Good questions when:

Personal Injury Attorney

• Can you tell me about your background, education and experience?
• Do you handle any types of cases other than personal injury?

• Some would argue that personal injury requires specialization. Laws change frequently and expertise in dealing with insurance companies can be invaluable.

• What particular challenges do you see in my case?
• Will there be anyone else in your office working on my case?
• How long do you expect it to take to resolve my case?

• Be wary of an attorney who asserts that the case will only take a couple of months. Most cases will take over a year.

• Have you ever worked for an insurance defense firm?

• Being able to see the case from the opposing side can be very valuable. Experience defending cases provides a different level of insight.

• Can you refer me to a doctor?

• This is an issue of credibility. If under questioning, a doctor is asked who paid for his services and what percentage of his business is made up of referrals from this particular attorney, significant credibility can be lost. Successful cases have credible witnesses.

• Is my case worth your effort?
• Will you take my case on contingency?

• Under this arrangement, the attorney's fee is based on a percentage of what you are awarded in the case. If you lose the case, the attorney does not get a fee, although you will still have to pay expenses. The contingency fee percentage varies and some lawyers offer a sliding scale based on how far along the case is when it is settled. A one-third fee is common. Also, ask whether the lawyer will calculate the fee before or after the expenses. This can make a substantial difference, since calculating the percentage of the attorney's fee after the expenses have been deducted increases the amount of money you receive.

• What other fees/charges should I expect?

• In a case like mine what might the typical charges be? Consider items such as postage, photocopies, administrative staff, and other overhead and expenses.