When you get hurt in an unexpected incident, whether it’s due to a slip and fall, a motor vehicle accident, a defective product or medical malpractice, it can turn your life upside down. Your focus can shift from school, career or enjoying a leisurely retirement to endless medical appointments and rehabilitation to regain mobility and manage your pain.
Keeping up with your treatment schedule can be time-consuming, especially if you’ve suffered a catastrophic injury. Handling the influx of calls that pour in after you inform a manufacturer, property owner or insurance company of your injury can be equally overwhelming and often motivate individuals to seek legal representation.
Keep in mind that an insurance company or third party wants to pay you as little as possible for your injury. In order to get the maximum compensation to which you’re entitled, it’s crucial that you speak with an experienced personal injury attorney before you accept any offer.
When you contact a personal injury attorney, they’ll have a list of questions to ask you about your accident and the injuries resulting from it. But, there are also questions you should ask a personal injury lawyer to ensure you choose the right person to handle your case. We’ll highlight some of those questions below.
Questions to ask a personal injury lawyer about your case before hiring them
Here are a few key questions that you’ll want to pose before allowing a personal injury attorney to take on your case.
How experienced are you at handling personal injury matters, and what is your success rate?
One of the first things you’ll want to ask about when meeting with a lawyer is their experience in handling personal injury matters. They need to have experience taking on cases like yours, whether it involves a car accident, medical malpractice, or premises or products liability.
You may also want to inquire about:
- Potential obstacles to overcome in pursuing legal action in your case
- Whether cases similar to yours typically end up going to trial
- Their success rate in handling personal injury cases on behalf of clients
Another good question to ask a personal injury attorney is if they have any testimonials from previous clients that they can share with you. This insight can help you make a more informed decision about whether you’ve found an ideal lawyer to handle your case. At Nomberg Law Firm, we pride ourselves on building relationships with the people we represent, and we invite you to check out the testimonials from our many satisfied clients.
What is your approach to handling cases?
You may want to ask how large a caseload the attorney handles and how much paralegal support they have to better understand whether they have adequate time to invest in your case.
It’s also ideal to inquire about:
- How often they update you on your case
- If they have an online portal or some other method for you to track your case progress
This would also be an optimal time to ask about their go-to approach for communication (text, phone, email or postal mail) and if they generally contact their clients directly or use a legal assistant to relay communication to their clients.
Conversations about these issues may open the door to further questions about how long it may take to settle your case.
What upfront and overall costs are associated with representation?
Personal injury attorneys generally receive a percentage of any settlement or award to pay their fees. You’ll want to make sure to ask specifics questions, such as:
- What percentage of my settlement goes to attorney fees?
- Are there any upfront fees?
- Are there additional fees if my case goes to trial?
- What fees will I owe if you don’t win my case?
- What do you think my case may be worth?
All of these questions can help you make an informed decision about the process and ensure that you and your attorney are on the same page about the expectations for your case.
When to contact a personal injury lawyer
Personal injury cases can be complicated. It’s vital that you have an experienced personal injury lawyer by your side to help you navigate the many legal rules and regulations required and receive maximum compensation for your case.
If you live in Birmingham and have suffered an injury because of someone else’s negligence, contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at Nomberg Law Firm. We know how hard it can be to pay your bills and get back on your feet while trying to recover from a serious injury. Our attorneys have extensive experience dealing with insurance companies and third parties to get you the money you deserve. Contact us today for your free, no-obligation consultation.
About Nomberg Law Firm
Nomberg Law Firm has been helping people in Alabama recover fair compensation for their injuries since 1967. We know our clients are hard-working men and women who deserve the best representation possible. That’s why we’ve dedicated our entire practice to fighting for your rights after an injury. Our practice areas include: Workers’ Compensation, Personal Injury, Automobile Accidents, Car Accidents, Social Security Disability Claims, Workplace Accidents, On-the-Job Accidents and Bankruptcy Law matters.
The small size of our family-owned firm allows us to focus on our client’s needs and enables us to provide individualized assistance and personal attention that larger firms simply can’t match.