Questions To Ask When Choosing A Personal Injury Lawyer

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If you are injured through the negligence or careless conduct of another party, you need a personal injury lawyer to handle the claim for compensation on your behalf. Searching the internet gives you names of hundreds of thousands if not millions of lawyers from which to choose. Friends, relatives and coworkers might be able to offer a name or two of a lawyer they used, but the only way to feel confident about your choice is by meeting with the lawyer. The answers you get from the lawyer to the following questions should help.

What percentage of the lawyer’s practice focuses on personal injury claims?

The years in practice does not necessarily mean the lawyer has the knowledge, skills and experience to handle your personal injury claim. You want to choose a lawyer whose day-to-day practice focuses on personal injury.

Lawyers handling a high percentage of claims on behalf of people injured in car crashes, slip-and-fall accidents, medical malpractice and other types of personal injury cases develop superior knowledge of this area of the law. They also possess the skills needed to develop successful courtroom strategies.

How many personal injury cases has the lawyer handled that were similar to your claim?

If you suffered an injury through the negligence of a doctor or other medical professional, you want the lawyer representing you to have a thorough knowledge of the laws pertaining to medical malpractice and be capable of identifying and presenting the evidence needed to successfully present your claim in court. A personal injury lawyer whose experience is limited to car accidents might not be as familiar with other types of personal injury claims.

When you meet with a lawyer, ask about the types of personal injury claims the lawyer or other lawyers in the firm handle on a regular basis. There might be another lawyer in the firm with experience handling your type of case.

Does the lawyer or others in the firm have personal injury trial experience?

According to government statistics, 98% of civil cases, including personal injury claims, reach a settlement without going to trial. Although the chances of your case going to court are slim, knowing that your lawyer has the ability to take a case through the courts if necessary could be a factor in determining the amount of compensation you receive.

How does the lawyer get paid for the services rendered?

Most personal injury claims are handled on a contingency fee basis. This simply means the lawyer receives a percentage of the amount awarded through verdict after trial or through settlement.

Ask the lawyer to review the contingency fee agreement with you, including the percentage of the verdict or settlement the lawyer or the law firm will receive. It is also a good idea to ask about expenses and costs separate and apart from the fees paid to the lawyer. The contingency fee agreement should clearly explain the costs and expenses and what your obligation will be for payment of them.

Ontario personal injury lawyers

If you or a loved one has been injured through the fault of another party, the personal injury lawyers at Diamond and Diamond have years of experience successfully handling claims for compensation on behalf of injured parties throughout Ontario. They welcome questions about your case and the services they can provide to you. Call the Diamond and Diamond 24/7 injury hotline at 1-800-567-HURT or visit their website to speak to someone now. They have offices located throughout Ontario offering free consultations and case evaluations to injury victims and their families.