If you were injured in an accident and are planning to pursue an injury claim, you should take the process of selecting an experienced personal injury attorney seriously. Choosing the wrong lawyer can impact the outcome of your case and hinder you from getting the full compensation that you deserve for the injuries that you suffered.
How do you make the right choice? What characteristics do you look for when selecting an attorney? In order to make an informed decision, you must ask the right questions. Below are some important questions you should consider asking when interviewing potential personal injury attorney candidates.
Question #1: What is your practice area specialty?
This question will help you focus your search on attorneys that do not spread themselves thin practicing in too many legal fields. You should look for an attorney who specializes in cases similar to yours.
Question #2: What is your success record in handling in similar fact patterns?
All licensed attorneys may have an adequate level of competence in the field of law they practice, but what distinguishes exceptional attorneys is their experience. You should choose a personal injury attorney who has extensive experience in handling similar cases. Generally, attorneys have case result sections on their websites for you to access this information more easily.
Question #3: Do you take cases to trial yourself, and if so, what are your results?
Not all cases are settled outside of court. As such, it is important for the attorney that you ultimately hire to have trial experience. The right personal injury attorney should be able to cite past trial results.
Question #4: Who will be handling my case and in direct communication with me?
This question will allow you to determine whether your case will be mainly handled by the attorney that you hire or his paralegal and other staff members. To some extent, it is reasonable to assume that at some point the attorney’s staff will be handling at least some part of your case. However, if you are unable to reach your attorney or the attorney will completely hand off your case to his staff, it is an indication that you need to continue your search for a more hands-on approach attorney.
Question #5: What is your fee agreement?
Most personal injury attorneys handle cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that they don’t get paid unless your case comes to a resolution. Under this type of fee agreement, the attorney will take a certain percentage of your case, usually depending on what stage your case resolves. It is important to ask the details of a fee contingency agreement.
Call a New York Personal Injury Accident Attorney Today
If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries in an accident that was caused by the reckless actions of another party, you may have a valid personal injury claim and be entitled to monetary compensation. For more information or to consult with one of our experienced New York personal injury accident attorneys, please call Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. at 1-800-529-9997.
