There are many types of personal injury lawyers. Some specialize in car accidents, while others specialize in employee personal injury or class action lawsuits. When shopping to find a personal injury attorney in Houston, you want to make sure you choose an attorney who has the experience for your type of accident. You also want a lawyer who is professional, affordable and respected.
Most personal injury lawyers offer a free consultation. Here is a list of what you should ask.
What kind of experience do they have?
Before proceeding in a consultation, ask the lawyer about his experience with your type of injury. If you’ve been in a car accident, you want a lawyer who specializes in car accidents. If you’ve been injured at work, hire an attorney experienced in workers’ compensation claims and employment law. If you were injured when a product malfunctioned, you want an attorney with experience in product liability cases. Finding someone who has the experience means they understand what needs to be done with your case. They can take legal hurdles, medical access and insurance coverage on your behalf.
How do they communicate with customers?
Being injured in an accident can leave you feeling left out alone on an island with a lot of frustration and confusion. Good communication gives you the feeling that the process is working and that you have a team by your side. Talk to the lawyer about their communication process. Because personal injury cases can take a long time, you should find a lawyer who communicates with you regularly when progress is slow. Of course, you want a lawyer to communicate with you quickly when there are timely notices that you need to review and deal with.
How expensive are they?
Personal injury attorneys usually work on contingencies rather than charge an hourly rate. This means they get a percentage of your settlement and get nothing if you don’t get a cent. When it comes to their reimbursement, look for someone who falls within the normal range of contingencies. Houston personal injury attorneys usually charge between 33% and 40%. For a lawyer with a lot of experience, the higher contingency fee may be worth it, as they usually negotiate a higher settlement.
What percentage of their business comes from attorney referrals?
This is not an obvious question, but an important one. You want a lawyer who is respected by their peers. Being referred by other attorneys willing to risk their own reputation on how well a personal injury attorney performs is a good indicator of skill. Good lawyers will also give you references to talk to so you can set better expectations about the process and the lawyer‘s success rate.
How professional is their office?
This is not a question you ask the lawyer, but it is a feeling you get at your first consultation. You want someone who comes across as organized and knows all the details of their clients’ business. A tidy, well-run office is a good sign that the lawyer is not only competent and capable, but also has the bandwidth to take on another client.