In this day and age just about every industry will have a few bad actors. The law shouldn’t be one of those industries but to play “devil’s advocate,” we’ve compiled a list of must asks to better arm you in your personal injury attorney search:
HONORABLE MENTION
How much do I need to participate?
One of the perks of hiring a personal injury attorney is the “not having to go to court” thing that often comes with hiring a lawyer. With personal injury cases, retaining a legal representative ensures a near certainty that you will not need to set foot in a courtroom.
Which staff member and/or attorney will be handling my case?
While you may think this is an easy question, it isn’t. More often than not, multiple attorneys and paralegal employs, interns and students may touch the case. This is where working with a legal team, firm or group will benefit you tremendously. Your best reference point will be the case number or you may be given a claim or reference number for your case. For more information about your personal injury call (833) MIKE-247
How much time will you devote to my case?
Asking “what is your present caseload” is another way of asking this question. It’s also one of the necessary questions when trying to create a reasonable timeline your personal injury legal representative. Typically the attorney will give you a rough estimate on each expected pivotal point in the case.
WHAT ARE MY GENERAL PERSONAL INJURY CASE FEES?
Attorneys generally utilize one of the following three payment structures: (a.) hourly payments, (b.) contingency fee structure or a flat fee structure.
Contingency Fee Structure
This is the most commonly used fee structure for personal injury protection cases. The basic concept of this fee structure is the attorney will receive 1/3rd of the settlement received up to a cap of one million dollars. The attorney will receive no more than 10% for anything in excess of one million.
Flat Fee Structure
A commonly used term in the business world but not as much in the legal space, a flat fee structure refers to a permanently fixed fee, like some services and most product-based transactions. Legal assistance is predominantly fluid in it’s case-by-case needs, which is why attorneys generally collect an upfront fee and then bill for litigation.
Hourly Payment Structure
Similar to the “blue collar” partisan of industry, billable hours are the most widely accepted. On the other hand, attorney fees are somewhat ridiculous when you think about the work coming from a single person but, as we showcase on our About Us page, it takes a village to properly manage your personal injury or property damage cases. We’re certainly up to the task!
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO HAVE MY CLAIM RESOLVED?
As we mentioned earlier, several of your legal team members will be handling or reviewing the case (especially if there are bodily injury claims). Pair that with the fact that any litigated case is rather open-ended, meaning there really is not a predetermined time in which a PIP legal case is complete. That said, your attorney should have enough experience to give you a rough timetable.
Do I owe additional fees if we lose?
Understanding your agreement with your attorney is vital. Some attorneys do require “running costs” to be paid, but usually under special circumstances. Many attorneys will state regardless of win or lost, it is covered with the contingency fee.
