Suffering a personal injury is a stressful experience made more difficult by the process of having to find an experienced attorney. Regardless of how you got your injuries—dog bite, car accident truck accident, medical malpractice, motorcycle accident, or workplace accident—you may suffer a loss of income, emotional pain, and expensive medical costs, to mention a few.
You’ll work closely with your Providence personal injury lawyer, so make sure that they’re someone you can easily get along with. Make sure you interview at least three personal injury attorneys before you settle on your legal counsel. Here are some questions to ask during these interviews.
What experience do you have litigating similar cases?
This is an important question to ask because you need to know how experienced the attorney is with personal injury cases like yours. To feel confident that you’ll be getting the best defense, start by asking the attorney what types of cases they handle—defamation, accidents, defective products, or intentional acts such as domestic violence—to get a sense of their legal experience. Inquiring about their educational background such as the law school they attended can also be helpful.
Will I have any level of participation in the case?
As part of your attorney-client relationship, you’ll need to know what role you’ll be playing as the lawsuit unfolds. Besides providing the requisite documents that concern your case—medical records, medical bills, incident reports, and communication with the insurance company—what else will they need from you? For instance, will they need you to attend depositions and negotiation meetings?
This is important to know because some personal injury attorneys prefer to handle all aspects of the case with little to no direct input from their clients while others prefer a more hands-on approach. Make sure that you and your personal injury lawyer are on the same page about what your relationship will look like.
Who will handle my case?
The law firm’s size will determine the size of the legal team assigned to your case, so when you attend your free initial consultations, ask if the lawyer you’re consulting with will be your contact person. If a different lawyer will be handling your personal injury claim, ask to be introduced to them. Also, inquire about their practice area, years of legal experience, and how often you’ll be receiving updates on your case.
How much will this cost me?
Money can be an uncomfortable subject, but when seeking a personal injury law firm to represent you, this is an important question to ask. Most lawyers charge on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you pay nothing until you receive your cash settlement. Ask for a written cost estimate of your case, their charging model—flat fee, retainer fee, contingency, hourly—and if there will be any other additional charges.
How long will the legal process take?
Court cases and legal matters, in general, can be hard to predict. This means that even the best lawyers can’t always give you an exact time frame of how long your personal injury litigation will last. However, an experienced attorney will have a firm grasp of the legal system and your type of injury case to offer a general time frame. They’ll also be able to tell you if you have a valid personal injury claim and how much you can expect to get in the form of monetary compensation.
If the negligence of others has made you the victim of a personal injury, a personal injury lawyer in Providence can help. An experienced personal injury attorney will offer legal advice, represent your interests during settlement negotiations, and help you win fair compensation for your injuries. If you need help finding a lawyer, visit your local state bar association’s website or ask friends and family members for referrals.
