18 questions to ask your personal injury lawyer before hiring

Hiring an attorney for your injury case is a big undertaking, especially because your choice in attorney can make or break your case.

Here are 18 questions to ask your lawyer before hiring them.

1. Do you take cases like mine?

Does your law firm take cases like yours? Although many personal injury attorneys take all types of injury cases, certain firms tend to take more of one type than others—for example, car accidents, slip and fall injuries, etc.

2. How much experience do you have with cases like mine?

With personal injury law, the more cases your lawyer has experienced, the better. Ask your lawyer how many cases (similar to yours) they’ve handled and won in the past.

3. Do you regularly get results?

Although past results are no guarantee of future success, you’ll get peace of mind knowing your attorney’s success rate with similar cases.

4. Do you take cases to trial?

Many people think that personal injury cases are won or lost in the courtroom, but the fact is that the vast majority of injury cases are settled before going to court. However, you should still look for an attorney with experience winning cases in court.

5. What is your success rate in court?

Of the injury cases your attorney took to trial, how many were successful? The best injury attorneys will approach every case with the possibility of it going to court, because it gives their clients a better chance of success.

6. What are the strengths and weaknesses of my case?

All cases have strengths and weaknesses. Ask your attorney about the strong and weak points of your case, and how they plan to approach your case.

7. Can I see reviews from past clients?

Successful attorneys will accumulate reviews from happy clients, and may feature testimonials on their websites. While there’s always the possibility that these reviews are edited and curated beforehand, it’s still better to see them than not.

8. Have you won any awards?

Awards and accolades aren’t everything, but they can be an indicator that your lawyer is especially dedicated to their work and helping clients.

9. Who handles my claim?

It’s not uncommon for lawyers at big law firms to hand off their smaller cases to non-lawyers like assistants and paralegals. Ensure that the lawyer you’re speaking to is the person working on your case, or at least one of the other partners at their law firm.

10. Is it easy to communicate with you throughout my case?

It’s easy to feel left out of the loop as your attorney builds your case, because there will often be long periods where it feels like nothing is happening. Ask how long it takes your attorney to respond to phone calls, emails, etc.

11. How much will it cost?

Fortunately, many injury attorneys won’t charge their clients upfront, and instead work on contingency—meaning they take a small percentage of your final injury settlement or verdict. But always check with your lawyer beforehand.

12. Are there other costs if I don’t win?

Regardless of whether you win or not, there will be other costs that come with building and filing your case. Ask if your law firm will cover these costs in the event that they lose your case.

13. How much time can you devote to my case?

Some injury firms have caseloads that don’t allow them to devote enough time to each individual case. Ask whether your lawyer will be able to spend enough time on your case to get the best results.

14. How much is my case worth?

Putting an exact number on your potential payout is impossible, but your lawyer should be able to give you an estimate during or after your consultation, based on the facts of your accident.

15. How long will it take to resolve my injury case?

Injury cases might take anywhere from a few months to more than a year. It depends on the complexity of your case and the extent of your injuries. Ask your lawyer how long they think it might take before you receive compensation.

16. Do I need to do anything to help my case?

Make sure your law firm is full service, meaning they handle everything—from filing your case to collecting payment after you win.

17. What can I do to help my odds right now?

Your lawyer might tell you to collect medical documents or photographs ASAP, as these can often help get your case started on the right foot.

18. Where can I find the best attorney for my case?

If you’ve been hurt in Utah, we’re here to help.

Utah Legal Team has experience building and winning all types of injury cases, including motor vehicle accidents.

Wondering whether or not you have a case? Contact us right away, and let’s get started.