What to Ask When Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer in Atlanta
Personal injury law firms are just one of many types of legal services that lawyers provide. Personal injury attorneys in Atlanta represent people who have been injured through the negligence or wrongful acts of others, such as car accidents, medical malpractice, and slip-and-fall cases. In recent years, personal injury lawsuits have become an increasingly common way to obtain compensation for injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. For example, if you were rear-ended by another driver and suffered whiplash from the collision, you may be entitled to receive financial compensation from your insurance company for your pain and suffering. But do you know what questions you should ask a personal injury attorney before hiring them? Here are some tips to help you find the best attorney for your case.
What type of experience do you have?
If you are in an accident, your personal injury lawyer in Atlanta will be responsible for working with the insurance company to ensure that you receive all of the money you are entitled to based on your injuries. It is important to work with an attorney who has extensive experience with this process. Look at how long they have been practicing personal injury law and get references from previous clients so that you can determine if this particular attorney or firm will provide the best representation for your case.
How long will my case take to resolve?
When you hire a personal injury attorney, they will provide an estimation of how long the case will take to resolve, but it is extremely important that you understand what these estimates mean. For instance, personal injury cases can often take years before they are resolved because the insurance company does not want to settle for an amount that is too low and risk having future claims come back against them if they allow a settlement of $100,000 when the case is really worth $500,000. Your attorney should be able to give you a realistic timeline and explain all of the possible outcomes that can occur while your case is pending.
Do you charge a contingency fee?
Personal injury lawyers who work on a contingency fee basis (they only receive a payment if they win your case) will probably charge a percentage of the amount you receive. You should know exactly what the contingency fee is and how it will be calculated before signing any documents with your new attorney. Most lawyers will take a one-third cut of your settlement if they win, but they may also ask for additional fees from you later on as the case progresses.
What type of communication practices does the firm use?
When it comes to communication, whether it's email, phone calls, or office visits, what is their communication protocol? How often do they follow up after an initial visit or conversation? Are there certain times when they will not be available? It is important to find a personal injury attorney in Atlanta who you can communicate easily with and one who will return your calls in a timely manner.
What type of advice can you provide me?
Once you have engaged an attorney, it is important that they keep you informed about the status of your case. Are they willing to provide you with recommendations on how you should proceed in your case? Can they answer all of your questions and address any concerns that you may have about the process? These are some of the things that every personal injury attorney in Atlanta should be able to do for their clients.
What type of specific strategies will you utilize in my case?
Personal injury attorneys are skilled professionals when it comes to negotiating compensation agreements with insurance companies, but every case is different. You want an attorney who can explain what types of strategies or techniques they will use in order to get the best results for your case. Be sure to ask them if settlement negotiations will take place in person, over the phone, or whether they prefer correspondence through email.
Can you provide me with references from past clients?
When it comes to choosing the right personal injury lawyer in Atlanta, always check their references. Many reputable attorneys will be happy to provide you with references that speak to the work they have done in similar cases. A good personal injury attorney should be proud of their professional reputation and willing to refer you to satisfied former clients who are located close by so that you can meet them face-to-face.
Can you provide me with the contact information of your past clients?
After checking references, be sure to ask your personal injury attorney in Atlanta for the contact information of their past clients. It is important to speak directly with past clients about their experience working on their case and how they felt about the representation that their attorney provided. Try to find as many references as you can to give yourself a well-rounded idea about how everyone felt about the outcome of their case and whether they were satisfied with the work done by your potential future attorney.
How many cases similar to mine have you handled in the past?
You should ask your personal injury attorney in Atlanta how many comparable cases they have worked on in the past. The answer will give you an idea about their experience and how much time they have spent working on personal injury cases. A good attorney should have a broad range of experience with similar cases, so if your potential lawyer has handled very few or no other cases like yours, then that should raise some red flags for you.
How long have you been in practice?
Personal injury attorneys are not all created equally. Not only do they bring past experience to the table, but they will also have different levels of experience that can affect how much time they have spent practicing law in general. It is important for your potential attorney to be experienced with personal injury cases if you want to increase your chances of getting a positive outcome.
What is your success rate?
A good personal injury attorney in Atlanta should be able to provide you with a record of past successes. Be sure to ask what percentage of cases are won compared to how many go to trial. If their ratio of successes to losses is high, then they should be able and willing to explain and defend the strategy that was used in each case.
Where can I get a personal injury lawyer in Atlanta?
The Mabra Law Firm is a law firm that focuses exclusively on personal injury cases. A highly skilled and experienced attorney can help you with your claim, so you should consider speaking with a personal injury attorney from The Mabra Law Firm as soon as possible. They have been helping victims recover the compensation they deserve for over 10 years, so be sure to give them a call today!