If you've been injured by another person, selecting a personal injury attorney to represent you is a major decision. It's only the first step in the legal process of seeking compensation for your injuries, though. While there are many questions you'll want to ask a lawyer when interviewing them before you hire them, there are also a number of questions to ask them after you decide to have them represent you. Here are some of the questions you'll want to ask your lawyer in the first meeting you have after you agree to have them be your personal injury attorney.
How Long Do You Expect the Case to Take?
Personal injury cases can take months, even years, to settle.It can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of years to settle a case. As AllLaw explains, how long your case will take to settle will depend on the following:
Knowing beforehand how long your attorney expects your case to take before it's settled will help you prepare both emotionally and financially for the process. You'll be better equipped to see the case through to the settlement you want if you know ahead of time whether it'll be a couple weeks or a few years.
Do You Anticipate the Case Going to Court?
Personal injury attorneys can't always predict with 100-percent accuracy whether cases will go to court. Your attorney, however, may be able to make an educated guess based on past, similar cases that they've handled. Knowing whether your case is likely to go to court can also help you prepare for the process you'll go through.
Knowing if you'll likely end up in court can help you determine how much your attorney's commission will likely be. While 33.33 percent is a common commission percentage, many states let attorneys collect more -- 40 percent -- if a settlement is arrived at after the claimant files a lawsuit. Your attorney's specific fees will be spelled out in the documents you sign when you hire them.
Who Will You Write Letters of Protection To?
Letters of protection are written by your attorney and sent to your medical providers. These letters are legally binding documents. They guarantee payment for any services provided to treat your injuries when your case is settled -- and only when your case is settled. With these letters, you won't have to worry about not being able to afford treatment for your injuries. You can get the treatments you need, and the providers who see you can trust that they'll be paid when your case is settled.
In personal injury law, it's standard practice for attorneys to write letters of protection for their clients. You'll want to ask precisely who your attorney will send these letters to, though, so you can make sure every provider you see for treatment receives one.
What Can Family and Friends Know?
You'll naturally want to talk to family members and friends about your injuries and case. They'll be curious about your progress, and they'll want to know if they can help. As your case is a major event in your life, you'll, of course, want to share the details around it with them.
Before you talk with family and friends, find out what you can and can't tell them. Your attorney may have some specific requests, because what you share could potentially influence your case. Since these depend on the specifics of your case, only your personal injury attorney can give you an answer to this question.
Share5 October 2016
Ten years ago, I was injured in a car wreck while commuting to work. When a driver rear-ended my car, I hurt my back. Unfortunately, I had to undergo a couple of weeks of physical therapy. Even after receiving physical therapy, my back never felt as good as it did prior to the wreck. Have you been injured in a car wreck recently? Consider talking with an experienced accident and personal injury lawyer. This type of attorney can help you decide whether filing a lawsuit is your best course of action to take. On this blog, I hope you will discover the benefits of speaking with an accident and personal injury attorney soon after getting injured in a car wreck. Enjoy!
