What Do I Ask An Attorney Before Hiring One In My Injury Case?

If you’re searching for a personal injury attorney to represent you, you’ll be confounded by the multitude of lawyers purporting to be experts in the field of personal injury law.  When selecting an accident attorney, don’t be afraid to ask these questions, and beware if any answer you receive isn’t satisfactory:

How Many Cases Like Mine Have You Handled?

You want an attorney that concentrates their practice in personal injury.  The laws and processes involved in injury cases are always changing.  You want quality representation from an attorney that’s fully familiar and fluent with the current state of Texas personal injury law.

Are You Going to Be the Attorney That Works On My Case?

Your lawyer has primary responsibility for your case.  Insist that your lawyer be the one that not only works on your case, but will also be the one who will go to bat for you if the case has to go to trial.  That lawyer will know each and every detail regarding you and your case.

Do I Get A Written Retainer Agreement?

Never retain a lawyer that won’t take an injury case on a contingency fee basis, and never retain a lawyer who won’t give you a signed written contingency fee agreement.  That written agreement should set the exact percentage of the contingency fee along with responsibility for costs incurred in litigating the case.  A written contingency fee agreement is for your protection.  Get one or leave.

How Long Will It Take to Resolve My Case?

An experienced personal injury attorney should be able to estimate how long your case will take based on liability, the nature and extent of your injuries, and who the insurer is.  It’s not unusual for these cases to take a couple of years to develop.  They’re not settled on a couple of phone calls.

Will You Communicate Developments?

Lawyers are required to keep clients reasonably informed on their cases.  Insist on this.  It’s your broken leg and your case.  A phone call or a letter once a month isn’t an unreasonable request.

At Springer & Lyle, you’ll get honest and objective answers, so you can make informed decisions.  You’ll leave our offices with a written retainer agreement that documents your rights and our responsibilities.  We respect your right to stay informed.  It’s your case anyway.  We’ll give you straight talk.