According to Duhaime’s Law Dictionary, personal injury is defined as the pain and suffering of a person, whether physically or emotionally. Due to how debilitating personal injury can be as a result of another person’s actions, this matter is often taken to court in potential exchange for compensation.

However, the nature and severity of personal injury vary so dramatically. For that reason, picking among different personal injury attorneys to take on your case is integral. If winning your case is important to you and you need to know for sure how to prove you’re not at fault in an accident, consider asking the following seven questions to a potential lawyer.

1.    How long have you been in practice?

Although the length of practice doesn’t always correlate with expertise, often, it can to an extent. If your prospective attorney has only been serving your location for a couple of years, chances are, they may not be equipped with the level of knowledge as, say, an attorney with a decade-plus of experience, like this Long Island personal injury attorney (or elsewhere), for example.

2.    Who else will be working on my case with me?

Due to how busy most attorneys are, having a team of paralegals help them when they aren’t around is important. Because these individuals will be assisting you with your case when your attorney is unable to meet up or chat on the phone with you, it’s vital that you feel comfortable with them and their expertise.

3.    Are you capable of handling my particular case?

Not all cases are easy. However, even for cases that may seem fairly easy to win in court might be more difficult for one attorney to handle than another attorney. That said, it’s a good idea to ask for a prospective lawyer’s candid opinion on whether or not your case is something they feel comfortable and confident handling.

4.    How many cases have you taken to trial?

Before hiring any personal injury attorney, it’s a good idea to ask them how many cases they’ve taken to trial in the past five years. If his or her answer is five or six cases, with at least one of those cases being quite similar to yours, they may be a good fit for you.

5.    What areas of law are your speciality?

Does your prospective attorney have solid experience with personal injury cases? Or, do they specialize in another area of law that’s virtually the opposite of personal injury? Hiring a specialized attorney will help you with your case; go here for more information. Even if they do specialize mostly or merely in personal injury, ask them what type of personal injury cases they usually take on (e.g., medical malpractice, car accidents).

6.    How many cases have you actually won?

Even if a lawyer has taken many cases to court, it matters to know their win-loss ratio. The fewer cases they’ve actually won, the more likely they may mess up your case in court as well. However, it’s also important to know what types of cases they’ve lost and how complex they were.

7.    What skills can you bring to the table to help me win?

This may sound more like a job interview question. However, it’s vital that an attorney can explain what skills they possess that makes them a good lawyer. Notice how they talk about themselves and the tone in their voice. Do they seem to have an unrealistic self-image, or are they genuine? Do their skills match up to what you want in a lawyer?

Conclusion

After suffering from a personal injury, the next route one should usually take is reaching out to an attorney. However, not every attorney may be qualified enough to take on your case. That said, it’s critical to ask the latter questions to ensure the lawyer you choose will be an adequate fit.

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