Hiring a lawyer is serious business. You’re basically trusting someone with your money, your time, and the outcome of something that could seriously impact your life. So, it’s totally fair, actually, it’s necessary, to ask questions. You want to know who this person is, how they work, and whether they can actually help you win.
You need to figure out if this lawyer actually knows what they’re doing. It’s not about how long they’ve had a law degree hanging on their wall, but about how that experience translates into guaranteed results.
Let’s break down the most important questions you should be asking. And before we get into it, know that the best personal injury lawyers will never fault you for asking “too many questions”. They understand the need for you to feel confident in your choices, and they will do all it takes to ensure that you make a very well-informed choice.
What Kind of Clients Do They Usually Work With?
Some lawyers only work with high-dollar, big-impact cases. Some prefer smaller, simpler claims. Some don’t take cases unless there’s a clear six-figure payout. Others handle everything from minor injuries to major lawsuits. You want to be sure that your case fits into the kind of work they normally do.
If they say their usual clients are businesses or insurance companies, you might not be their priority. You want someone who’s used to standing up for people like you, i.e., regular folks dealing with actual injuries, medical bills, and stress.
What’s Their Game Plan?
You need to know how they plan to handle your specific case. Don’t settle for vague answers like “we’ll handle everything.” Ask how they usually approach cases like yours.
Do they try to settle quickly, or do they prep for trial from day one? Do they involve outside experts, like accident reconstruction specialists or medical consultants?
This tells you how serious they are about building a strong case. And if their approach doesn’t match what you want, say, you want to avoid court, but they seem dead set on going to trial, that might not be a good fit.
Will You Actually Be Talking to Them?
Some law firms will have one lawyer meet with you for the consultation, and then you never see that person again. All your calls go through assistants or junior lawyers. If you’re trusting someone with your case, you want to know who’s actually handling it.
Are They Good at Dealing with Insurance Companies?
Most personal injury cases are settled with insurance companies before ever going to court. That means your lawyer needs to know how to deal with them—how to push back when they try to lowball you, how to negotiate better terms, how to apply pressure.
Ask if they’ve handled insurance negotiations before. If they’ve spent years doing it, they’ll know all the tactics insurers use to delay or deny claims. If not, you might get steamrolled by the other side.
What’s the Fee Setup?
Here’s the part nobody likes talking about, but you need to. Ask exactly how they charge. Most personal injury lawyers work on contingency, which means they don’t get paid unless you win. But that percentage can vary. Some take 33%, some 40%, and it might even go higher if the case goes to trial.
Ask if there are any other fees. What about court filing costs, expert witness fees, and travel expenses? Do they pay for those up front, or do you? Will those costs come out of your final settlement, or are you responsible even if you lose?
And don’t forget to ask who else might be working on your case. Will paralegals or junior lawyers handle some of the work? If so, will you be billed for their time too? All of that should be clear from day one.
What Happens If the Case Goes to Trial?
Not all cases settle. Sometimes, the insurance company won’t budge, and the court is the only option left. Ask your lawyer what happens if your case ends up in front of a judge. Have they tried cases like this before? Are they comfortable in court?
You don’t want someone who’s great on paper but freezes up in front of a jury. Trial experiences matter, especially when you’re dealing with serious injuries and big compensation claims. If they’ve never actually gone to trial, that’s something you should know.