5 Important Questions to Ask Your New Personal Injury Attorney
February 5, 2016 – Adam Mann
Hiring a personal injury attorney is no easy process. It requires quick, yet educated decision-making that ultimately affects the success or failure of your case.
But when you’ve finally made the decision to hire one, there are a few important questions you’ll want to ask to follow up with after your initial interview questions. Here are a few to have prepared for your first meeting:
- Are there any problems or complications you foresee with my case? If so, can they be avoided? Your selected personal injury attorney should be very experienced in the practice area that pertains to your case. He or she should be able to tell you about potential hiccups or problems that might come up along the way, such as the defendant’s insurance company trying to offer a seemingly high settlement check to avoid having to pay for all your medical expenses, lost wages, etc. down the road.
- Are there any time constraints for my case that need to be addressed? Depending on your individual situation, there may be certain things you’ll need to have handled before a certain date in order for you to receive compensation for it later on. For example, if you were in a car accident, you must go to the doctor within 14 days of the accident, or you will not be allowed to make a claim for any of the $10,000 under your PIP plan. This is because your injuries need to be assessed quickly to determine what steps need to be taken for a complete recovery. Your attorney will be able to provide more information like this to help you determine what you’ll need to do to and in what timeframe.
- What materials can I provide to help this case be successful? Your personal injury attorney will likely already have a list of materials needed from you before your first meeting together. However, some of the basic documents include:
- Photos from the scene of the accident
- An accident or police report
- Any names of witnesses (if applicable)
- Medical bills and records related to the injury
- Verifiable proof of lost wages or added costs that resulted from the accident or an injury
- Insurance information for both parties involved
- Based on your experience in personal injury, how much money do you believe I could get from my case? Although this may be a hard question to answer right off the bat, your attorney should be able to give you a rough estimate based on the experiences they’ve had with similar cases in the past. Additionally, he or she should be able to ensure that you will not have to pay any fees unless your case is won and a fair recovery has been obtained.
- What is the best/most preferred way to communicate with you? Any personal injury law firm should have someone that’s available at all times to help answer your questions or concerns during this highly time-sensitive situation. The Law Firm of Cohen & Cohen is dedicated to providing this availability by offering 24-hour legal assistance to make sure you have the help you need in the most timely manner possible.
Ask a Question, Describe Your Situation,
Request a Free Consultation
Contact Us Today For a Free Case Consultation
Required Fields*
Your Information Is Safe With Us
We respect your privacy. The information you provide will be used to answer your question or to schedule an appointment if requested.