If you live in the Portland area and have suffered injuries or damage from an accident, you may be wondering if it’s necessary to hire a personal injury lawyer. A Portland personal injury lawyer will represent your interests and help you receive fair compensation for injuries and other losses. Compensation can be quite difficult to obtain without someone effectively representing your interests in settlement negotiations with an insurance provider.
Research and contact several local lawyers, and come prepared with a set of questions. It’s important to find the right personal injury lawyer who knows the local laws and has previous experience representing similar cases.
Below are questions to keep in mind when hiring your Portland personal injury lawyer:
1. Have You Litigated a Personal Injury Case Similar to Mine?
Experience is key when choosing representation. A prospective lawyer may have personal injury experience, but is it similar to your case? What is their specific experience? Have they mostly handled auto accidents or workplace accidents? Find out how many years of experience they have, as well as what type of personal injury they’ve litigated. There are different types of personal injury lawsuits, including but not limited to:
- Medical malpractice
- Workplace injuries
- Slip and fall accidents
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Defective equipment or product injuries
When assessing experience, make sure to inquire about the outcome of their past cases. Do they have a good success rate? If not, they may not be equipped to handle your case or reach the desired outcome. Choose a lawyer with relevant experience and a favorable success rate.
2. Who on Staff Will Handle My Case?
The attorney you are speaking with may not be the person who directly handles your case. This may vary from firm to firm, based on size. More than one person may also handle your case over its duration, depending on expertise. Ask who will be handling it and why. You never want the answer to be that they are too busy. This may indicate they don’t have the proper time to devote to your case.
Ask who your point of contact is and who you can speak with when questions arise. This will ensure you understand who is representing your interests. Some firms have senior partners conduct the initial interview, then pass the case off to a less experienced associate once the paperwork is signed.
3. When Will My Case Be Filed?
A good follow-up question to who is handling your case is, “how much time are you able to devote to my case?” Ask when your case will be filed. This will indicate if your personal injury lawyer has too many clients and does not have the time to focus on your case, causing unnecessary delay. It’s important to file as soon as possible, as there are statutes of limitations to how long after an injury you can file a claim. These time limits vary with each claim type, as well as from state to state.
You may also ask how long they expect a resolution to take. While even the most experienced Portland personal injury lawyer cannot give you an exact time frame, they should be able to give you a general idea of how long cases similar to yours take. The more experienced a lawyer is, the better their understanding of how these cases work. However, keep in mind that unexpected delays can happen, affecting the projected timeline.
4. What Are Your Fees?
Reputable lawyers will be upfront about their fees. Don’t be afraid to ask about their rates and fees. Some fee-related questions include:
- What is your contingency fee? Most attorneys work based on a contingency fee agreement: you only pay legal fees if you recover monetary damages for your personal injury lawsuit. A typical contingency fee ranges between 25% and 40%. Keep in mind, quality attorneys will not undervalue themselves and may charge closer to 40%.
- What out-of-pocket fees am I responsible for if we lose? In addition to a contingency fee, there may be other case-related fees. Make sure to clarify who is responsible for covering these additional fees if you lose. Don’t sign an agreement until you understand what you are responsible for.
5. What Is My Involvement?
Your Portland personal injury lawyer will need your involvement in gathering facts for your case. What will they need from you? This may include your medical history, details of the incident, copies of medical bills or receipts for property repair, notes from doctors for medical treatment received, and other documentation related to injury and loss. Beyond providing such information and documentation, will they want you to attend depositions or other related meetings? Clarify your role and what they need from you for a successful outcome.
This will become especially important if they expect your case to go to trial. Though many settle, both you and your lawyer should prepare as if it will go to trial. Make sure to ask if they have trial experience, as well as obtain their win/loss record. Follow up with questions about what your role will be if it goes to trial.
6. What Are My Options?
Don’t hesitate to ask the attorney you’ve hired for advice as well as what all of your available options are. They are your advocate, which includes legal representation as well as advice. Insurance companies often attempt to minimize how much you receive in compensation, so your attorney is your ally when seeking fair compensation.
These questions will help you find the right team and better understand the process once you’ve hired your Portland personal injury lawyer. Obtain compensation and peace of mind with the right attorney, so you can focus on healing.
If you live in the Portland area, contact the expert team at Warren Allen LLP for solid legal advice and exceptional service. Our firm works hard to help you receive compensation and the best resolution possible. Contact us today to learn what your options are.
Meta: Warren Allen LLP, a Portland area personal injury law firm, helps with questions you should ask your personal injury attorney after an accident.
