If you have sustained an injury caused by the actions of another individual or entity, you may have to work with an attorney who can help you recover compensation for your losses. However, it can be challenging to determine which personal injury lawyer to work with. Here, we want to outline five questions you should ask before choosing your personal injury lawyer.
Will you be the one handling my case?
You need to ask if the attorney you are talking to would be the one handling your case. Often, law firms will use more well-known attorneys to get clients in the door and then hand the case off to lesser experienced attorneys or even paralegals. If the Boulder personal injury attorney you have your initial consultation with will not be the one handling your case, ask to speak to the attorney who will be handling your case.
Have you tried personal injury cases similar to this one?
Not all attorneys handle every area of law. You need to go to an attorney who specifically handles personal injury law. In particular, ask your attorney if they have handled a case similar to yours. This is certainly important if your injury is somewhat peculiar, such as an electric scooter or electric bike accident.
Are you willing to take cases to trial?
Ask the attorney you were talking to whether or not they will be willing to take your case to trial. Even though the vast majority of personal injury claims are resolved through settlements with insurance carriers, that may not be the best route towards securing full compensation for your losses. Some attorneys are looking to make quick settlements so that they can collect their checks and be done with the case. However, you need an attorney who is willing to go all the way to trial on your behalf in order to force the hands of the insurance carriers and the at-fault party.
How much is my case worth?
You need to ask your attorney how much they think your case is worth. There is a caveat to this. There is no way to know exactly how much your case will be worth. However, an experienced attorney should be able to give you a ballpark answer based on the initial facts of your case. You need to have an idea of what you can expect if your case is successful. To be completely honest with you, an attorney may not consider taking your case if the expected compensation amount is relatively low. However, we encourage you to speak with an attorney before making any decisions about whether or not to file your claim.
What is your fee arrangement?
Ask the attorney how much you ultimately owe for your case. In many situations, you will find that a personal injury lawyer in Colorado will handle these claims on a contingency fee basis. This means that you would not owe any upfront or out-of-pocket costs while your case is ongoing. Under a contingency fee arrangement, you will only pay legal fees after your attorney successfully recovers the compensation you are entitled to. If they do not win your case, you will not pay anything in legal fees.