Selecting the right personal injury lawyer to represent you after an accident involves knowing the right questions to ask. You want to choose an attorney who has handled cases similar to your case and who will take the time to understand your needs.
The North Carolina personal injury lawyers at Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A. help accident victims seek just compensation when someone else is responsible for their injuries and financial losses.
More often than not, we can negotiate better settlements for our clients than they could recover on their own. When you hear about someone suing over an accident, it means the insurance company refused to offer a fair settlement.
If you have been significantly injured in an accident someone else caused, you should speak to a personal injury lawyer. An initial consultation with Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A. is always free. Below are some of the questions you may consider asking a personal injury lawyer when selecting a lawyer to represent you.
Have You Handled Similar Cases Before?
A prospective attorney should have experience with the same type of accident – car accident, truck accident, slip and fall, dog bite – and with accidents of the same complexity as yours. More complex cases, such as ones with multiple potential defendants or product liability cases requiring extensive research, typically require firms with multiple experienced lawyers and more resources.
Seek a lawyer who has been successful in cases comparable to yours.
Do You See Difficulties with My Case?
A prospective attorney should be forthcoming with you about the strengths and weaknesses of your claim and how he or she expects to overcome any difficulties with the case. A personal injury law firm won’t take a case unless they expect to win it.
Do NOT hire a lawyer who only tells you the positives of your case. Either that lawyer is dishonest, or he/she may be susceptible to being ambushed by the defense. You need an honest lawyer who will be ready for everything.
Personal injury attorneys and their clients work very closely together. You want to work with someone who respects you enough to be forthright with you, listens to you, and responds to your concerns.
How Much Is My Case Worth?
It’s normal to wonder what your case might be worth. However, be wary of any lawyer who promises or even predicts that you will recover a certain amount of money. Early in the case there are too many unknown facts to even estimate the end result. For instance, you cannot assume how well you will heal from your injuries until you have completely finished the healing process. The value of a case is highly dependent on the long-term prognosis of the victim.
What Are Your Fees? Do I Pay Advanced Costs if I Lose My Case?
Almost all personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. You don’t pay attorneys’ fees unless the attorney recovers money for you through an insurance settlement or court award. If the attorney wins or settles your case, then you pay an agreed percentage of any settlement or jury award, plus expenses.
Personal injury law firms pay the costs of cases up front, and a prospective attorney should stipulate which – if any – case-related costs will be your responsibility in a loss. The North Carolina State Bar requires the lawyer to make the client responsible for litigation costs. Litigation costs include such expenses as medical record procurement costs, expert witness opinions, court reporter fees, court filing fees, deposition fees of doctors, etc.
What’s My Role as a Client?
Firms vary in how involved they want their clients to be. A lawyer should explain what their firm expects in terms of client participation. This is another chance to see whether you and the lawyer you are interviewing are a good fit.
Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A. will be happy to answer all of your questions about a potential personal injury claim. Contact us in Raleigh, NC at 919-661-9000 or online for your free initial consultation.
About the Author
Robert C. Younce, JR
Robert C. Younce is an attorney at Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A. and concentrates his law practice on personal injury and workers’ compensation law. He has tried over 100 workers’ comp cases to Opinion and Award and about a dozen personal injury jury trials to verdict. He has been board-certified by the North Carolina State Bar as a specialist in workers’ compensation law since 2001.
