When considering how to talk to a personal injury lawyer, there are five questions to ask that can help determine if the firm is a good fit for your unique situation.
Be open and honest during your consultation with a Bellevue personal injury lawyer and ask about their experience, if they have handled similar cases, the strengths and weaknesses of your claim, who will handle it, and what they charge.
1. Do I Have a Personal Injury Case?
The first thing to ask your personal injury lawyer in Bellevue is whether they believe you have a case. If they do not, they will not put the time and work into your case. Instead, choose a legal professional who is willing to fight for you and believes there is merit in doing so. Specifically, ask the following questions:
- What do I need to do to prove I have a personal injury claim?
- Is my personal injury case solid, or are there areas of concern?
- Can I recover more damages than the insurance company says I am owed?
By asking these follow-up questions, you will have a better idea of what went into your case and claim process, including the legal steps you will need to consider to move your claim forward. Choose a personal injury lawyer who believes in your case and is ready to take on the challenge.
2. Have You Handled Cases Like Mine?
Your next objective is to fully understand the attorney’s experience. You do not want an attorney with decades of experience if they have never handled a case like yours. You want an attorney with a proven track record of success resolving cases like yours. This is especially important in accidents involving more complicated personal injury claims, such as:
- Medical malpractice
- Wrongful death
- Truck accidents
- Workplace accidents with third-party involvement
- Cases and claims against the city or other government entity
- Cases where the statute of limitations (RCW 4.16.080) is approaching
In these cases, you need an attorney who understands the law and your rights, and you need an attorney not afraid to take on the challenge. A personal injury lawyer needs to be an advocate for you, and their knowledge of how to handle a case like yours from past experience can make a big difference.
3. What are the Biggest Weaknesses in My Case?
Weaknesses are a big conversation topic to have with your personal injury attorney right from the start. Your lawyer needs to recognize that your case requires investigation, investment of time, and extensive legal knowledge. If they say your case is easy, then you may not know what to expect.
Instead, ask your attorney to tell you about any potential or likely challenges you may have along the way. This includes proving claim value or showing the other party was negligent. You want to know, specifically, what the time and effort the attorney has to put in is going to mean to your case.
Most cases will have areas of concern, especially with proving liability and losses. If you find that the attorney is not taking the time to do the hard work in your case, it may be time to move on. Personal injury attorneys should be open and honest with you about challenges and, in situations where they do not believe you have a case, they should tell you that as well.
4. Who Will Handle My Case?
Depending on the type of case and the amount of work involved, one or more parties may be responsible for handling your case within the firm. It is not a bad thing to have more than one provider working on your case, and often that person will be a paralegal doing the legwork. You should know which attorney and team will be handling your case for you.
In these situations, you need to understand who will be responsible for you. That includes who you will call when you have questions or want an update, as well as when there are disputes about any facet of the work being done. You also want to clarify who you should call when you do need support or new evidence becomes available.
If the law firm will not provide you with clarity on who will handle your case, you may want to move on. You want to work with an attorney you vetted, one that has a proven track record, and one with a good reputation within the local court system. Anyone else could be creating obstacles to your long-term recovery of damages.
5. What Will My Case Cost Me?
The objective of any personal injury case is to seek recovery of the damages you have from the at-fault party. To do this, you may benefit from working with a proven personal injury attorney. Have an open and honest conversation with your personal injury attorney about the costs for using their services. Nearly all personal injury attorneys operate on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not pay anything until you win your case.
In these situations, you are likely to pay a percentage of the settlement value to the accident lawyer. This percentage can vary widely depending on the complexity of your case and the type of work the team needs to do. In every case, you should know what this percentage is after your consultation with the lawyer.
You also want to know what other costs may be involved in your case, including whether you have to pay anything out of pocket for those services. Most of the time, your attorney will break down factors like court fees or third-party related fees upfront. This allows you to know exactly what to expect when you win your case.
Working with Our Attorney Makes the Difference
Ask every question you have of the Bellevue personal injury lawyer. Doing so will protect your case and give you the financial support you need in the future.
Call Premier Law Group to schedule a free case review with a member of our team today.
Jason at premier law group is truly an outstanding individual. Our particular case was not something that their firm usually sees but they were more than willing to help us and give us all of the information they had available. I can't recommend them enough.