You will need to hire someone with experience negotiating settlements in personal injury lawsuits. Along with their history, your lawyer will also be someone you trust with a major incident in your life. You should feel comfortable giving intimate details to your lawyer.
In the end, you should pick the personal injury attorney that you think will do the best job. Here is a list of questions you can use to determine who that is when meeting with potential personal injury lawyers.
8 Questions to Ask When Vetting a Personal Injury Attorney
1. What is your experience in personal injury law?
One of the first questions you should ask a personal injury attorney is their experience. You should know their qualifications and have the assurance necessary to trust in their history and past case results. You can also ask them where they received their education and how long they have been involved in personal injury law. If you want further insight, ask them why they
choose to practice personal injury law. These insights will give you a better idea of whether they are the right attorney for your case.
2. Have you handled cases similar to mine before?
Along with asking about their personal injury law experience, you should understand whether they have handled cases similar to yours before. Whether you were in an automobile accident, slip-and-fall accident, or something else, never assume that an attorney has already worked on your type of case. Instead, ask every legal team you meet with if they have experience handling cases like yours.
3. Will you handle my case or someone else on your team?
Some firms will tout senior partners during your initial meetings only to hand you over to another lower-level attorney once you agree to representation. You should know beforehand which personal injury lawyer will be in charge of your case.
Youd Law is different. Every person who chooses Youd Law as their personal injury attorney will work with Lance Youd. From the first meeting to the last, Lace will be your go-to person. Our team focuses on continuity of care with one person rather than handing you off to another attorney. At other firms, you won’t get that amount of attention or personal touch.
4. How long will my case take?
Personal injury case timelines depend on a variety of factors. You should expect your case to take some time. One of the reasons is that your attorney will want to know the extent of your injuries before agreeing on a settlement. You should ask your lawyer what timeframe you should expect, and they can give you a rough estimate before moving forward.
5. How much time can you devote to my case?
You want to choose an attorney who has the time it takes to give your case the attention it deserves. Having an honest conversation upfront will allow you to choose the right lawyer and saving yourself the headache of having to be on top of them to get the ball rolling every other week.
6. Will my case go to trial?
Most personal injury cases don’t go trial. Typically, these cases will settle out-of-court. There are many benefits to settling, but sometimes going to trial will be in your best interest. Ask potential personal injury attorneys whether they expect to go to trial or settle.
7. What are your attorney fees?
You should know an attorney’s legal fees before selecting them as your personal injury lawyer. The injury case attorneys at Youd Law work on contingency, meaning that our attorneys don’t get paid unless you get paid. Youd Law also bases its fees on a percentage of your settlement. There is not a fee to the attorney until the case is settled.
Youd Law is a Personal Injury Law Firm in Salem, Oregon
If you are looking for a personal injury attorney in Salem, Oregon, count on Youd Law. The personal injury lawyer at the Youd Law Firm has been handling auto accident claims for over 27 years. Personal Injury Attorney Lance D. Youd helps clients in Salem, Portland, the Willamette Valley area, and Marion County get full and fair compensation for their injuries. Let him work hard to get you a fair settlement as smooth and seamless as possible. Contact us today to discuss your case.