The process of hiring of personal injury attorney
Most people are fortunate to never have to think about the process of hiring a personal injury lawyer. Unfortunately, accidents happen and if you or a loved one should be injured by somebody else’s negligence, you’ll want to find quality legal representation to ensure that you can recover damages to pay for your medical bills.
The first question people ask is regarding the cost of hiring a personal injury attorney. Most personal injury lawyers accept cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that they get a percentage of the award if they win the case. If they don’t win, they don’t receive a fee. This percentage varies and can be up to 40% of total award. While this seems high, the personal injury award a skilled lawyer can earn is usually many times higher than what an insurance company might offer you to settle the case without getting a lawyer and going to trial.
There may be other costs associated with specific lawyers aside from the base percentage fee so make sure you discuss this with any attorney you consider hiring.
A lot of personal injury and accident lawyers will offer you a free consultation as well the first time you contact their office. They will hear the basics of your case and determine whether or not they feel they should represent you, if they know another lawyer who would be better suited for your case, or if you even need an attorney at all. If they recommend another lawyer, they may earn a referral fee if the second attorney takes your case and successfully represents you.
After you have found an attorney and scheduled a consultation, be sure to ask a few questions. Find out the lawyer’s area of specialization and if they often handle cases similar to yours. As mentioned above, make sure you are absolutely clear on all the fees and costs before you sign anything. Also ask if they will respect your wishes when considering whether to take a settlement instead of going to trial.
You’ll also want to ask for a written retainer agreement and should read it carefully. Remember, don’t sign anything you don’t understand. Your attorney works for you so make sure they explain everything and that you are comfortable with every step of the process.
