When you are considering pursuing legal action after an accident and injury, initial consultations offer you the opportunity to meet with a lawyer, get their advice on your case, and learn about their credentials before committing to hiring them to represent you. Asking effective questions during your consultation is crucial in hiring the best personal injury lawyer for the job. Continue reading to learn what questions are most important and reach out to an experienced Memphis personal injury lawyer to set up your free case evaluation today.
What Questions Should I Ask a Personal Injury Lawyer During a Consultation?
The initial consultation is the first time you will be meeting with your prospective lawyer and it is a chance for both of you to evaluate the situation and determine whether a working relationship is in your future. Before hiring an attorney, you should make sure that they are capable of taking on your case, that they have proven experience in similar situations, and that you are comfortable working with them.
The questions that you ask should generally serve one of three purposes: give you information about the validity of your case, give you information about the lawyer’s experience and work style, or give you information about the legal process and what is expected of you. Consider the following questions when preparing for your initial consultation.
For insight into your case:
- Do you believe I have a valid claim?
- What are the strengths you see in my case?
- Do you see any potential challenges or weaknesses in my case?
- What potential damages can I recover?
For insight into the lawyer:
- What is your experience with cases like mine?
- What is your success rate with similar cases?
- What legal strategies will you use to win my case?
- How will you keep me updated on the progress of my case?
- How many cases do you generally handle at a time?
For insight into the legal process and your expectations:
- Do you anticipate my case ending with a settlement or going to trial?
- What is the estimated timeline of my case?
- How much do you think my case is worth?
- How much do you charge for your services?
- What is the payment structure like? Do you charge a flat fee, retainer fee, contingency fee, etc.?
- If my case goes to trial, how will your fees change?
- What is my role in this process and what is expected of me?
By asking the above questions and more, you can secure important insight into how the next few months or even years of your case will go. It is important to have all relevant information before making a decision on whether or not to pursue legal action and whether to hire the attorney to take on your case.
Reach out to an experienced attorney at Ballin, Ballin & Fishman, PC to set up your consultation today.
