After being seriously injured in an accident, it is important to find reputable and aggressive personal injury representation at a reputable law firm. This will give you the best chance of recovering the full and fair compensation owed to you to pay for hospital bills, medical expenses, lost wages, and more. When it comes time to sit down face-to-face with a potential personal injury attorney, it helps to know what questions to ask before choosing them to represent your claim. Read on for some helpful tips for interviewing a personal injury attorney.

Interview Questions for Personal Injury Lawyers

The most effective method of choosing a group of law firms to interview is word of mouth. Personal referrals and recommendations are a great way to find law firms that have served people you know and trust well. You can also search online using reputable web portals like Yelp and Google+. These portals provide contact information, credentials, recent customer reviews and descriptions of the company’s practice areas and more. It’s a comprehensive way to get to know a law firm before calling on them. The credentials to look for include licenses, 10+ years of experience, a history of successful cases, and customer reviews.

The 10 most recommended questions to ask:

What are your practice areas?

– Make sure they represent cases like yours.

What practice areas do you specialize in?

– It is best to choose an attorney who has real experience with your particular type of accident.

How many years of experience do you have?

– Experience is vital in the field of personal injury. Look for at least 10 years of experience.

How many cases have you represented that were similar to mine?

– Experience is key in a personal injury attorney. Make sure they have represented other cases like yours.

Do you only settle cases out of court?

– If a lawyer only reaches an out-of-court settlement, he cannot expect the best possible recovery. Choose an attorney who will go to trial if necessary and who is experienced in doing so.

Will you take cases to trial or refer clients to a trial attorney?

– There is a term called “clearing house” lawyers. Avoid attorneys who only rush cases to get quick answers or refer you to other attorneys.

What is your record of verdicts and settlements?

– No matter how experienced an attorney has, their record may not always be excellent. Choose an attorney who has won multiple cases and settlements.

Do you personally handle my case or will you pass it on to someone else?

– A lawyer can interview very well and reach all his checkpoints, but then he passes his case to another professional in his firm. Choose an attorney who really works on your case.

Can you explain your contingency fee payment plan in detail?

– There are some fees associated with high demands. Talk to the attorney about all the possible fees you may face even with a contingency fee plan.

Do you have the adequate financial and labor resources to take on my case?

– Important cases can require many resources, such as expert testimony, research, medical specialists, and more. An attorney should be able to fund these types of cases and have connections for all the appropriate staff resources.