Questions to ask before hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer

November 19, 2021 | By Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers
Questions to ask before hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer If you are thinking about hiring a personal injury lawyer, then it is time to start looking for the best professional. Just as buying a car, hiring an attorney to help you in your case is a major investment. Not only are you hiring an expert who knows the ins and outs of the legal process, but these professionals are also here to do work for you that can greatly benefit your life. Finding the right Port St. Lucie personal injury lawyer can be a quicker process if you know of the right things to ask. The legal experts at Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers are here to give you some questions you should ask before hiring your personal injury lawyer so that you can be confident you choose the right professional to work with. 

What Kind of Experience Do You Have?

“Personal Injury” is a term in the legal field that has a lot of different categories that fall under it, and even those categories can be further divided. For example, medical malpractice is a type of personal injury, but even that can have specific practices under it such as birth trauma, wrong diagnosis, and more.  Before you find the right personal injury lawyer in Port St. Lucie, Florida to handle your case, you must evaluate the kind of circumstance you are in. Many law firms will practice several personal injuries situations, but not every situation will be served by the same law firm.  It is a good rule of thumb to schedule a few consultations with law firms to discuss the experience that the firm has. Usually, these consultations will be free. You should inquire about the firm experience handling the type of case you are needing to be assisted with so you can find out if their services can adequately help you. When you are gathering information about the firm’s experience handling cases similar to yours, you should ask about the years the firm has been in practice. The more years of experience and positive outcomes are the better for your case. 

How Will You Benefit My Case?

Along the same lines of experience, you should inquire about the specific services the attorney at the firm offers.  Find out specifically how the attorney will help your case and the tactics they will use to help you seek a favorable outcome. Do they have excellent negotiation skills? In-depth knowledge of Florida laws? A proven track record of successful cases?  You should hire a Port St. Lucie personal injury lawyer that will bring a lot to the table and has the skills, experience, and knowledge that is needed for your case. 

Will You Be the Only Person Working On My Case?

Knowing who is working on your case is a big deal since that attorney will be responsible for doing all of the work. When you sit down with your prospective attorney, ask them who will be responsible for working on your case. Some attorneys have secretaries or paralegals/assistants who will do clerical work and prepare documents for your case. The preparation of your documents is important since the documents are what will be presented in court, sent for an insurer to view, or mailed to the other party if the exchange of formal letters is the method of communication. Hearing about the individuals who will assist with your case will also give you an indication of their professionalism, years of experience, and what they will do in terms of preparing your materials. 

How Much Can I Expect to Get Out Of My Case?

Your attorney will serve as your know-it-all for guidance and expectations of your case. When you review with your attorney your circumstances, insurance coverage, and how you are proceeding, your attorney can give you an estimation as to how much you can expect to receive in a settlement. However, your attorney may not be able to give you a ballpark figure at the first meeting. Personal injury cases are ever-changing and are extremely unpredictable. A lot can happen throughout your case, and your attorney may not know how much you can expect until later on once they start to dive deep into your case.  It is also your attorney who will be negotiating and speaking on your behalf, so it is important that you look for an attorney who has expert negotiation tactics and speaking skills for a better chance of a favorable outcome.

How Will I Pay You?

Each firm will work differently, and the cost of paying your attorney may look different from case to case as well. When you first speak to your attorney during the free consultation, you should ask how they will be paid so you can be financially prepared. You can expect to pay your lawyer by the hour or with a contingency fee. A contingency fee is the payment of your lawyer once you’ve received your awarded compensation. Meaning, you will not pay your lawyer until and unless your case is won. Most contingency fees are 33% of your awarded settlement. Therefore, if your attorney is able to negotiate an $80,000 settlement in your personal injury case, 33% of $80,000 would go towards paying your attorney for their services. In this case, you would pay your attorney $26,400 and have $53,600 left. Most of the time, you will also be responsible for covering court fees and legal expenses. In this case, when you pay your contingency fee can make a difference in how much you walk away with. If you pay your litigation costs before your lawyer is paid their contingency fee, you can keep a little more than if you were to pay them before your litigation costs are covered. Your attorney will be able to help you figure out how much you should expect to pay in terms of litigation costs. 

Find Your Personal Injury Lawyer at Frankl Kominsky

Are you ready to find your personal injury lawyer in Port St. Lucie, Florida? The attorneys at Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers are ready to help. Our firm specializes in fighting for the residents of Port St. Lucie, Florida, and other surrounding areas in any kind of injury circumstance (by appointment only). We handle medical malpractice, product liability, car accidents with our motor vehicle accident attorneys in Port St. Lucie, and more.  Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers has spent over 40 years in practice. Our years of experience have given us the in-depth knowledge your case needs to succeed. We can help you seek extra compensation after getting to know you more and hearing what happened. Start with our firm by calling us at (561) 800-8000 or visiting us online to fill out our free consultation form. We will start by setting up a time for you to come in for your free consultation to meet our team and hear how we can best serve you.  It is our mission to fight for you, which is why we work on your case 24/7 until we can find the greatest solution. If you’re ready to have a successful case and seek the extra compensation you deserve, call us today. 

Legally Reviewed By: Steven L. Frankl

Steven L. Frankl represents clients in cases of catastrophic injury, wrongful death, motor vehicle accidents, trucking accidents, medical malpractice, and product liability, as well as slip/trip fall accidents and nursing home neglect. Mr. Frankl’s practice is built on the pursuit of justice and fair compensation for his clients.

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