How to Chose an Attorney--questions to ask a lawyer before you make your choice

"Do you have extensive experience in successfully trying cases like mine?"

This is important. If the attorney does not have trial experience with a case that is similar to yours, the insurance company will know this, and they will use it to their advantage.

The largest weapon your attorney has at his/her disposal is the ability to take your case to court. This kind of leverage holds the insurance company accountable. If they know that your attorney will not take the case to court, or has a poor courtroom record, they will never offer you the money you deserve.

"What types of cases does your law firm handle?"

Be careful. A lawyer might tell you that they have handled personal injury, or that they will represent you for your personal injury case, but you need to make personal injury work is ALL they do. Many law firms operate as general practitioners. This means that they handle almost anything under the sun.

You wouldn't let a dentist work on your eyes, so don't let "any" lawyer work on your personal injury case.

Choose an attorney that only represents people who have suffered injury or wrongful death due to automobile accidents, motorcycle accidents, defective products, dog bites, premise liability and construction site accidents.

"How long have you practiced personal injury litigation?"

History is a good indicator of experience. Many firms will boast about their combined years of experience. While this is good, you need to make sure you have a firm that also has an extensive history. There is no substitute for history and experience.

"How do I know if I have a strong case without spending a lot of money?"

An honest attorney will able to evaluate the circumstances that led to your accident and advise you of the merits and value of your potential case. Initial consultations should always be free of charge, and the attorney should never pressure you to retain their services. (After all, the reason you're hiring an attorney is because you don't want to be pushed around by the insurance company.)

You should always choose a personal injury firm that works on a contingent fee basis. This ensures that you do not pay for the attorneys time unless they are able to make a recovery on your behalf.

"Does your law firm accept referrals from other attorneys?"

This is important for two reasons:

1. An attorney that receives referrals from other attorneys does so because he is thought of as an expert and leader in his field. An attorney will only refer a case to another law firm is they feel that firm is respected and will get results.

2. An attorney will accept referrals if they are serious about helping injury clients. The fact that the case came to them through another attorney shouldn't matter. Ego should never be involved.

"What type of technology will you use to help strengthen and advance my case?"

It wasn't long ago that law firms would document all of the details of your case through pen and paper. In fact, some attorneys still use this method. However, in these modern times, you should select a law firm that uses a state-of-the-art case management system such as Needles.

Advanced case management systems are important for several reasons:

--it affords the client privacy and confidentiality
--it is password protected and ensures the client that no one will see details about the case accept the attorney and paralegal to who it is assigned
--it keeps your case file protected from fire, break-ins, or from being lost
--it allows an attorney to create a professional and organized electronic chronology of your case from start to finish

"How long will it take to resolve my case?"

Attorneys are asked this all the time, and it's a great question. The answer will depend on certain factors, such as how long you treat for your injuries. More important, it will be contingent upon on how many resources the attorney is willing to dedicate to your case.

"How often will I receive updates about the status of my case?"

The attorney should be able to tell you how their office operates from start to finish. They should know every person's title in the office and what their responsibilities are. They should be able to explain to you the life-cycle of a case and who will be working on your case during the different stages.

During this conversation, they should be able to explain to you who will be contacting you when news arises about your case, or who you can contact when you have a question. A law firm should assign one main point of contact for your case, and this should be a paralegal.

"What are my responsibilities in my personal injury case?"

There are very few, but they are critical. Your attorney should tell you to keep your doctor's appointments, do as the doctor orders, and send any outside contact to our attention. That's it.

A law firm should work for you, not the other way around. If an attorney gives you a long to-do list, then be suspicious.

"Does your professional network include experts in many fields?"

Many personal injury cases will require expert testimony from professionals in the field of medicine, accident re-construction, economic impact, etc. The law firm you select should have working relationships with these experts, and they should be made available to your case if warranted.

"What is your fee if we win my personal injury case?"

An attorney should have no problem with telling you this information up front. The fee should never be so low as to leave you wondering if something is being left out, and it shouldn't be unjustly high. The standard fee an expert personal injury attorney charges is typically 33%.

(Make sure to ask the lawyer what happens to that fee if your case ends up in court. Some law firms will have what is known as a sliding-fee scale. This means that they charge 33% up front, but if your case ends up in a courtroom, that fee increases. Select an attorney that does not charge a sliding-fee.)

"Are you involved in any charitable projects within your community?"

Though it may seem like a question that doesn't affect you or your case directly, it does. A law firm that dedicates their time to the community, will likely dedicate the same levels of passion and care toward your personal injury case.

The purpose of tort law is to make the world a safer, more comfortable place for everyone. A law firm that believes this statement will display such behavior inside their firm as well as within their community.

Many people, having never hired a lawyer, are not aware that lawyers and law firms specialize and have different degrees of experience. Not all lawyers are equally qualified to obtain similar results for injured victims. Unlike the medical profession which has unique titles for each specialty, there is a general perception that lawyers perform most legal services with equal ability. Nothing could be further from the truth. Be sure you understand the unbiased system used to rate attorneys before you choose one.

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