Cohen & Sinowski
Cohen & Sinowski

What questions you should ask before hiring a personal injury attorney?

  • Published: January 24, 2023

When you’re injured in a car accident, slip and fall, or any other type of personal injury case and you’re looking for legal representation, it’s important to choose an attorney who has the experience and resources to fight for your rights. Personal injury lawyers can provide advice about what your options are in terms of pursuing a claim against another party, but it’s also important that they understand your specific situation. In this article we’ll discuss what questions you should ask before hiring a personal injury attorney:

Car Accident Lawyer

Are you the right fit for your case?

There’s a lot to consider when choosing a personal injury attorney. You should be sure that you’re comfortable with your attorney, and that they will be able to answer any questions you have and provide the information you need.

A good personal injury attorney can explain the legal process in plain English so you know what’s going on at all times. They should also work hard to protect your rights, including confidentiality (keeping everything private) and transparency.

The attorney should be willing to answer all of your questions and explain things in detail. If they won’t, then it’s probably not the right fit. You should also be sure that they have experience with cases like yours, as well as a good track record of success.

What and why a contingency fee?

A contingency fee is a percentage of the award, usually between 33 and 40 percent. If you win your case, you pay nothing out-of-pocket for your attorney’s services. If you lose your case, you owe the attorney nothing

Here’s why this model works well for clients: it allows them to get expert legal advice without having to pay thousands of dollars in fees upfront; it gives them peace of mind knowing that their lawyer is working on their behalf and has nothing to gain except getting them justice; and finally, if they do win their case at trial or settle with another party outside of court through mediation (in which both sides agree on an amount), they can be assured they’re not going off into battle alone once again but rather have someone who understands the system fighting alongside them so they get what’s rightfully theirs

Will your rates fluctuate during the course of your case?

In contingency fee cases, your lawyer will be paid nothing unless you are successful in your case. This means that if you do not recover damages, then your lawyer does not get paid. Contingency fees are calculated by taking the total amount of money awarded to you in your case and multiplying it by the contingency percentage. For example: if the case settles for $100,000.00 prior to a law suit being filed, then under a contingency fee agreement with a 33% fee, your attorney would collect $33,333.33 for their services.

How many personal injury cases have you handled in the last thirty-two years?

You should also consider how many cases your prospective attorney has handled in the past. If they have handled a lot of cases, then they will likely be more experienced and able to help you with yours. However, it’s important to understand that there are different levels of experience within this metric. For example, if your lawyer has only had one personal injury case during their career but has won it successfully, then that’s great! It means they’re capable of handling your situation and building upon their previous success—which is something worth considering as well! On the other hand, if your attorney has handled dozens or even hundreds of cases over their career but hasn’t had any wins yet…well…it may not be as good news for you.

Similarly, if your perspective attorney has not handled your type of cases, be warry. There are lots of attorneys who handle a range of cases from criminal defense to family law. These are called general practitioners and they do not specialize in one single area of law, but rather handle a wide range of cases. Shouldn’t your case be handled by an attorney who has specialized in the area of law that you require assistance in?

What types of qualities should I look for in a personal injury attorney?

It’s important to find a lawyer who is responsive, attentive, and compassionate. You’ll want your attorney to answer your questions quickly. You also want them to listen carefully when you talk about what has happened in your case and how it has affected your life.

It’s also important that the personal injury attorney be experienced: they should have experience working on similar cases in the past or with similar types of clients so that they know how best to handle yours as well as any potential complications down the line (like medical bills).

You want someone trustworthy as well! Your lawyer should always tell the truth about their work on your behalf; if there are any red flags along the way—and trust me there will be some—you need someone who can tell you straight up without sugarcoating anything or making excuses for why things aren’t going well because no one likes being told their job isn’t going well unless things are stellar from start-to-finish which means having very high expectations from both sides.”

Your lawyer should take the time to understand your specific needs and tailor his advice accordingly.

It’s important that you feel comfortable with your lawyer, and that he or she understands the specifics of your case. A good personal injury attorney will take the time to learn about you, your goals and expectations for your case. A good personal injury lawyer will also make sure that he understands not only what you need right now, but also how those needs may change based on the circumstances of your case.

This is especially true if there are time limits involved in pursuing legal action against an at-fault party (such as six months from when an accident occurred). If a personal injury lawyer has not taken care to fully understand all aspects of his client’s situation before offering advice regarding whether or not it’s worth pursuing legal action, then chances are high that he or she could overlook something critical which could have been addressed much sooner had he done so correctly.

Conclusion

When it comes to hiring a personal injury attorney, you want someone who will work with you to find the best solution for your case. You should feel comfortable asking questions and getting answers from your lawyer that make sense for your situation.

 

Getting into an accident can be scary and stressful, let alone dealing with insurance companies and adjusters. You don’t have to stress out or worry about being taken advantage of. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, contact the law firm of Cohen & Sinowski for your free consultation and the best legal advice around!

Cohen & Sinowski

The personal injury attorneys of Cohen & Sinowski are
dedicated to helping clients in the Metro Atlanta area.
Call Us Today! (404) 383-8835

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