If you’ve been injured by a person whom you believe should be held accountable for compensating you, it’s recommended to open a personal injury case against that individual. In some cases, the defendant of a personal injury claim will be a corporation or business, like in the instance in which medical personal injury cases are involved.
No matter what injury was sustained, and no matter what the amount of proof is, you still should call a trustworthy attorney to ensure that your case is dealt with in the best possible manner. Here is a checklist of what you should look for while you meet a personal injury lawyer for the first time:
Has The Personal Injury Lawyer Previously Dealt with Claims Like Yours?
No two cases are ever the same, so you want to find an attorney from Betz and Baril who has dealt with — and settled or won in a plaintiff’s favor — cases similar to yours. For instance, if you were injured on somebody else’s property when riding an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), you’ll want a personal injury lawyer with experience in settling claims associated with other people’s property and ATVs.
Is The Personal Injury Lawyer Willing to Take Your Claim to Trial?
Did you have any idea that around 96 percent of personal injury claims are settled even before going to trial? This means only 4 – 5% of them go in front of a jury. With that in mind, it is easy to see that the majority of personal injury lawyers likely do not have a lot of experience in taking claims to trial. Even still, though, you should locate a personal injury lawyer who’s willing to go straight to trial because you might be a part of that 4 – 5% who needs to have the claims settled by a jury. Due to this, you must ensure that you figure out from the start if the legal representative is willing to head to trial in case your claim does not secure a pre-trial settlement.
Inquire About Expenses and Fees
Some attorneys include expenses within the fee you’ll pay, while other ones don’t. You’ll have to ask about expenses and fees before you sign a contract with the personal injury lawyer. The precise amount of funds you’ll need to pay him or her for handling your claim is determined by the attorney, with most of them taking a percentage of your settlement. For instance, if you are awarded a $55,000 settlement and your lawyer charges a 15 percent case fee, you’ll owe them $8,250 once your case is settled, and as previously stated, this might or might not pay for any expenses paid to settle your case.
Almost any qualified and reputable attorney will offer a free consultation. Not only will it enable you to gain a little perspective on the lawyer you’re considering hiring, it also will permit you to explain your case and the attorney will determine if she or he wants to take the case.