be included in your lawyer's portfolio so you can gain some personal insight into what you can expect them to do for you by the time all is said and done.
What Percentage of Your Clients are Referrals?
If your lawyer is getting client referrals from other attorneys, it's likely because they have proven their their expertise in the industry and their ability to win personal injury cases. Ask your lawyer what percentage of their clients have been referred to them by other lawyers and legal experts. If they have a high referral count, chances are that they have a reliable track record that even their industry competitors feel good about taking advantage of. But even if their referral rate is low, you can have peace of mind in knowing that even one referral means that your lawyer is trusted and relied upon in the industry.
Add a list of your own personal questions to the ones outlined here to ensure that nothing important is overlooked during your initial personal injury consultation. Schedule your consultation today to start the process of getting the compensation you deserve for your pain and suffering. For more information, contact specialists like James Lee Katz.
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