The Questions You Should Ask to Find the Best Lawyer for You

Here’s the REAL questions you need to be asking to find the right lawyer for you:

Have you worked on a case like mine before?

Having experience in cases similar to yours will be crucial to understanding whether they can handle your specific situation and adjust your case’s legal strategy to fit the exact details and possible issues which may arise. The best personal injury lawyers will have a long history of past accident cases over which they’ve developed a wealth of knowledge and multiple approaches.

Ask for examples of similar cases they’ve worked on, what kind of results did they achieve, and how they believe your case compares to them. This will help define realistic expectations for your lawsuit and its outcome.

What is my case worth? How long will the process take?

It takes a lot of careful consideration to understand how much your accident case may pay out and whether it would be worth it, based on how long your case gets dragged out for.

Good accident lawyers can provide a proper case evaluation to estimate your case’s worth based on factors like how bad your injuries were, how strongly they interfere with your quality of life, lost wages, medical bills, and how much insurance you had at the time.

However, it’s important to know that these estimates can change over time as your case progresses and more information comes to light. How long your case takes to resolve will also depend on your chosen legal strategy, how busy the court is, and how much the other party is willing to settle. Be sure to have realistic expectations.

Have you taken cases to trial before?

A large portion of accident cases are settled out of court for various reasons. Still, knowing if the lawyer has experience in going to trial will be crucial to getting good results for your cases. If your lawyer is unable to “play to win” and can only play to avoid losing, you’ll be at a huge disadvantage if the case does end up proceeding to trial. 

Reputation and experience matters not just to you, but to the other party as well. Insurance companies often consider settling for faster and larger payouts once they realize your lawyer is a heavy hitter with a track record of getting incredible results in the courtroom. 

Ask if they have trial experience in specifically personal injury cases, how many cases they’ve taken to trial and what their win rate is for those trials. By knowing this, you can determine if your lawyer is a winner that can tackle your case, or just someone looking for quick settlements.

Who will be in charge of my case?

Many law firms, especially the big ones, will have a team full of not only lawyers, but paralegals, case managers, and assistants. You’re not looking to hire strangers; you need to know not only the attorney handling your case, but the team of in-house experts that are examining your case at every stage of the legal process.

Be sure to confirm whether a senior attorney is overseeing your case directly, or if the bulk of your case’s work is going to be delegated to junior lawyers or paralegals. Check the experience and credentials for each team member that is working on your case. A strong chain of well-versed legal professionals with no weak links will be unstoppable in getting you results.

What do I need to do for the personal injury claims process?

There’s many steps that need your direct input in order for your case to go smoothly. 

First, you need to give a detailed account of events for your legal team and all the evidence you gathered on your case. Evidence can range from photos, contact info for witnesses, medical reports, and more. 

Then, it will be essential to consistently communicate your availability for meetings or appearances in court. Missing court dates doesn’t do any good for an accident case, no matter what.

Afterwards, your lawyer may want you to keep a diary or log of your injuries, medical symptoms, and treatments or medications you take. This will demonstrate how your injury affects your daily life negatively. Being transparent and honest throughout the process is imperative; you could lose your case if you omit or misrepresent any of the facts of your case.

Finally, you’ll need to be patient, especially if your case is complicated or goes all the way to trial. Courts are not in the business of providing snap judgments; assessing the truth and justice takes time for all cases. Don’t get discouraged and keep actively participating in keeping your case on track, and your legal team can handle the rest.

Do you have references from previous clients?

Getting references from previous clients will give you a unique look into how the lawyer performs their duties and what level of client satisfaction they achieve. The best accident lawyers have nothing to hide, and can refer you immediately to their past clients for glowing reviews or testimonials.

You can dig deep into seeing how the lawyer works, communicates, and commits to their clients through these references, though be sure to respect their privacy and keep your inquiries within reason.

How much do you charge?

Most personal injury lawyers work off contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing until you win. Standard contingency fee ranges anywhere from 33% to 40% of the compensation you get awarded from your case, either through a settlement or through winning in court. 

You get what you pay for, so don’t cheap out and risk getting a lawyer that can’t fight for you properly. Additionally, ask about any other costs you might have to pay outside of the contingency arrangement, like court fees, administrative expenses, or the costs for expert witnesses. Knowing all potential charges should help you avoid unpleasant surprises and create a more accurate picture of your case’s process and outlook.

At Win Nguyen Law, we’re proud to serve the communities of Orange County and Long Beach such as Irvine, Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Westminster, Orange, Anaheim, Seal Beach, Tustin, Fullerton at no upfront cost. 

Book a FREE consultation now to discuss your case details and be assured that you’re dealing with a legal team that knows how to fight for your case and win big results.