If you’re thinking of hiring a Minnesota personal injury attorney, there are a few questions you can ask to ensure you make the right decision. Qualifying questions can help you determine how much experience a personal injury attorney has, and whether he or she can help you. A good personal injury attorney will give you honest answers, even when you don’t like what you hear, and will have your interests in mind.
Do you have experience with this type of case?
Generally, you want to hire a personal injury who has experience with the type of case you’re litigating. Ask what percentage of his practice deals with this type of case, and ask for a history of similar cases, their awards and outcomes.
Do you have litigation experience?
A lawyer who doesn’t have litigation experience isn’t prepared to try your case in front of a jury. This limits your chances for settlement and may cause you to get a lower settlement than your case is worth.
How much is my case worth?
Lawyers can’t guarantee how much your case will make, but he should be able to give you a ballpark based on your medicals, damages and his prior history with similar injury cases.
Do you anticipate any problems with my case?
If your case is going to have problems, it’s best to know up front. Is there a conflicting report in the police report? Did you wait too long to go to the doctor? These things may make your case more difficult to litigate.
What do you need from me?
A good personal injury attorney will ask for a list of things from you, including a list of all of the doctors or hospitals where you’ve been treated, copies of any of the medical bills you might have, a copy of the police report if you have it, and anything else that’s relevant to the case. If the attorney doesn’t ask for anything, worry.
How and when do I pay?
Most personal injury attorneys will let you pay on a contingent fee basis, which involves taking a portion of your settlement when the case is completed. However, some attorneys may require you to pay money up-front for expenses, or may require you to pay expenses even if your case looses. Make sure you know what you’re expected to pay.
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